PHP 5/MySQL Programming for the Absolute Begineer
In this book, I teach you how to write computer programs. I do not expect you to
have any previous programming experience. You learn to program using the PHP
language. Although PHP itself is a very specialized language (designed to enhance
Web pages), the concepts you learn through this language can be extended to a
number of other programming environments.
Whenever possible, I use games as example programs. Each chapter begins by
demonstrating a simple game or diversion. I show you all the skills you need to write
that game through a series of simple example programs. At the end of the chapter I
show the game again, this time by looking at the code, which at that point you will
understand. Games are motivating and often present special challenges to the programmer.
The concepts presented are just as applicable in real-world applications.
This second edition adds new features and includes updates from the previous
edition of the book. Specifically, it includes new chapters on object-oriented
programming (OOP) and XML, as well as examples on using PHP to create content
management systems. I’ve updated the code to reflect improvements in PHP 5.0,
including the improved object model and XML tools, and the new SQLite data
access tools.
Programming is not a skill you can learn simply by reading about it. You have to
write code to really understand what’s going on. I encourage you to play along at
home. Look at the code on the accompanying CD. Run the programs yourself. Try
to modify the code and see how it works. Make new variations of the programs
to suit your own needs.
