Best way to learn PHP basics

Can anyone suggest the best way to go about learning some basic PHP coding?

I have recently begun work on a website and trying to take the easy option, being a newbie to website design, I purchased a template which is coded in PHP.

I am trying to customise my template to make it more original, using Dreamweaver as an editing tool. I can handle some of the very basic changes through trial and error etc but I would really like to gain some basic knowledge of PHP which would help me in this sort of task.

Any reccomendations of where to start?

Thanks.

http://goodphptutorials.com/category/basic-and-beginner

Here are some books:

http://www.computer-books.us/php.php

bookmarked it :p tnx :D

<edit>
@tom s here's another http://www.php-mysql-tutorial.com/

I recommend this http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_intro.asp

bookmarked it :D

Gotta put my two sense in here.
A great site that I use frequently is :

http://devzone.zend.com/node/view/id/627

It used to be a lot nicer (visually) but they changed it , I don't know why.
But I highly recomend this because the writer teaches in a very friendly and simple manner. I would just that over any text-book style any day!

set up your own LAMP box on your local machine, download some open source php scripts, and then play around with them, seeing what code does what.

getting your hands dirty is always the best way to learn.

Agreed.

You do need a basic knowledge of the language before doing that, though. Another good way to learn is by teaching other people. Lurking on these forums, or IRC (#html, #css, ##javascript, ##php on Freenode), and answering people's questions has improved my knowledge no end :p

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Originally Posted by zeropsi

set up your own LAMP box on your local machine, download some open source php scripts, and then play around with them, seeing what code does what.

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OR you can take the easy way :

http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html

Xampp! My best friend. To install, just download and run the exe. Loads just like any program. It has full LAMP capapilities ie. runs apache php, mysql with local phpmyadmin.

Funny thing is I have been using it to test php for 6 months or so and just barely figuered out how to run local mysql. Every since then- I can't stop coding!

Hope this helps as it really really really helped this novice . Proud to say I'm getting better!

I don't see the point, of the Linux distribution at any rate. Installing Apache, MySQL and PHP is a cinch.

well if you are running microsoft os than it would be easier wouldn't it ?

Honestly I wouldnt know if its a cinch or not as I don't run Linux. logically though, wouldn't the majority of beginning coders be running microsoft or at best, mac osx. Keyword being beginners.

What "average" computer guy would run linux ? (as I know I'm opening myself up to debate on these assumptions but seriously, If bob and joe went down to the local computer store: no linux in site. )

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What "average" computer guy would run linux ?

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What "average" computer guy would be trying to set up a websever on his home PC?

:) Hope you don't take this as a constant battle or anything, but in regards to your question:

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Originally Posted by Twey

What "average" computer guy would be trying to set up a websever on his home PC?

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a newcomer to PHP looking to "get his hands dirty" and as advised by forum replies sets out to setting up said webserver.

Come on OP back me up on this! Bet you a dollar you are running microsoft/osx aren't ya ?!

had to toss my 2 cents in :) i basicly lurk on forums like these learning from others, also good place to look if you have a problem is the google groups. As for setting up a webserver on a home pc it's been my thought that in a testing enviroment (not ment for public by any means) its been alright to set one up, but for hosting it via the web from a personal pc isnt the best choice. granted you can setup a test forum and test it that way or even if its a stand alone php script do it that way just saves time uploading (which on slower connections would be a good thing):confused:

yeah exactly, Dakon. We are talking about for development purposes only.

And as for your other comments, well that's why I felt it important to share XAMPP. It's pretty much plug and play for us pc users. I am in no way promoting microsoft over linux, its just a fact that microsoft has market share on us "average" users.

Also regarding forums, and database-run sites: That's why I cant stop coding! I just found out how to run local mysql host. Xamp has a fully functional phpmyadmin. You can run mysql backend and test to your hearts content. Then when you're ready to go live, just import all tables to your live mysql. Done.

Haha, I guess I am on a mission or something. Because as a self proclaimed novice, xampp was pretty much heaven sent. If things are better etc, etc, I guess with time I will move up to that. But from a novice point of view. I like xampp.

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Xamp has a fully functional phpmyadmin.

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I think phpMyAdmin should be banned :-\
I never got the hang of MySQL until I stopped using that thing. I mean, I used it, but I never quite understood what it was I was doing, never got a "feel" for the language.

Definitely much better to use the CLI client, in my opinion.

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But from a novice point of view. I like xampp.

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Xampp is a good way to get running fast, but have you ever tried to do it yourself? It's not as hard as you think and it's a great learning experience.

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Definitely much better to use the CLI client, in my opinion.

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However, most hosts only provide PhpMyAdmin. So it's a necessary skill.But I have never used the CLI client ,and might take your recommendation and see if my MySQL skills get any better.