Starting PHP on Linux [Beginner]

kaola_linux · 2008-11-26 07:19:50

Hello everyone, I'm on my college days and currently on third year. I have a subject on PHP which forces me to learn the language.

My instructor uses Dreamweaver to code things. I'm just a beginner and I want to learn from basic first. What would be the best way on learning it? I want to learn PHP using my Arch Linux.

Thanks in advance...

Last edited by kaola_linux (2008-11-26 07:20:57)

Ruckus · 2008-11-26 07:57:49

Use http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/LAMP to get a basic Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP setup on your home computer and then start coding. I personally hate dreamweaver or any "WYSIWYG" type coding, I just use Geany (on linux) or EditPadPro on windows and code it my self, that way you understand exactly whats going on.

kaola_linux · 2008-11-26 08:42:18

I did have lamp on my Arch Linux running and it was fine...:)
Thanks for the reply...I agree with you, but how do you handle graphical designs? Hard coding still?

Last edited by kaola_linux (2008-11-26 08:43:11)

Mashi · 2008-11-26 14:30:03

Start with a relatively simple editor that has syntax highlighting. Getting yourself a book on the subject wouldn't hurt. Follow some tutorials. Set yourself little challenges. If you enjoy it, you'll find your feet pretty quickly.

_alexmyself · 2008-11-26 20:46:02

'by hand' is the only way to have correct result and is finally faster than wysiwyg (thanks browser's never-compatible standards support..).
oh, and depending of your needs, maybe dreamweaver will be the good choice for you.

jorpheus · 2008-11-26 22:49:11

kaola_linux wrote:

Hello everyone, I'm on my college days and currently on third year. I have a subject on PHP which forces me to learn the language.
My instructor uses Dreamweaver to code things. I'm just a beginner and I want to learn from basic first. What would be the best way on learning it? I want to learn PHP using my Arch Linux.

Thanks in advance...

Was in the exactly same situation last year, heh. Anyway, I ended up coding the exam project in jEdit, but anything with syntax highlighting for PHP would have sufficed, I guess. Other than that, get a book/tutorial on it and get cracking

Ruckus · 2008-11-26 23:04:30

I do designs by hand. WYSIWYG doesn't teach you the underlying principles, which is what you need if you ever hope to be a serious web developer. I focus on XHTML 1.0 strict code, to keep cross compatibility between browsers as little of a nightmare as possible.

Edit: My editors of choice is Geany on Linux, and EditPadPro on windows.

Also, after you have the underlying principles down, you will actually be faster by hand than with a WYSIWYG editor.
If you're just going to be making a personal website once or twice a year, then by all means use dreamweaver, thats what its for, but if you want to be a serious developer, you will need to learn the basics.

Last edited by Ruckus (2008-11-26 23:10:36)

ralvez · 2008-11-26 23:37:45

kaola_linux,

I've been using Linux for the past 9 years. I'm a software developer and make my living, for the most part, as a web developer including php, python, XHTML and other web and server languages (you can use the link on my profile to visit my web site for details). For all my development I use Quanta Plus, vim (very nice if you have to work in a server over a terminal) and on occasion Komodo Dragon (good tool for pyhon, php).
If you really want to be "good" at coding, hand coding - as others have pointed out - is the way to go. Quanta is very good because it allows you create your out tags or strings with variables that you can use for pieces of code you use repeatedly. It also has an interactive tag tool that auto-closes any open tags you have started.

If this is just a temporary state of affairs (read: only required in this course), then I would recommend you install a virtual machine (VBox is good ) and use Dreamweaver like your teacher suggested.

Hope this helps.

R.

kaola_linux · 2008-11-26 23:39:41

Thanks guyz, I'll be practicing more...Thanks for the support...Now I'll be motivated to do things by hand...Cheers to everyone

Arch Linux

#1 2008-11-26 07:19:50

Starting PHP on Linux [Beginner]

#2 2008-11-26 07:57:49

Re: Starting PHP on Linux [Beginner]

#3 2008-11-26 08:42:18

Re: Starting PHP on Linux [Beginner]

#4 2008-11-26 14:30:03

Re: Starting PHP on Linux [Beginner]

#5 2008-11-26 20:46:02

Re: Starting PHP on Linux [Beginner]

#6 2008-11-26 22:49:11

Re: Starting PHP on Linux [Beginner]

#7 2008-11-26 23:04:30

Re: Starting PHP on Linux [Beginner]

#8 2008-11-26 23:37:45

Re: Starting PHP on Linux [Beginner]

#9 2008-11-26 23:39:41

Re: Starting PHP on Linux [Beginner]

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