Re: Re: How to train up?

On 02/22/2015 08:54 AM, Christoph Becker wrote:

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.

That's a good place to start, definitely. If you're into books, I've not read it but http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920033868.do has just been published and has good reviews from people I trust. Also, get involved in a local user group. If there isn't one in your area: http://nomadphp.com/ Also, refuse to use a web host that doesn't offer at least PHP 5.5. Hosts that aren't on 5.5 yet should go out of business through market pressure ASAP. That also means you have access to "modern" PHP functionality. (5.6 would be even better if you can find it.) The two big frameworks in the PHP world today are Symfony and Zend. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Zend is bigger in the US. Symfony is bigger in Europe, and more major OSS projects have adopted Symfony or some Symfony components as a baseline. It's probably worth your time to learn at least a little about both. If you're not building your tools out of Composer/Packaglist-provided libraries, start. Now. Also, pay attention to the work the PHP-FIG is doing. They're actively working to build the interoperability baseline tools that will define PHP for the next decade. (It's a slow process, and not without contention, but this is the future of PHP.) (Disclaimer: I'm a Drupal developer myself, have worked with Symfony but not Zend, and was one of the people driving Drupal 8 to adopt Symfony components. I am also the Drupal PHP-FIG representative.) --Larry Garfield