| Re: More advanced PHP books [message #171540 is a reply to message #171469] |
Sat, 08 January 2011 14:35   |
Captain Paralytic
Messages: 204
Registered: September 2010
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Senior Member |
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On Jan 5, 2:09 am, Tony Gravagno <tony_grava...@nospam.invalid> wrote:
> I've been writing software for over 30 years. I can read PHP and make
> small tweeks to FOSS but I'm not an accomplished PHP developer. When
> I look at FOSS I understand most of what they're doing, but I still
> feel like I'm not on top of the game. To me, PHP syntax is just like
> any other with semicolons and curly braces. The challenge is knowing
> what functions are available to populate the mental toolbox, and
> knowing the algorithms where good use of code leads to a fast runtime.
> I'm completely on top of Java, JavaScript, and C#, but light on C++
> for all of the exact same reasons. PHP is similar, just different.
>
> Given that preamble, can someone recommend books that are beyond the
> basics of "What is PHP" and related syntax? I need something that is
> still tutorial, still progressive, building upon basic skills. Beyond
> the Hello World books, most others jump right into more sophisticated
> code, so your stuck looking up a lot of functions as part of trying to
> understand the algorithms. Examples of that would include Wicked Cool
> PHP and the PHP Cookbook. I need something between those levels that
> treat me as an advanced student rather than as a professional refining
> his skills.
>
> I don't want a book that focuses on PHP with Dreamweaver MX, MySQL,
> security, AJAX, etc. I need to delve into the most important or most
> used functions and patterns so that I can work with any general
> purpose code. The idea is, I look at PHP code and they do something
> "funky". What is that? I know I can learn through the school of hard
> knows, lookingup every function as I find it, but I've done that with
> over 20 other languages and I'd think there Has to be a better way
> with as popular as PHP is.
>
> I have downloaded the manual from the php.net website. But a
> reference manual is for reference for someone who is already familiar
> functionality, it's not ideal for someone who wants to be fed a
> progressively better diet of relevant information. (And no, I don't
> have time to go to college classes.) As an example of why a reference
> manual is inadequate, the ref tells you what a function does, but
> rarely about when you should not use it, or how to use it in a secure
> and responsible way. This is what separates amateur hobbiest coders
> from the pros, and I'd like the tutelage that an author/mentor can
> provide.
>
> If any published author out there wants to write a PHP book that fits
> the above description, I have Technical Editor credentials with
> several mainstream publishers, and would be honored to assist in the
> development of such a book.
>
> Thanks for your time. :)
I may have a couple of books bookmarked in my books24x7 account. When
I can remember the credentials, I'll take a look.
However, I think that the reason you are having problems finding such
a book is that you are asking the wrong question. You state: "a
reference manual is for reference for someone who is already familiar
[with the] functionality", but I don't necessarily agree with the last
word. A reference manual shows me the functionality and the syntax
required to use that functionality. What one needs to be familiar with
is the paradigms of programming and a general understanding of
semantics. Once you know that, a reference manual will tell you how to
implement your program in a particular language. If you ar fluent in
oo concepts, the php manual will tell you how to implement those
concepts in php. A c++ manual will tell you how to do it in c++ and a
COBOL manual will tell you likewise in COBOL (although oo COBOL is no
laughing matter).
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