Comments on: Problem Solving – guide to PHP programming and debugging. http://www.iwilldomybest.com/2008/03/problem-solving-guide-to-php-programming-and-debugging/ Ranging from PHP & MySQL to Random Crap from the internet, I got it all here. Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:56:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: dschreck http://www.iwilldomybest.com/2008/03/problem-solving-guide-to-php-programming-and-debugging/comment-page-1/#comment-10 dschreck Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:26:14 +0000 http://www.iwilldomybest.com/2008/03/02/problem-solving-guide-to-php-programming-and-debugging/#comment-10 Lanore, Confidence comes with time, and ultimately, it's one of the most important attributes a developer can have. I'd recommend not to doubt yourself, just be open to change and advice. As far as books go, there's a few PHP books that I would recommend. 1. PHP Hacks: Tips & Tools For Creating Dynamic Websites <a href="http://www.amazon.com/PHP-Hacks-Creating-Dynamic-Websites/dp/0596101392/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229968485&sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Amazon Link</a> 2. Essential PHP Security <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Essential-PHP-Security-Chris-Shiflett/dp/059600656X/ref=bxgy_cc_b_img_a" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Amazon Link</a> 3. PHP Cookbook (Cookbooks (O'Reilly)) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cookbook-Cookbooks-OReilly-Adam-Trachtenberg/dp/0596101015/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229968485&sr=8-2" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Amazon Link</a> The first book, PHP Hacks (ISBN-13: 978-0596101398) is a great book that covers practical PHP scripts and snippets you'll want to use on sites. It also covers more advanced topics such as design patterns for PHP. This is a book I recommend for both beginners and advanced users. The draw back is, it's more learn from example than from courses. What you should take from this book is how it combines technologies to form a solution, and how smaller solutions can combine into a product. The second book, Essential PHP Security (ISBN-13: 978-0596006563) is a great book that covers security in your PHP scripts. From log in systems, to how people break into your sites using SQL exploits. This is more of a crash course in security for your site. Great book, everyone should get it. The third book is a cookbook (ISBN-13: 978-0596101015), that will break down common usage items. Since most of the time when you think of a general solution, it takes several smaller solutions to form that, you can reference this cookbook on how to do those. I think the point I'm trying to make here, is that if you can figure out how to do smaller steps, you can then combine those steps into larger solutions. For example, you learned how to make a shopping cart, well, that means you now know how to take user input, display output, and generate content based upon that user input. Those steps could be used to do something else, such as tag clouding, or news system, or blogging. Don't focus on the solution, focus on what the problem was, and how it was solved. Hope that helps! Lanore,

Confidence comes with time, and ultimately, it’s one of the most important attributes a developer can have. I’d recommend not to doubt yourself, just be open to change and advice.

As far as books go, there’s a few PHP books that I would recommend.

1. PHP Hacks: Tips & Tools For Creating Dynamic Websites
Amazon Link

2. Essential PHP Security
Amazon Link

3. PHP Cookbook (Cookbooks (O’Reilly))
Amazon Link

The first book, PHP Hacks (ISBN-13: 978-0596101398) is a great book that covers practical PHP scripts and snippets you’ll want to use on sites. It also covers more advanced topics such as design patterns for PHP. This is a book I recommend for both beginners and advanced users.

The draw back is, it’s more learn from example than from courses.

What you should take from this book is how it combines technologies to form a solution, and how smaller solutions can combine into a product.

The second book, Essential PHP Security (ISBN-13: 978-0596006563) is a great book that covers security in your PHP scripts.
From log in systems, to how people break into your sites using SQL exploits.
This is more of a crash course in security for your site.
Great book, everyone should get it.

The third book is a cookbook (ISBN-13: 978-0596101015), that will break down common usage items. Since most of the time when you think of a general solution, it takes several smaller solutions to form that, you can reference this cookbook on how to do those.

I think the point I’m trying to make here, is that if you can figure out how to do smaller steps, you can then combine those steps into larger solutions.

For example, you learned how to make a shopping cart, well, that means you now know how to take user input, display output, and generate content based upon that user input. Those steps could be used to do something else, such as tag clouding, or news system, or blogging.

Don’t focus on the solution, focus on what the problem was, and how it was solved.

Hope that helps!

]]> By: Lanore Dixon http://www.iwilldomybest.com/2008/03/problem-solving-guide-to-php-programming-and-debugging/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Lanore Dixon Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:35:51 +0000 http://www.iwilldomybest.com/2008/03/02/problem-solving-guide-to-php-programming-and-debugging/#comment-8 I enjoyed this article on problem solving in programming. I'm fairly new to php programming. I've taken a couple of classes, but they're mostly monkey-see, monkey-do stuff. For example, in the last class I took, we built a shopping cart, yet I lack the skills to attempt the email list you described above. I don't feel like I really got much of a feel for how to wield the php language--I feel like I dare not take my training wheels off. I can barely manage to alter a script to suit a particular purpose and I usually feel lucky when I succeed, rather than confident about how I achieved the desired outcome. I know the only way to become proficient is to practice, so I'm looking for a book or course that will give me practice in these things. Sort of an exercise book of progressively difficult problems to solve-- similar to a math book where you're given a skill, then a set of problems to solve using that skill. Then you're given another skill and a problem to solve that requires that skill and previously learned ones. Do you know where I might find such a course or book at an affordable price (under $100)? Again, I appreciate your insight about programming. I will visit your site again. Thanks, Lanore Dixon I enjoyed this article on problem solving in programming. I’m fairly new to php programming. I’ve taken a couple of classes, but they’re mostly monkey-see, monkey-do stuff. For example, in the last class I took, we built a shopping cart, yet I lack the skills to attempt the email list you described above. I don’t feel like I really got much of a feel for how to wield the php language–I feel like I dare not take my training wheels off. I can barely manage to alter a script to suit a particular purpose and I usually feel lucky when I succeed, rather than confident about how I achieved the desired outcome. I know the only way to become proficient is to practice, so I’m looking for a book or course that will give me practice in these things. Sort of an exercise book of progressively difficult problems to solve– similar to a math book where you’re given a skill, then a set of problems to solve using that skill. Then you’re given another skill and a problem to solve that requires that skill and previously learned ones.

Do you know where I might find such a course or book at an affordable price (under $100)?

Again, I appreciate your insight about programming. I will visit your site again.

Thanks,
Lanore Dixon

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