Learning PHP, should I wait for PHP 6 or begin right now with 5?

LTSmash · 2008-12-08 22:36:49

Easy question, I guess. I want to learn PHP, but since PHP 6 is close, perhaps I could wait, but if it will be easy to switch from 5 to 6, perhaps I could begin right now with 5 and then learn 6, what do you think?

Ruckus · 2008-12-08 22:46:08

Start now, there won't be much noticeable changes if any, and most code should mostly be forward compatible.

Svenstaro · 2008-12-08 22:49:11

Indeed, start now. PHP will stay the same barely-afloat, patched-together language that it is now. No offense, but that's what PHP is.
And yes, I use PHP myself for most webstuff. It actually feels good for some time, not if you are coming from C, though (or so I assume).

LTSmash · 2008-12-09 00:40:05

PHP will stay the same barely-afloat, patched-together language that it is now. No offense, but that's what PHP is.

xD
Well I liked PHP syntax somehow when I readed some code, and also that it can be used for web and desktop apps, but if you've got a better suggestion instead of flaming you could of course say that

fumbles · 2008-12-09 01:09:40

.

Last edited by fumbles (2020-09-26 12:05:48)

shazeal · 2008-12-09 01:19:17

Well I learned PHP4 and never really did a whole lot with it. Im currently writing an inventory application using MySQL/PHP5 and everything I had learned pretty much just worked. I dont expect PHP6 will be much different, they add stuff but tend to leave the old stuff alone. I guess some PHP4 stuff will get phased out at the worst.

As for its patched-together-ness, never noticed. I code in Java/C/Python as well and dont really care as long as what I am using gets the job done. The client needs a Mac/Win/Linux database app, PHP does the job nicely and from a time PoV cheaply.

Svenstaro · 2008-12-09 01:42:04

LTSmash wrote:

PHP will stay the same barely-afloat, patched-together language that it is now. No offense, but that's what PHP is.
xD
Well I liked PHP syntax somehow when I readed some code, and also that it can be used for web and desktop apps, but if you've got a better suggestion instead of flaming you could of course say that

I actually didn't mean to flame, hence my "no offense" but people who are used to languages with more structure and design might be slightly bewildered. As I said, I use PHP myself for various projects, it's a love-hate thing really. Anyway, I found myself productive in replying here by stating that I would recommend PHP for whatever dynamic web page has to be made. It DOES get the job done easily, just it usually isn't pretty .

LTSmash · 2008-12-09 01:52:51

Svenstaro wrote:

LTSmash wrote:
PHP will stay the same barely-afloat, patched-together language that it is now. No offense, but that's what PHP is.
xD
Well I liked PHP syntax somehow when I readed some code, and also that it can be used for web and desktop apps, but if you've got a better suggestion instead of flaming you could of course say that
I actually didn't mean to flame, hence my "no offense" but people who are used to languages with more structure and design might be slightly bewildered. As I said, I use PHP myself for various projects, it's a love-hate thing really. Anyway, I found myself productive in replying here by stating that I would recommend PHP for whatever dynamic web page has to be made. It DOES get the job done easily, just it usually isn't pretty .

Hmm, well sorry, i mussunderstood you

BombStrike · 2008-12-10 16:11:11

Svenstaro wrote:

LTSmash wrote:
PHP will stay the same barely-afloat, patched-together language that it is now. No offense, but that's what PHP is.
xD
Well I liked PHP syntax somehow when I readed some code, and also that it can be used for web and desktop apps, but if you've got a better suggestion instead of flaming you could of course say that
I actually didn't mean to flame, hence my "no offense" but people who are used to languages with more structure and design might be slightly bewildered. As I said, I use PHP myself for various projects, it's a love-hate thing really. Anyway, I found myself productive in replying here by stating that I would recommend PHP for whatever dynamic web page has to be made. It DOES get the job done easily, just it usually isn't pretty .

Don't worry about that, I was at a conference held by Lukas Smith ( PHP's Release Manager ) yesterday, and he himself told everyone that PHP is a "patchy" language were there are no defined rules, no real guidelines or anything, but that's also why it's so powerful ( still some guy who came to discover what was PHP were kinda scared xD ). It also prove once more that the community can do awesome work and that open-source is a really good way to go

jb · 2008-12-11 01:48:28

Wikipedia on PHP6 wrote:

Unicode support; removal of ereg extension, 'register_globals', 'magic_quotes' and 'safe_mode'; Alternative PHP Cache; Removal of mime_magic and rewrite of fileinfo() for better MIME support[30]

As others said, go ahead and start now. There won't be much of a difference if you're just starting out. The language is going to stay the same syntactically.

Svenstaro wrote:

Indeed, start now. PHP will stay the same barely-afloat, patched-together language that it is now.

The day it isn't is the day I stop using it!

Arch Linux

#1 2008-12-08 22:36:49

Learning PHP, should I wait for PHP 6 or begin right now with 5?

#2 2008-12-08 22:46:08

Re: Learning PHP, should I wait for PHP 6 or begin right now with 5?

#3 2008-12-08 22:49:11

Re: Learning PHP, should I wait for PHP 6 or begin right now with 5?

#4 2008-12-09 00:40:05

Re: Learning PHP, should I wait for PHP 6 or begin right now with 5?

#5 2008-12-09 01:09:40

Re: Learning PHP, should I wait for PHP 6 or begin right now with 5?

#6 2008-12-09 01:19:17

Re: Learning PHP, should I wait for PHP 6 or begin right now with 5?

#7 2008-12-09 01:42:04

Re: Learning PHP, should I wait for PHP 6 or begin right now with 5?

#8 2008-12-09 01:52:51

Re: Learning PHP, should I wait for PHP 6 or begin right now with 5?

#9 2008-12-10 16:11:11

Re: Learning PHP, should I wait for PHP 6 or begin right now with 5?

#10 2008-12-11 01:48:28

Re: Learning PHP, should I wait for PHP 6 or begin right now with 5?

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