Re: PHP Question

From: Tom Thackrey (use.signature_at_nospam.com)
Date: 01/17/04

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    Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 07:44:30 GMT

    On 16-Jan-2004, sarahrosen1@yahoo.com (sarah rosen) wrote:

    > For a NON-Technical person how easy is it to learn PHP ? (for website
    > changes - mostly minor changes)I have never done any programming.
    >
    > If any one would be kind enough to let me know I would appreciate it.

    As languages go PHP is pretty simple. However, the environment where PHP
    runs is not.

    PHP is a server side scripting language, which means it runs on the server.
    The client (browser) doesn't know PHP, it's language is HTML (plus
    JavaScript etc.) So, the PHP on the server has to send HTML to the browser
    and receive data from the browser. All this is done page by page making it
    complicated to 'remember' things between pages. To further complicate
    things, most PHP scripts access some kind of database (e.g. MySQL). So, in
    addition to PHP, HTML and JavaScript, you have to worry about SQL.

    Any one of these languages, PHP, HTML, JavaScript, and SQL, could fill a
    pretty large book. Combine them with their interactions and add on security
    concerns and you have the programming equivalent of rubbing your stomach and
    patting your head while singing Silent Night and tapping out 76 trombones
    with your feet. OK it's not quite that bad, but it's very complex for the
    beginner and unless you're prepared to do a fair amount of studying it will
    be very frustrating.

    The good news is the people who hang out here are really helpful. I've seen
    several threads where it was obvious that the original poster was a novice
    in way over his or her head and the replies were patient, helpful, polite
    and often quite extensive.

    If you decide to take the plunge, start by learning HTML. When you move on
    to PHP remember that the goal of PHP is to send HTML to the browser. Getting
    a good grasp of what's HTML and what's PHP will be a big help.

    Good Luck. 

    -- 
Tom Thackrey
www.creative-light.com
tom (at) creative (dash) light (dot) com
do NOT send email to jamesbutler@willglen.net (it's reserved for spammers)
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