|
|
|
PHP @ Web Programming
Programming Shed : Programmer Store & Resources |
|
|
|
|
|
PHP Index - PHP Book :
PHP 4 Bible
by Tim Converse, Joyce Park Paperback: 689 pages Dimensions (in inches): 1.66 x 9.25 x 7.40 Publisher: John Wiley & Sons ISBN: 076454716X; 1st edition (August 17, 2000) One issue that dampens enthusiasm for open-source products is a lack of mainstream documentation and tutorials that are written by professionals. PHP 4 Bible takes care of that little detail for PHP, the cross-platform (and free) server-side scripting language for the Web. PHP 4 Bible is as comprehensive a discussion as you will find about this fascinating language, which can hold its own against commercial competitors like Microsoft Active Server Pages and Allaire ColdFusion. It covers the core elements of the language and its syntax with critical applications of PHP, such as database access and XML integration. The chapters follow a traditional tutorial style, which is helpful to those who are new to PHP. An introduction to the basic language constructs, control structures, and functions leads off this book in a comfortable way for readers who are versed in other languages, such as Visual Basic. Very practical chapters, such as "Basic PHP Gotchas," help keep students out of trouble as they get their feet wet in PHP. For database access--a critical application of PHP in the real world--the focus is appropriately on MySQL, a simple, cross-platform SQL database. Plenty of code examples and a companion Web site with downloadable code fill out this tutorial nicely. It is a one-stop way to learn PHP inside and out. --Stephen W. Plain PHP 4 Bible covered: • PHP syntax • Variables • Data types • Control structures • Custom functions • Specialized functions • File-system functions • Style tips • PHP "gotchas" • SQL introduction • Database access • Sessions • Cookies • JavaScript integration • E-mail access • XML integration • Object-oriented programming by using PHP Book Description: If PHP 4 can do it, you can do it too... So you want to create dynamic database-driven Web pages? This authoritative reference is packed with case studies to lead you successfully through the latest version of this server-side HTML-embedded language. Whether you're an HTML designer, a C coder, or a Web programmer using ASP, JSP, Perl, or ColdFusion, you'll get the most out of this open source alternative using this reliable guide. Inside you'll find how-to's on everything from getting started to modifying freely-available scripts -- so you won't have to write from scratch! Book Info: Find how-to's on everything from getting started to modifying freely-available scripts. Get up to speed on relational database design. Connect Web pages to backend databases. Build complete user experiences with session-tracking. Connect PHP code directly to e-mail programs. Avoid bugs and development stumbling blocks, and more. DLC: PHP (Computer program language). From the Publisher: Inside you'll find complete coverage of PHP 4: • Get up to speed on relational database design • Connect Web pages to backend databases • Build complete user experiences with session-tracking • Use PHP for object-oriented programming • Connect your PHP code directly to e-mail programs • Secure your Web site against attacks • Employ cookies and redirection • Avoid common bugs and development stumbling blocks BONUS COMPANION WEB-SITE packed with code and examples About the Author: Tim Converse has written software to recommend neckties, answer questions about space stations, pick value stocks, and make simulated breakfast. He has an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Chicago, where he taught several programming classes. He is now a Senior Software Engineer at Excite@Home, where he works on the search engine. Joyce Park has an M.A. in history from the University of Chicago and has worked on several content-rich PHP Web sites, including the award-winning MysteryGuide.com. Her writing has garnered praise from the editors and readers of Slashdot, OSOpinion, Linux.com, and many others worldwide. Joyce is now a Web Developer at Epinions.com. Customer Reviews Reviewer: Erica Douglass from San Jose, CA United States This book contains the most complete reference to PHP4 that I've seen (besides the online manual, of course.) However, a lot of the examples hold no real-world value, and much of the book is an introduction that Julie Meloni does much better in PHP Essentials. The end of the book finally gets into some real-world examples, but earlier chapters can be downright confusing to a beginning programmer. One subheader in Chapter 7 reads "Careful with nonintegral comparisons," which means little to those of us who are not experienced programmers. 4 stars for completeness and sheer bulk, and because it makes an EXCELLENT reference for PHP programmers. It tries to do too much, however... and doesn't provide a good introduction to PHP. If you're new to PHP and programming, I recommend PHP Essentials be your first book, and that PHP 4 Bible be your guide after you outgrow PHP Essentials. Reviewer: A reader from Woodland Hills,, CA United States Decent descriptions and examples of functions, etc. Kind of heavy on the abstract-math-formulas-as-examples-- if you like a book to use real-world examples to illustrate various implementations of a language/technology/etc., be forewarned: you really won't find anything of the kind until Part III (Advanced Techniques), and in the meantime, you'll be maddened by the dozens and dozens of scripts that result in nothing more than an integer or set of integers being printed onscreen... Works better if used alongside PHP Essentials (Julie C. Meloni), as the Bible is more of an intro guide to everything NOT database-related than is Essentials, which itself ONLY covers MySQL integration in any way that one could call "in-depth". As nascent a technology as PHP is, though, you have to give the authors credit, and just hope that someone else will come along and improve on their serviceable first attempt. Well-rounded for a first edition, just not quite on-par with most other titles in the IDG Bible Series. Reviewer: Amirreza Ziai from Tehran just like all other bible books it's a complete and great (i think the best you can get)... php is a very common programming language for static websites... php works with MySQL database and that is also supported in this book. Reviewer: Michael McKee I did not care for this book, which surprised me as I normally find the Bible series to be solid. I will always subtract a star when the author(s) consistently refer to material not yet presented. (down to 4) Another one gets subtracted by the too cute examples the purpose of which seem often enough just being clever instead of providing meaningful code. (down to 3). By the time I got through the first hundred pages I was totally sick of reading how the C programmer would do the same thing or how the C programmer should consider PHP. There is a appendix to cover that material but obviously the authors didn't trust the reader enough to believe that it would be read. (down to 2 stars). I could take off more stars for the obvious padding in the writing -Did they get paid by the word?- and in the examples which gave multiple pages of basic html, with little footnoting. I would even consider subtracting more for the clunky code, and refering to less than optimal functions for multiple pages then saying disregard that. Further there is the lack of any cohesion through the examples. But to give the authors their due, the book is adequate in its explanations. If this is your only choice it will suffice, if not, look elsewhere. |
|
|
|
© 2005-2006, Programming Shed
|
