Hey everyone! I'm interested in learning php, i'm currently using a book I have called php & MySQL development but it's based on version 4 and i'm wondering whether there is any point continuing to read it.

Do you guys have any recommendations for decent books to read? :)

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I find the best to be those that go through the development of an application and discuss common practices to solutions.

Secure PHP Development by Mohammed J. Kabir is one I would recommend.

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The book I learned PHP with was Beginning PHP4 from Wrox Publishing. It was the perfect book. It covered PHP4 and MySQL, and was written by PHP programmers. I believe there were only 2 or 3 authors, but I don't recall for sure, because I don't have the book anymore.

I swapped it with my friend who bought the "Advanced" PHP programming book. Except the funny part is, that Advanced version, was just PHP3 with a few more complete program examples. So I actually got more information out of the other book. Maybe I should get in touch with that friend, and swap books back :P Not that I need it anymore. I use php.net for questions now. :)

NS

I've purchased PHP and Mysql for dynamic web sites, and a PHP book by Larry Ullman, well both were by LarryUllman. I found'em on Amazon.com. They are over PHP 3 and 4, but I think you can't go wrong with any newer book that covers what you need. I'm far from a programmer, VERY FAR, but it helped me learn a few details for small projects I needed. I wish I had more time to pursue it, as PHP is such a powerful scripting language.

I totally love with Wrox publishing. They taught me PHP and C++. They wrox ;)

The vast, vast majority of web hosts have not implemented php5 - it's too new, and still use php4. The vast majority of the functions in php4 are present in php5. So there is no reason to throw the book away. For example, I learned VB for a college course from a VB4 textbook, and never found anything it said no longer applied. (I learned php basics from a php3 textbook, and have only discarded one thing that was used in php3 and is no longer needed)

Recently I've used the book Web database applications with php and mysql, by Williams and Lane, and it was pretty reasonable. Certainly the secure log in system I copied from it worked okay and the client was happy with it.

I recently bought learn php,apache, and mysql in 24 hours from half.com , good book for beginners and is very useful. Only cost me about $10 after shipping fees (which I thought was very cheap).

I have some eBooks that i can give you, if you want it :)

PM me for more info.

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Actually, that could be very interesting... Did you purchase the books? Would you be willing to allow us to offer them here at TalkPHP?

Yes, i did purchase the eBooks.

Yes, i am willing to allow you to offer them here at TalkPHP :)

I will host the eBooks on my server for you to download on another day, I'm really busy right now working on an assignment.

Sorry about that.

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No problem. But are you allowed to distribute these books since you purchased them? Don't want to get ourselves in trouble now do we? :)

most eBooks come with resell rights, and can be given away for free if chosen to. I might have a few ebooks on php I could let you have.

I have various ebooks as well that have helped me. I would reccoments sams teach yourself PHP in 24 hours, It breaks it down and makes you do examples that will help you out. They dont just tell you what to do, They let you work alot out for yourself

That's the best way to learn is to figure the problems and solutions our yourself!

i have a php 5 for dummies ebook if you want it pm me :)

hey nonenone.. I am interested in the php 5 ebook (since I don't have it), are you giving it out to anyone?

I originally learned alot about php from sitepoint and purchased thier book from thier website which covered alot of thier online tutorials and went into additional detail and examples. It was a good book I think especially if you were getting started.

I just picked up Sams PHP in 24 hours (picked up Sams XML in 24 hours too while I was there lol) since I wanted to brush up on some things. I looked at Larry Ulmans book which was also nice and so was the Begginers PHP book. It was a hard choice but I went with Sams in the end simply because it was the most recent.

sams teach yourself $_APPLICATION_NAME in 24 hours

i have about 10 of there books. excellent books

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Fatal error: Call to undefined function: brain() in /data/www/brain.php on line 2

They also have 'sams teach yourself xxx in 21 days' which is a more advanced version ;)

I started to learn using Kevin Yanks book from Sitepoint, found it very easy to follow and shows you what the code does.