Learning PHP & MySQL, by Michele E. Davis & Jon A. Phillips

A book that covers both PHP and MySQL is an intuitive start to what websites actually use, combining both technologies which are easily seen in almost every modern content management system or weblog. Therefore, the premise of this book seems solid for the apprentice webperson. The preface itself indicates this:

This book is for people who want to know how to create dynamic websites. that could include graphic designers, who are already working in an IT firm or advertising firm creating static web sites, who may need to move forward with coding database-driven websites...

In the 'Assumptions' area, it clearly points out that this is a beginner's book - and it may be too simple for people who can already create their own web pages with PHP and MySQL - instead referring to the O'Reilly Nutshell series for references.

The book starts off with the basics, only assuming that the reader knows how to use a web browser - something I would hope people are not still buying books for (please, poke your web browser - it does not poke back!) Still, starting in the acronym soup of PHP and MySQL can be daunting for the new person, and the Preface and Chapter 1 are the introduction to give new folks the warm and fuzzy feeling to proceed.

Within the 349 pages of the book, you'll find the following chapters and related questions to test your knowledge:

• Dynamic Content And The Web: An introduction to dynamic websites, with the core being - of course - PHP and MySQL. This is the warm fuzzy chapter to introduce people in 'static mode' to switch gears and join the rest of the world in celebrating the bliss of less drive space usage on their websites. If only we got web hosts to figure that out...
• Installation: Introducing the web's best friend, Apache Web Server, and how to install it on the machine in front of you or the machine on the other side of the planet (local or remote, respectively).
• Exploring PHP: PHP basics with HTML text - a standard building block for doing anything on the web which can generate HTML. Easily PHP 101.
• PHP Decision Making: This chapter explains how to use expressions, operator concepts, conditionals and looping - which means being able to define your problem and solve it by controlling how your PHP code can handle the problems. PHP 102
• Functions: Calling functions, defining them, and a precis introduction to object oriented programming. PHP 102A
• Arrays: Variable arrays for storing similar information are within this chapter - which is, in my experience, difficult for some people to grasp (because they skipped understanding variables). This is a problem area for some people, but once it's in use it becomes more intuitive.
• Database Basics: Yes, you can spell it, but can you use it? Basic database concepts and an introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL).
• Using MySQL: The basics of MySQL, the most popular database on the internet - covering management, the ever-important 'backing up and restoring' and a tease of more advanced SQL for the reader who wants to drink more deeply.
• Getting PHP to Talk to MySQL: It sounds hard for a novice, but PHP and MySQL really do want to get to know each other. The preceding chapters are necessary, so read them if you want to matchmake between the two. There's also an introduction to PEAR in here, which again allows the more comfortable readers to expand their knowledge.
• Working with Forms: Probably the staple of the MySQL and PHP marriage, forms are covered in that the reader learns how to make their very own forms as well as templates.
• Practical PHP: Yes, it's all been pretty practical so far, but this chapter gets into the more fun and powerful string, date, time and file manipulation functions as well as making system calls. If you think making system calls is about aliens using phone booths, you should probably start re-reading the book
• Modifying MySQL Objects and PHP Data: Programmatically changing databases and the data in the database(s) is documented here - including displaying results with embedded links and presenting forms to add and process in one fell swoop. This chapter (12) mixes a lot of what should have been learned in the preceding chapters, and is in itself a test of what has been learned so far.
• Cookies, Sessions, and Access Control: Pretty self explanatory, though if you think that cookies are in a jar and access control is putting the jar higher, you're missing something fundamental and should spend more time in this chapter.
• Security: 16 pages on security, which is really good to see in a beginner book.
• Validation and Error Handling: Oops. When nobody was looking, some JavaScript fell into the book - but don't worry, it's useful for making sure your users don't break your code easily. Pattern matching and redisplaying forms after PHP validation fails are important parts of this chapter.
• Sample Applications: Building a blog - probably the best sample application out there.
• Finishing Your Journey: Finding help on the web (where nobody can hear you scream), some websites, and information on the Zend engine and Lampshade. A nice ending with pointers to other resources.
• Answers to Chapter Questions: Don't peek! You're not going to learn anything unless you try, grasshopper.

I'm fairly impressed with the book, and wonder how much less abuse I would have gotten in email lists had I actually had this book. Don't worry, email lists aren't quite that bad, but they have their moments.

It always surprises me when I see people still creating static websites using Microsoft Frontpage; when I see it I feel a little bit like tossing wet toast at them and singing "Let's do the Time Warp Again". This book guarantees that I will be setting my toaster on soak, though I'll dress normally. There's really no excuse when books like this are out there. It's well written, fun, and while it drips of unavoidable programmerese now and then - it's a book to learn programming, and it gives you the language as you go along. Start at the Introduction and work your way through.

The audience for the book, while explained in the foreword, does include people using content management systems and weblogs who want to learn more about what's hoarding their words. I believe that this is a good book to add to a 'Content Management System User' bookshelf, because when things get funky you better be able to find the dance floor. If you can already spell PHP and MySQL, you've wasted about 5 minutes reading this review.

Overall, a KnowProSE 8 out of 10. A good book which allows people to progress at their own rate, and to explore the things which interest them beyond the scope of the book.