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If you want to learn php (or any language) this will cut your time in half

by Ttrain
7 replies
A lot of people want to learn to program. Some just because they want to learn a new skill, others because they want to build something cool, and some people just because they feel they need too. I learned how to program in 5 different languages in only a few months, without any prior experience. I didn't even know what html5 was! after that I built a huge website from scratch, so
whatever your reason is, if you don't want to spend years learning to program here's three ways to do it fast.

(note: I have no affiliation at all with the links below... just felt i should put that )

1) If you want to learn php. Start here:

phpacademy - YouTube
EDU - YouTube
Those two youtube channels will teach you all the basics and then some.

And this one is a great source too for any programming language:
W3Schools Online Web Tutorials

After that here's some great books that are real easy to understand:

Head first PHP & MYSQLHead first PHP & MYSQL
Learning PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript<b></b>: A...Learning PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript: A...
This one's a must:
PHP Cookbook: Solutions and Examples for PHP...PHP Cookbook: Solutions and Examples for PHP...
PHP and MySQL Web Development (4th Edition)PHP and MySQL Web Development (4th Edition)
2) Build something:

You could read all the books i just posted and watch all the videos five times, and you still wouldn't be a better programmer if you never built anything. So start with something small,Like a photo sharing site. Build it from scratch with no templates or anything. This will force you to learn the ins and outs of things like databases, sessions, cookies, php, html, css, etc. But you wont be overwhelmed.

Always remember though, don't try to build the great wall, start by laying a good brick. If you get that, then everything becomes easier.

3) Purpose:

This is the biggie. If you really want to cut your learning time in half, then have a purpose behind learning the skill. You will be ten times more focused and productive if you have a purpose, then if your doing it just because.

My purpose was that I was trying to build a great idea i have. Programming can get boring and it takes a lot of time and energy. It's not going to be easy. Especially if you don't like sitting infront of a computer for hours at a stretch. But having a purpose will get you through those times when you don't really want to do it.
#cut #half #language #learn #php #time
  • Profile picture of the author ClicProject
    It´s great to hear you so motivated Ttrain, programming can be a total buzz when you get to a point when you can really create something.

    I completely agree that you need a purpose to learn, I remember I first got started with web programming coding a vacation rental booking script.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ttrain
    Yeah the very first thing i built was a photo posting site. It was pretty bad, but it was cool learning how to do it from scratch. And your right, theres a lot of freedom and fun in thinking up something and being able to build it on your own.
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  • Profile picture of the author gcampton
    Good post man, and very true about many points. Quoting Will Smith perhaps?
    Seriously, I probably wouldn't have learned half of what I know about php now than what I did a couple weeks ago if not for the drive and purpose.

    When I studied programming at school I had no real purpose other than I thought it would be cool to be able to make video games, but then you actually start learning programming and find out to make a game it requires a buttload of math and other factors that make the whole process quite complicated.

    I repeated quite a few semesters doing that course... and never did finish my final C++ semester, let alone pass the first SQL semester... my god SQL is boring when you're trying to learn it without a reason to. 1.5year course 3 semesters of Java, C++, SQL and I only got to Java Semester3, C++ 2, and SQL failed.

    However in the last 2 weeks I've learned more about php and SQL than I did studying the same principles some years back.

    Some of the knowledge sunk in, like I did remember quite a few SQL commands. But overall these last couple weeks have been awesome and I'm about to release my first WSO (php plugin) that will help so many others and my own businesses.
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    (o.O) <<<----- This bunny is more ethical and mostly made of pixels.
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  • Profile picture of the author cgimaster
    Don't forget to list PHP: PHP Manual - Manual

    While it may not be most of the times simple to understand it does hold most of the usage of functions and most of the time have useful comments posted by users.

    And also the biggest Q&A community for programming at Stack Overflow if you ever have a question that is the place, but do user the search please their Q&A is so huge that it is very unlikely that your question is yet to be replied.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ttrain
    haha I was quoting will smith. I was wondering if anyone would catch that...

    If I went to school to learn programming, I probably would have failed every class. It's alot easier when your making something for yourself then when your being told what to do. And yeah, I think everyone underestimates how involved it can become, especially when you start doing complicated stuff.

    Good luck with your new plugin man. I've never actually made one, but I'll probably give it a try sometime.
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    • Profile picture of the author cgimaster
      Originally Posted by Ttrain View Post

      haha I was quoting will smith. I was wondering if anyone would catch that...

      If I went to school to learn programming, I probably would have failed every class. It's alot easier when your making something for yourself then when your being told what to do. And yeah, I think everyone underestimates how involved it can become, especially when you start doing complicated stuff.

      Good luck with your new plugin man. I've never actually made one, but I'll probably give it a try sometime.
      I will partially agree with you because I think it really depends on the teacher as well, some teachers have the gift to teach and know exactly how to keep you entertained with the content and class, however, its pretty are to get a hold of these kinda of teacher at least where I live.
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  • Profile picture of the author emarrufo
    Wow, someone read my mind or great minds think a like?

    I was just thinking in the last few days "Should I learn PHP or just outsource it?"

    Maybe I will use your suggestions and learn the basics, short on time thou.

    Just want to say thanks for this info at least now I have some where to start.

    Will keep an eye on these posts, again thanks for the info.
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    Enrique "Rick" Marrufo
    http://mrrplr.net/updated-ncis2 - Updated and redone with new improved look and feel. Huge improvement over the original No Cost Income Stream 2.0 program.

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