PHP & MySQL Everyday Apps For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) [Paperback]

Janet Valade (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764575872 | ISBN-13: 978-0764575877 | Publication Date: July 8, 2005

PHP and MySQL Everyday Apps For Dummies is a one-stop reference providing all you need to build dynamic, real-world, ready-to-use apps with the popular PHP (a scripting language) and MySQL (a database system) software. The book is a hands-on, go-to-guide that

• Walks you through installing the applications files from the CD-ROM and setting up your programming environment

• Contains all the code needed to create seven applications:
  • User authentication with HTTP
  • User login
  • On-line catalog
  • Shopping cart
  • Content management system
  • Web forum
  • Building and managing a mailing list (on the CD-ROM)

• Automates the programming process and walks you through building the application from start to finish

• Explains how to write secure code

• Features complete code—not just snippets, but neatly assembled packages with “instant” real-world functionality

• Shows how to build the applications in two forms -- procedural and object-oriented programming -- providing programmers who want to switch to the object-oriented method of coding (which is new in PHP 5!) with the essential know-how

• Includes a companion CD-ROM that contains every line of code in the applications from the book plus a bonus chapter that shows how to build a mailing list

Information on each application includes a discussion of issues, structure of the database, code listings, and an explanation of the code. You can use these applications as is, modify them for use on your Web site, or build your own application using techniques described. If you want real-world Web apps you can use right away, this is the book for you.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Includes unique object-oriented coverage!

Complete instructions for building real-world Web applications, with all code on CD

Create six practical applications — two user login-in apps, online catalog, shopping cart, content management system, and Web forum — both in procedural and object-oriented programming. Incorporate the apps into your Web site right away by following the easy directions. The apps are not just snippets, but neatly assembled packages with real-world functionality!

Discover how to

• Design and build two types of user login apps
• Restrict Web site access
• Build an online shopping cart and catalog
• Allow users to publish documents online
• Manage mailing lists
• Let users post messages on an online bulletin board

About the Author

Janet Valade has 20 years of experience in the computing field. Her background includes work as a technical writer for several companies, as a Web designer/programmer for an engineering firm, and as a systems analyst in a university environment where, for over ten years, she supervised the installation and operation of computing resources, designed and developed a statewide data archive, provided technical support to faculty and staff, wrote numerous technical papers and documentation, and designed and presented seminars and workshops on a variety of technology topics.
Janet currently has two published books: PHP & MySQL For Dummies, 2nd Edition, and PHP 5 For Dummies. In addition, she has authored chapters for several Linux and Web development books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 456 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (July 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764575872
• ISBN-13: 978-0764575877
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #809,996 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Several Common Apps Working and Described, August 18, 2005

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PHP & MySQL Everyday Apps For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

There are a handfull of applications that every web designer sooner or later has to implement. Of course a skilled web programmer can do any of these applications. All it takes is time, thinking about the problem, writing, debugging, checking out, and making the customer (who may be the programmer him/her self) happy.

Today there are several scritping languages that can be used to tie the web site together with a database for storing the data. One set of software that you can use is PHP and MySQL. Both of these are highly advanced products (often combined with Linux and the Apache web server for a high performance web server with no software cost). You might use these to write the applications you need.

But when we are talking about common applications, these have been done over and over. In this book, six applications are included, working and ready for you to install. Once you get them operational, you can easily modify them to suit your particular needs. The code for the application is given, both printed in the book and included on the CD that comes with the book. The code is then carefully explained both conceptually as to what the app does, and line by line so you know what's going on and modify it as needed.

The application included are:

two login apps
shopping cart
content management system (allows users to publish documents on your system)
Online bulletin board.

The book is intended to be self standing, but if you know nothing about PHP or MySQL you might look for the same authors book PHP & MySQL for Dummies.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Applications don't work. Other reviews must've been premature., November 27, 2007

By 

Sam - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: PHP & MySQL Everyday Apps For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

The applications on the CD are not "working and ready for you to install." Not at all.

In fact, if you do exactly what the book says, your apps WILL NOT work. Why? Because the code is wrong. Not only are there errors in the database instructions, but the PHP and inc files have numerous errors.

Even after downloading the "corrected files" and following the new instructions for the database found on the author's website, some functionality is simply broken. The CMS kinda-sorta works, but not really because there is no file upload form as you see displayed in the book. Just not there. Obviously the result of some error in the file include, but you'd have to be a php expert to figure it out. Without being able to add or delete records from a database, well, a CMS is pretty useless, isn't it? Yes it is.

The most important applications on the CD (shopping cart and content management system) are rife with errors. This cripples them to such a degree that they are worthless as is. And corrected. And especially if you are a "dummy."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a practical book, not for beginers, September 14, 2007

By 

Angel Lora "alora" (Dominican Republic) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PHP & MySQL Everyday Apps For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

This is a very good book to get practical skills in PHP development with MySQL appliances.But before buying it, it is important to understand that this book is not for beginers, this book assumes that the reader have a least basic knowledge of both tools.