Re: Recommended PHP Books?

I've come late in the thread, but since this is just general views here's me on my soap box (hope I don't slip ;) I own (in purchase order): PHP3 Programming Browser-based applications Web Application Development with PHP 4.0 Professional PHP Programming PHP Pocket Reference Core PHP Programming I can't pick one single winner, they all have their niches and uses. PHP3 Programming Browser-based applications When I recieved my first project to do with PHP, this was my first purchase (it was the only one there :). Not bad... but then again not great. This book deals a hell of alot with database (MySQL) interaction, which was essential but glossed over alot of the finer points with PHP that I've since grasped (though I'm sure my hair doesn't thank me). Web Application Development with PHP 4.0 Truly excellent book that delves into the more arcane, albeit cool and useful applications of PHP. Topics that we do face eventually. I was especially excited about the guide to the Zend API that I read was to be included, however I found this to be too brief, and really not explain to me how PHP does what it does (my degree is in software engineering with C/C++). But that is no slight on this book, it is a nice introduction, and that topic truly needs a tome of it's own to do it justice *hint, hint, hint :P* Professional PHP Programming Yes like most WROX books it is very good, clear and easy to read (no I'm not on their payroll). God only knows why other book publishers don't make source code clear to read like these books (the source is shaded, but things should be bold and italics as well, but I digress). Again though this book was dealing with topics that I wasn't struggling with, ** but every information source helps ** PHP Pocket Reference An essential idea, but I'm waiting for 2nd Edition. Not greatly impressed by this book. I wasn't really after the introductory information about PHP in the front section, which by the way was very good, but I was looking for something else from this book, rather I was looking for a quick reference to the functions. That is there, however it doesn't say what the expected params of the functions are, and cardinal sin, there is no index, TOC are okay. (Please don't flame me Rasmus ;) Core PHP Programming This was a gift(?) from my co-worker. He bought for himself to help him get up to speed on PHP, but alas hasn't had the time (do any of us?) to get into it, and the book has ended up on my shelf. Certainly not to my detriment, this is a great book, one for which I wished I had begun with. Function information is explained nice and clearly, and it about the only book I know of that has dealt with Output Buffering and other recent developments. Additionally Leon Atkinson has touches on topics that really are required by professional PHP developers if they are consider this true development, modularisation, software engineering, etc. ------------------- From a software engineering background I've spent my last year working with PHP and fitting it to that discipline. Hack-and-Slash PHP is fine for your own site, but if you want to get serious (or have to) then one must begin to return to the tried-and-true tenets of software engineering, their not tenets for silly reasons. *starting to disappear into software engineering soap-box boy world.... sorry* ------------------- Other than the above books, the *most* helpful information source (here come a cliche) is of course the dear Internet. There is truly LOTS of info on the web, and any arcane topics is dealt with out there, somewhere, just keep looking, and looking, and looking. Plus it helps if your have Adobe Acrobat 4.0 (full edition) which allows you to input a web address and browse websites compiling them as PDF :) *yum* With all my collected resources, PHP binaries and source and other nik naks, my D:\PHP directory is 500MB, that helps ALOT. Hope that helps someone, anyone, feel free to privately contact me for any advice, or elaboration on the books. Happy Coding. Matt. --------------------------------------- Matthew M. Boulter. myCybrary Development Office. The University of Queensland Library. Brisbane, Australia, 4062. ---------------------------------------