Convert to GutenPalm or to PalmDoc by John Perr About the author: Linux user since 1994; he is one of the french editors of LinuxFocus. Content: Introduction First contact PHP et al... Case Study Appendices Conclusions Links Talkback form for this article

Book review: Professional PHP Programming

Abstract:

This is a review of the book Professional PHP Programming from WROX press. PHP is a server-side scripting language for creating dynamic Web pages.

Introduction

The Professional PHP Programming from WROX is a reference for programmers. It is written for both occasional users of PHP and regular programmers. It is for all those who rely on the PHP language to build a web site with dynamic content, something that goes beyond the capabilities of HTML alone. The book reviewed was the English edition. The French one will be out by September whereas the Korean issue is already available.

First contact

At first, this 900 pages book is impressive and looks serious. The ambition of the authors is clearly to explain PHP programming, leaving no parts of that language in the dark.
The book is structured into three main sections:

1. The PHP language and its environment
2. Case studies of different applications of PHP
3. Seven different appendices

PHP et al...

This first part is the biggest part of the book (around 60%). The first chapter details installation and configuration of PHP. It also compares various alternative solutions to PHP. Reading the book you will conclude at the end of that chapter that PHP is the best alternative. It explains the history of most of programming solutions for dynamic web sites, the free software concept, as well as the installation of Apache and PHP under other commercial operating systems.

Next, the PHP language is presented together with one practical example which builds along the chapters. It is clearly stated in the first pages of the book that the reader should have a programming knowledge. This can be confirmed when reading the book and learning the first concepts, even if the authors have obviously made efforts to provide a good background. Programming constructs such as variables, operators or functions are presented. Chapter 9, dedicated to Object Oriented Programming, could have been better placed after chapter 11 in order to maintain the nice and smooth progression of the level acquired by the reader. This would also have kept the "Bicycle Shop" example continuous across chapters because chapter 9 deals with a different application project.

This first part reviews all of the classical programming features of the PHP language. The following chapters are dedicated to the description of interfaces specific to web based tools for which PHP is made:

• Access to SQL Databases (MySQL is used as an example)
• Image Manipulation
• XML
• LDAP: The Lightweight Directory Access Protocol.
• SMTP and IMAP: Sending and receiving email.
• Connectivity: Direct access to network sockets
• Cookies.
• Security.

Each one of these chapters could have been a book by itself. Nevertheless, each of the chapters introduces the subject with enough detail to allow the reader to program real life PHP3 applications.
There also is a chapter about error handling and the use of the debugger. This is certainly very useful as soon as one has to cope with the programming of a serious application.  

Case Study

The second part of the book confirms that it is definitely written for those who really want to program in PHP3. Four case studies are fully explained:

1. Shopping cart: Program a site where you can sell anything (and boycott Amazon as we are at it :-).
2. A discussion forum application.
3. E-mail application: Beat hotmail.
4. Database Browser.

Appendices

The size of the appendices is somewhat impressive; 200 pages dedicated to:

1. PHP functions
2. PHP4 and Zend
3. HTML Reference
4. HTTP requests and responses
5. Regular Expressions
6. Open Source Software
7. Resources, Support, index...

Conclusions

Despite a fast evolution of the free software world and of the Internet, Professional PHP Programming is a book well suited to the needs of web site programmers. PHP4 was not available at the time the book was edited, but pre-versions were sufficient for the authors to be able to explain the differences between PHP3 and PHP4 when needed. It is very clear that this book is written by programmers for programmers as the title of the collection names it. The numerous appendices will prove very useful during day to day work.

Professional PHP Programming is definitely a book to recommend to all those wishing to program efficiently with PHP. Examples and case studies will be particularly appreciated because they are concrete and functional. Everyone should easily be able to build his own application after reading the book. This is a major advantage for a programmer willing to have quick and "really running" application. The way PHP is presented is very clear and pedagogic. This will for sure please all those who want to have an efficient way to learn about PHP programming. One can find tutorials about PHP on the web, but certainly not as comprehensive and exhaustive as in this book.

Links

More details on:

• WROX editions
• Professional PHP Programming
• PHP.net
• The PHPBuilder site
• Apache

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