Learning PHP

Caliban42

Basically I need to learn PHP for work. It isn't something that has to be done overnight, this is more of a vague "Here's where we'd like to go in the future" sort of thing. Programming itself isn't an issue, I know VB, C++, C#, Java, Ruby, and I'm currently an RPG programmer. I just want to know what books and/or web sites you'd suggest to learn PHP. I could just grab a bunch from the library and look through them, but I'm sure the people here have some favorites.

Daenris

I just learned it by looking around the web. Basically, anytime I need to use PHP, I figure out what I need to do, and if I can't already do it I look around for similar solutions or just for related concepts. Maybe not the best way to do things, but if you already know other programming languages it's pretty easy to pick up.

Also of course the documentation on the PHP website is pretty good and includes useful samples in a lot of their function descriptions.

Turgor

Beware of the PHP monster. PHP is a largely overextended language. Honestly, with your current skillset, PHP shouldn't be that hard to pickup. Just be sure that whatever crazy idea someone has for PHP really isn't easier in another language. I have seen some really crazy stuff written in PHP that would have been a lot simpler in another language.

The O'Reilly books are good for PHP. I don't have any others. I usually check Amazon's ratings on books when I am looking for one.

Caliban42

Thanks for the feedback. No matter if it could be done in another language I'm already familiar with, it has to be PHP because it is supported by the System i.

Munacra

I always like lynda.com for good online video tutorials, even if they do have a hardon for Adobe.