Recommend Php Book & Php Free Tutorial Website For Beginners For Latest Php Stable Version

[phpstudent2015]

Good Afternoon ladies & Gentlemen,
I am interested in learning php programming. I do not have any programming background in any other programming languages be it computer programming (C, C++, C#, Perl, Java, etc.) or web programming ( Server Side: Php, Perl Cgi, Python, Ruby on Rails; Clientside: Javascript, Xml, Xhtml, CSS, etc.).
I only know basic Html and currently use a bot programmign tool “Ubotstudio” but that’s all.
Can you be kind enough to recommend me a paper book where I can learn php without getting confused ? It must teach the latest stable version.

Q1. Which php version is stable and which version is installed on webhosts the most ? 5.5.8 ? If so, where can I get a paper book to learn it or where can I learn it online from some free tutorial ?
I actually prefer to learn it from a paper book as I am not always connected to the internet. I am using internet cafe to send this message/post.
I was just checking Amazon now but a lot of books meant for the beginners have got bad reviews/ratings from customers and that has left me confused and worried.
The book must be for total beginners and not for intermediate or advanced programmers.
It must not leave out any basics but teach it.
Must teach the full default library (all the “Commands”, “Functions”, “Sub functions”, “Syntaxes” or whatever that exists in the language from top to bottom and not miss out anything. Must teach the full grammer of the language and not leave-out anything).
You may recommend any free tutorial websites too but like I said I actually prefer to learn it from a paper book as I am not always connected to the internet. I am using internet cafe to send this message/post.

Q2. What is Php frame work ? Reusable code blocks meant for a specific task such as deal with database, etc. ?
If so, I’m not interested in getting into heaviuly learning one framework and not learn the full language.
No good being just an eye specialist or a bone specialist (one field only). Might aswell be a general doctor (GP) that knows a little bit of all fields. I think you know what I mean. Let’s learn the basics of the general stuffs first (the core of the language), I can them later-on move-on to other fields such as database, etc.
And so, the book must not concentrate on one field only such as to build CMS or Social Network Account Logins or Forums or Database (MySql) because then I’d only learn one aspect of php and not the basics. In short, I want to learn the basics of the language and get a strong background in it. I prefer to build php scripts for Unix/Linux, Apache Webserver using MySql database. Book must teach step by step. Must teach A, B, C then 1, 2, 3 and 1+1=2, 2*2=4, 5-2=3, 25/5=5 and so on before jumping into the algebra and geometry (if you understand what I mean when we speak in terms of learning basic English and Maths).
I don’t want to program in one version and then see my webhost uses another version. Currently, my webhost is Hostgator.
If I have come to the wrong department/category then kindly forward this message/post to whoever can help.
I await every php lover’s reply.
PS - What do you think about this book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/PHP-Programming-Ultimate-Course-Beginners-ebook/dp/B00PSNRK16/?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429028734&sr=1-12&keywords=php+5
It seems it’s not a paper version. Do you reckon it will do the job or not ?
PPS - if you can’t recommend any paper books then do you recommend any website where I can go and printout the tutorials ?
The website must qualify all that I said earlier about the book.
Anyway, I was expecting the Php Board to provide basic teachings of the language on their website but I’m disappointed to see they don’t!
Thank You
Mr. Ali

[s_molinari]

Hello Mr. Ali.

Welcome to the world of PHP.

First thing I’d like to point out is, although books solved a purpose for many, many years, you can find just as good and actually much better learning facilities on the Internet and I would suggest you use them instead (free or even paid offerings). For instance,

http://www.codecademy.com/tracks/php.

To answer your questions.

Q1. There are three “stable” or supported old and new versions currently.5.4, 5.5 (old) and 5.6 (new) and they are updated constantly. Currently the most up-to-date versions are: 5.4.40, 5.5.24 and 5.6.8. You can see them here: http://php.net/downloads.php

To start to learn programming (and to start any new projects), I think you should always use the latest new version, so 5.6. As you learn, you’ll also learn the “newer” functions and why they were created. By the time you get good at programming, that version will most likely be the most widespread. If it isn’t, then you know anyway, what to avoid, so your programs are compatible with most hosting. I wouldn’t really worry about that now either.

Q2. You are absolutely correct in wanting to learn the language first and not directly want to start using frameworks. They won’t help you in the beginning to learn really and worst case, they will more than likely confuse you more than anything else. What they can show you is how to write code well (well, in most cases…). In other words, when you start to code, your code should look like well structured and properly written code in the frameworks you’ll find out there.

A bit contrary to your outlook on frameworks, although they do provide tools for specific things, they are not “specialized” or rather, they won’t get you to be specialized in the manner you described. If you learn a framework, you are learning to use the tools they have pre-built for you and which you’ll need in the future anyway. They save you time. So, learning a framework isn’t becoming specialized. In your doctor analogy, PHP is like the knowledge about human anatomy you must know to be a doctor and a framework is more about the knowledge to use tools like a scalpel. You might be able to operate on someone without the scalpel, but it certainly makes your job easier, when you can use one properly. If you become a good PHP dev, you must learn a lot of specifics anyway and you then become a jack of a lot of trades automatically, simply because so much is needed to support a dynamic web application these days.

For instance, you should also think about learning Javascript too. I don’t think there is a good PHP dev out there now, who doesn’t also know what Javascript is and what it can do and how to program with it, at least generically. This is now even more important actually, as more and more functionality is being moved to the client’s side. This has basically become necessary because of the mobile computing paradigm. So, think about adding Javascript to your learning path. A very good JS online training course (but requires payment, but is worth it) is codeschool.com

https://www.codeschool.com/paths/javascript

Another good list of videos to learn about PHP, and good programming in general, are these suggestions.

https://github.com/phptodayorg/php-must-watch

Oh, and one tip for sure is, start programming as soon as you can. Start writing code. I mean, you must have a dream of what you’d like to have done. A problem? An application of some kind? I bet you have something dreamt up. The tutorials I pointed to offer the means to write code as part of the training, but you should also try and think of a very simple problem you’d like to solve quickly (with emphasis on simple and quickly). Don’t go overboard with some really complicated project at first (like I have). It will just build up frustrations inevitably. I’ve gotten through that, but still, it made my learning PHP difficult (and I am still and always learning, like every good dev should).

This video series is about producing your first “game”, but the tips and suggestions in them hit the mark even better than what I just said. I had to chuckle, when I first saw the videos, because they made me remember what I did wrong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=175&v=z06QR-tz1_o

I hope that all helps. Have fun learning!

Scott