Customer Reviews

PHP5 and MySQL Bible

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

While I'm not finished reading it all (over 1,000 pages) I have to say that I now understand PHP and MySQL so much better than before. I previously purchased the "Visual Quickstart Guide - PHP" and "Visual Quickpro Guide - Advanced PHP" but have to say this book is so much better. It goes through everything you need to know in seperate chapters and provides text on the why's and how's of PHP. For anyone who has tried taking the advice of many and "RTFM" but has become overwhelmed, this book is great. (I'm definitly not saying forget the online manual; it is essential.)

Thank you PHP5 and MySQL Bible.

This book is not meant to be a profound cache of code-snippets. Indeed there are some coding errors. I freely admit that I learned raw html "OJT" years ago, with little reason or time to learn anything more involved that wasn't required of me. I was a designer, typesetter and layout hanger, not a programmer. I have no experience in C or in Java. Call me a programmer groupie, I have dozens of family, friends and acquaintances who program miracles daily in all different alleys while I play a "very aesthetic game of tiddleywinks". When I began getting clients who wanted websites that DID things instead of just glorified yellow-page ads, this "turkey" asked all of the "eagles" which way to turn -- they looked at what I needed and what paths that might lead to, and they all said PHP. I started playing around with canned PHP webapps about two years ago, and I quickly picked up how to install mods and then modify those same mods no sweat, but even with a few different sorts of PHP/MySQL in 24 hours, one week, etc. books -- I never really understood the WHY's and HOW's of the GUTS of those webapps [framework, huh?!], let alone how to create even the simplest of freestanding flat calls, all of which have recently begun to make my life SO much easier. I quickly learned that those 24 hours/one week/etc. style books are ALMOST STRICTLY made for folks with C and Java experience even though the books desperately claim otherwise. Why did I choose this book? Because a few friends of mine who have been working with PHP since near the beginning told me that this was one of the few version'd books that always has a worthwhile amount to offer both beginners and seasoned pro's, as well as everyone in between. I actually started reading this one cover to cover, and was not the slightest bit disappointed in my investment. Let me clarify -- I actually COULD read this one cover to cover without wondering what magical decoder ring I was missing. Instead of a code snippet "Instant PHP" book, I finally wound up with one that I can look at the examples in the book, and without even trying the examples verbatim, write my own similar but original code for what *I* want to accomplish. I don't know Jane Adams, I am not her banker, and I don't know what I would do with her recipe database so 6 page long examples of how to code any of that to be used verbatim in 24 hours are of little value to me. Yes, the book jumps around -- there's a heck of a lot to cover here! 1000+ pages might seem rather hefty, but it has been a godsend for me. Take the reviews however you will; I found it extremely educational AND entertaining, and having seen dog-earred copies in the offices of some of said "eagles" -- I am fairly certain there is some great stuff in here for PHP pro's too. If you really feel the need, give it a few minutes at your local bookshop -- then come back to Amazon for the killer discount. You won't be disappointed!

Do not bother to get "PHP5 and MySQL Bible" unless you're a complete PHP beginner.

The one OO chapter is not much more than is in the PHP manual. I got it and wish I hadn't. Overall it's long-winded and the humor is dry. Tons of useless chatter in between the information you really want.

I have read this book in whole and these are the facts as I know them.

As the other reviewers have stated, there are quite a few code errors. However, I was impressed by the content. The dialog within the book is comprehensive as well as enjoyable. This is not a dry manual. It does jump around, but with so much covered, there's no correct navigational path to develop each topic in succession. I found it great to read the book, but create my own code based on examples found in the book. (Copying the code line by line didn't help me. However, copying the general information contained really expanded my knowledge.) This is a book for beginner and intermediate programmers interested in PHP.

This is my go to book on PHP and MySQL. The author does a great job of being very thorough in his explanations! You can simply skim a function and get the brief overview or read the entire entry and get a very in-depth look. There is also a pretty good introduction on object oriented programming. Using this in conjunction with the php.net website makes for a rock solid source of php/mysql info.

The book was in great shape and great price! Thanks for a great experience.

This book is full of faulty grammar - spelling and style - but no matter how annoying, you'll find out that's not the worst that can happen when trying to learn PHP from a book. Far worse is that even some of the most basic, three lined examples of code contain fatal errors.

Unfortunately, most examples of code are unnecessary long and complicated and seem to be chosen randomly. I agree with other reviewers that the first few chapters about the history and variables are OK but from then on it gets really hairy.

I can't believe this book still gets 3 out of 5 stars. I would never buy this book again, or recommend it to others. In fact, I'm on Amazon to order a different book on learning PHP. I have bought other books from this 'bible' series in the past but after this one I will think twice before picking up another 'Wiley bible'.

This book doesn't give the nuts and bolts. There are no real examples, it's all a bit esoteric for me. I have web experience and database experience, but this book hasn't put it together.

I should have bought a "For Dummies" book.

Most of the Bible series of books are worth the money you pay for them, and this one is no exception.

Good informative book, great for the beginner and a good read for the advanced.

Not good for reference, but then it isn't supposed to be.

This book has some good introduction to PHP and MySQL, but the examples are abhorrent, with some having obviously flawed conditional logic. If you get this you will be spending most of your time debugging the inherently flawed code. This is a real headache especially if it's your first time doing things like self-submitting forms. What's even worse is that the examples are barely elucidated and there is nothing on how to correctly setup example-specific MySQL tables, columns etc. Basically you are left to copying the examples and hoping to learn something whilst debugging because there is little or no info provided on the dynamics of the code.