Re: How to train up?

John Allsopp wrote: > I've become aware that I've not kept up my PHP knowledge. I've a first > class degree in Internet computing, but all my PHP is self taught, and > from possibly a decade ago. I'm a freelance web developer, so it's often > fairly basic stuff but also some not-so basic things such as .. I build > a project control system for a printing company with a sophisticated > user interface & ajax. > > I build with a 3-tier architecture, object oriented model, but I've > actually avoided learning any framework because I'm stuck with the idea > that if I build from scratch I can do anything, whereas if I start > building things in someone else's framework, if I want to do something > I've got to work out how to do it in the framework, and that's not a > transferable skill. > > However, what's prompted this request is that I'd like to specialise > more, and it seems the market wants me to do more PHP, so I ought to > become the best I can be at it. And I only just noticed that my usual > mysql commands such as > http://php.net/manual/en/function.mysql-fetch-assoc.php is > deprecated, > so I really ought to get with the programme (or program, mebbe). > > I'm thinking, then, I ought to read a book that re-covers the basics for > me (I'm looking for recommendations), and .. what else? I'm not wanting > to start a framework war, btw, but I'm aware I've not heard as much > about Zend as I used to. I know nothing about Zend. > > I used to subscribe to PHP Architect, maybe I need to renew that. > > So yeah .. pointers, please. Where should be my sources of info for my > journey upwards? What should be my goals? How would you coach me? Maybe you'll want to have a look at <http://www.phptherightway.com/>. It seems to be pretty up-to-date and contains plenty of links for more detailed information. -- Christoph M. Becker