PHP and MySQL Web Development
- Media: Book (Paperback, 896 pages)
- ISBN: 0672317842
- Publisher: Sams
- Release Date: Mar 30, 2001
Product Description
The PHP server-side scripting language and the MySQL database management system (DBMS) make a potent pair. Both are open-source products--free of charge for most purposes--remarkably strong, and capable of handling all but the most enormous transaction loads. Both are supported by large, skilled, and enthusiastic communities of architects, programmers, and designers. PHP and MySQL Web Development introduces readers (who are assumed to have little or no experience with the title subjects) to PHP and MySQL for the purpose of creating dynamic Internet sites. It teaches the same skills as introductory Active Server Pages (ASP) and ColdFusion books--technologies that address the same niche.
Authors Luke Welling and Laura Thomson's technique aims to get readers going on their own projects as soon as possible. They present easily digestible sections on specific technical processes--"Accessing array contents" and "Using encryption with PHP" are two examples. Each section centers on a sample program that strips the task at hand down to its essentials, enabling the reader to fit the process into his or her own solutions as required. Tables that list options and other nuggets of reference material appear as well, but the many examples and the authors' commentary on them take center stage.
For reference material on MySQL, have a look at Paul DuBois's MySQL. On the PHP side, Web Application Development with PHP 4.0 is excellent. --David Wall
Topics covered:
- The MySQL database server (for both Unix and Windows)
- Accessing MySQL databases through PHP scripting (the letters don't really stand for anything)
- Database creation and modification
- PHP tricks in order of increasing complexity--everything from basic SQL queries to secure transactions for commerce
- Authentication
- Network connectivity
- Session management
- Content customization
Great but should be in CSS from start
This is a great book for begineers in PHP step by step go to advanced level. But It would be better if only in CSS from start. This is the age of CSS not table based. THey said in their book U can paste from the book in ur development. But all r table based, there is no reason for developer to choice table based layout in development.
Submitted 6 Mar 2010
From zero to code warrior in no time...
Perhaps some of you have read other reviews by me - some of them can be scathing. I don't pull any punches when it comes to warning others of the vagaries of trudging through an inferior text, or heralding the the truly great ones, and this is one of the latter.
The author takes a bit of time getting you up and running, and then you're off in free flight, building from one competency and then on to another in a logical, metered pace.
You're not constrained by the idiot type this/that, and once you're into the third chapter you'll find yourself going back and applying newly learned principles on your earlier scripts for edification.
I originally purchased the second edition of this book, and so most of what I used this book for was to update my competencies with the newer and improved PHP, since I liked the style presented in this text. It's already raggedy and dog-eared, with my own notes in the margins copied over from the earlier edition as well as new noteworthy items for my reference.
Integration with databases is assumed from the very beginning, which is a very real world paradigm.
The book doesn't assume that you need to follow every example verbatim to learn, which is good because we're not robots, so it holds your interest as an easy reading adventure for those chamomile tea nights when you want a good book to relax with after a long day at the keyboard.
I highly recommend this book.
.
The author takes a bit of time getting you up and running, and then you're off in free flight, building from one competency and then on to another in a logical, metered pace.
You're not constrained by the idiot type this/that, and once you're into the third chapter you'll find yourself going back and applying newly learned principles on your earlier scripts for edification.
I originally purchased the second edition of this book, and so most of what I used this book for was to update my competencies with the newer and improved PHP, since I liked the style presented in this text. It's already raggedy and dog-eared, with my own notes in the margins copied over from the earlier edition as well as new noteworthy items for my reference.
Integration with databases is assumed from the very beginning, which is a very real world paradigm.
The book doesn't assume that you need to follow every example verbatim to learn, which is good because we're not robots, so it holds your interest as an easy reading adventure for those chamomile tea nights when you want a good book to relax with after a long day at the keyboard.
I highly recommend this book.
.
Submitted 4 Mar 2010
Well Written
I am pleased with the organization and presentation of information. The subject is well defined which as a programmer, I need preciseness and it is there. I'm only part way into the book, but I am extremely pleased so far.
Submitted 9 Feb 2010
Great seller
Great fast shipping. I haven't used the book yet because class starts in january. However seller description of book was adequate and it arrived in stated time frame.
Submitted 21 Dec 2009
Shallow and teaches bad development practices
The first reason why I decided to write this review is that the book explain important concepts in a really poor way (sometimes in less than 1 page) and spend many pages with useless examples.
I've bought this book expecting an in-depth view of PHP (just look how many pages this book has...) and I'm really disappointed - I'm an experienced OOP developer and this book simply doesn't fit my needs, the PHP online documentation is way more helpful.
Another bad thing about this book is that it teaches many bad practices and they don't even explain that it's a bad practice at all. Don't even teaches how to structure your code, how to use OOP properly (without polluting the global namespace, etc..) or even how to structure folders/classes in a proper way.
Sure it deserves more than 1 star but it's definitely not a 5 star book.
PS: this review is about the 4th edition.
I've bought this book expecting an in-depth view of PHP (just look how many pages this book has...) and I'm really disappointed - I'm an experienced OOP developer and this book simply doesn't fit my needs, the PHP online documentation is way more helpful.
Another bad thing about this book is that it teaches many bad practices and they don't even explain that it's a bad practice at all. Don't even teaches how to structure your code, how to use OOP properly (without polluting the global namespace, etc..) or even how to structure folders/classes in a proper way.
Sure it deserves more than 1 star but it's definitely not a 5 star book.
PS: this review is about the 4th edition.
Submitted 17 Dec 2009