Comments on: When PHP Actually Is Your First Programming Language http://reidburke.com/2008/10/05/when-php-is-your-first-language/ A webdev in San Jose, California. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:15:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: brian http://reidburke.com/2008/10/05/when-php-is-your-first-language/comment-page-1/#comment-13440 brian Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:16:40 +0000 http://reidburke.com/?p=236#comment-13440 im really wanting to learn php but im on the "high dive" and can't figure out how to jump in i've rented book from the library and searched online but i am still very confused about how to use the codes i am getting really frustrated about not being able to understanding it because every place i try to learn it from is differn't from the last and just shows you how to make some generic little program and not how to make costome ones im really wanting to learn php but im on the “high dive” and can’t figure out how to jump in i’ve rented book from the library and searched online but i am still very confused about how to use the codes i am getting really frustrated about not being able to understanding it because every place i try to learn it from is differn’t from the last and just shows you how to make some generic little program and not how to make costome ones

]]> By: scriptNode / Common PHP Equivalents in JavaScript http://reidburke.com/2008/10/05/when-php-is-your-first-language/comment-page-1/#comment-13431 scriptNode / Common PHP Equivalents in JavaScript Sat, 03 Jan 2009 09:04:45 +0000 http://reidburke.com/?p=236#comment-13431 [...] scripting is important, and PHP is an extremely common choice. Indeed, for many programmers it's even their first language. It's quite common for web devs to begin on the server, then later require some client-side [...] [...] scripting is important, and PHP is an extremely common choice. Indeed, for many programmers it’s even their first language. It’s quite common for web devs to begin on the server, then later require some client-side [...]

]]> By: matt http://reidburke.com/2008/10/05/when-php-is-your-first-language/comment-page-1/#comment-13386 matt Sun, 28 Dec 2008 08:23:27 +0000 http://reidburke.com/?p=236#comment-13386 "I went from looking at objects as namespaces to a representation of something." Yup, ditto here, up until only about a year ago. Disgraceful, right? But PHP (and co-workers) were forgiving... though maybe they shouldn't have been... Nice article! “I went from looking at objects as namespaces to a representation of something.” Yup, ditto here, up until only about a year ago. Disgraceful, right? But PHP (and co-workers) were forgiving… though maybe they shouldn’t have been…

Nice article!

]]> By: Reid http://reidburke.com/2008/10/05/when-php-is-your-first-language/comment-page-1/#comment-13261 Reid Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:46:08 +0000 http://reidburke.com/?p=236#comment-13261 @Jani I appreciate your comment regardless! :) @Jani

I appreciate your comment regardless! :)

]]> By: Jani Hartikainen http://reidburke.com/2008/10/05/when-php-is-your-first-language/comment-page-1/#comment-13260 Jani Hartikainen Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:27:28 +0000 http://reidburke.com/?p=236#comment-13260 Hm just realized this post is months old. I wonder why it showed up as a trackback in my blog today... :P Hm just realized this post is months old. I wonder why it showed up as a trackback in my blog today… :P

]]> By: Jani Hartikainen http://reidburke.com/2008/10/05/when-php-is-your-first-language/comment-page-1/#comment-13259 Jani Hartikainen Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:20:37 +0000 http://reidburke.com/?p=236#comment-13259 Firstly, thanks for the link =) You wrote some good points. I have noticed the similar "stuff" being around in certain other languages (like Java) that makes them kind of frustrating to learn even when you already know a thing or two about programming. I also think that I did write poor code in PHP, before I was exposed to frameworks and certain books (Code Complete, Pragmatic Programmer, etc.) about programming theory - things that I might've learnt if I wasn't self-taught. Jem: I think you should choose a PHP framework. Personally I'd recommend Zend Framework, but there are others too. Then, stick to the common best practices for the framework in question, which should make you write at least somewhat better code. Next, join a relevant IRC channel - there are usually people that are willing to point out mistakes or just offer general advice if you ask nicely and show them the code you're struggling with. Reading the books I mentioned can be helpful too if you haven't yet. Firstly, thanks for the link =)

You wrote some good points. I have noticed the similar “stuff” being around in certain other languages (like Java) that makes them kind of frustrating to learn even when you already know a thing or two about programming. I also think that I did write poor code in PHP, before I was exposed to frameworks and certain books (Code Complete, Pragmatic Programmer, etc.) about programming theory – things that I might’ve learnt if I wasn’t self-taught.

Jem: I think you should choose a PHP framework. Personally I’d recommend Zend Framework, but there are others too. Then, stick to the common best practices for the framework in question, which should make you write at least somewhat better code. Next, join a relevant IRC channel – there are usually people that are willing to point out mistakes or just offer general advice if you ask nicely and show them the code you’re struggling with. Reading the books I mentioned can be helpful too if you haven’t yet.

]]> By: Jem http://reidburke.com/2008/10/05/when-php-is-your-first-language/comment-page-1/#comment-12715 Jem Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:51:42 +0000 http://reidburke.com/?p=236#comment-12715 Although I dabbled with VB6 for a few years, it was never serious, and PHP was also my first language. I like it, I enjoy my job (PHP developer) and I can ignore the many foibles of the language. That said, I am very much aware that I am exactly as you describe in your post - stuck writing procedural code with dodgy logic, serving it inline with HTML and making do because it works. I have about 5 books on OOP principles, and I have read and digested them all. I can read OO code. I just cannot seem to make the leap from what I'm doing now to what I should be doing. I don't want to be in the same position, 5 years down the road, writing the same code I'm writing now. I am the only developer at work, which means nobody to learn from. I have a much more knowledgeable developer friend pushing me towards OOP and good design practises but he's on the other side of the world and time zone differences and work get in the way. What do I do? How do I find someone who is comfortable sitting down with me and telling me where I'm going wrong and how to put it right? Although I dabbled with VB6 for a few years, it was never serious, and PHP was also my first language. I like it, I enjoy my job (PHP developer) and I can ignore the many foibles of the language. That said, I am very much aware that I am exactly as you describe in your post – stuck writing procedural code with dodgy logic, serving it inline with HTML and making do because it works. I have about 5 books on OOP principles, and I have read and digested them all. I can read OO code. I just cannot seem to make the leap from what I’m doing now to what I should be doing.

I don’t want to be in the same position, 5 years down the road, writing the same code I’m writing now.

I am the only developer at work, which means nobody to learn from. I have a much more knowledgeable developer friend pushing me towards OOP and good design practises but he’s on the other side of the world and time zone differences and work get in the way. What do I do? How do I find someone who is comfortable sitting down with me and telling me where I’m going wrong and how to put it right?

]]> By: JonnyNoog http://reidburke.com/2008/10/05/when-php-is-your-first-language/comment-page-1/#comment-12714 JonnyNoog Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:38:57 +0000 http://reidburke.com/?p=236#comment-12714 Christ, I wish I had knowledgable co-workers, even just once, it would be nice to see how it feels. :P Christ, I wish I had knowledgable co-workers, even just once, it would be nice to see how it feels. :P

]]> By: doll http://reidburke.com/2008/10/05/when-php-is-your-first-language/comment-page-1/#comment-12713 doll Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:16:31 +0000 http://reidburke.com/?p=236#comment-12713 Can any one please tell me how to become web developer ? How to get started , i.e which languages i have to learn ? Please tell me in order.Thanks. Can any one please tell me how to become web developer ? How to get started , i.e which languages i have to learn ? Please tell me in order.Thanks.

]]> By: jeremiah http://reidburke.com/2008/10/05/when-php-is-your-first-language/comment-page-1/#comment-12712 jeremiah Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:53:37 +0000 http://reidburke.com/?p=236#comment-12712 PHP has a syntax that is very similar to Perl, but Perl has a huge community and CPAN - a giant archive of already written code. If you like PHP you may want to look into Perl and some of the tools it offers - it might not be a hard transition to Perl and you'll get some extra tools in your toolbox. PHP has a syntax that is very similar to Perl, but Perl has a huge community and CPAN – a giant archive of already written code. If you like PHP you may want to look into Perl and some of the tools it offers – it might not be a hard transition to Perl and you’ll get some extra tools in your toolbox.

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