O'Reilly Releases "Learning PHP & MySQL": A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Database Driven Web Sites

CGIDir
Tuesday, June 20, 2006; 07:39 AM

It's almost inconceivable to find a web server without PHP installed these days, and MySQL is the fastest growing database server in the market with an installed base, surpassed only by Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle. Together these two open source applications form the underpinnings of a myriad web packages including popular blogging tools such as Wordpress and content management systems such as Midgard.

Consequently, the number of people who need to understand this technology is increasing. Are you a web designer wanting to increase the power of your sites? A programmer looking to shift into web development? Or perhaps you would just like to leave your old, static web site behind and move to a dynamic, data-driven web site? The key is the powerful yet accessible combination of PHP and MySQL, which has made it easier for anyone to create interactive web sites.

As Jon Phillips and Michele Davis, authors of the new book Learning PHP & MySQL (O'Reilly, US $29.99) observe, "PHP and MySQL are critical technologies for web development because of their ease of use and flexibility. Our book covers three Open Source technologies: Apache, PHP, and MySQL. These are all technologies that are at the forefront of dynamic web development where users want faster, more intelligent and slicker web pages. The number of Open Source applications that can be leveraged and modified that use these three continues to grow daily."

Their goal in writing the book is to help readers learn the ins and outs of PHP and MySQL and save them some of the "Why doesn't that work?" moments. Drawing from their own experience, they show readers what to watch for and how to fix these issues without pulling out their hair. Phillips and Davis take the time to introduce programming concepts so readers won't feel lost in the beginning of the book. The pace picks up as the book progresses and readers become more confident.

Learning PHP and MySQL starts with the very basics of the PHP language, including strings and arrays, pattern matching, and a detailed discussion of the variances in different PHP versions. Next, the book explains how to work with MySQL, covering information on SQL data access for language and data fundamentals like tables and statements. Finally, after readers have mastered these separate concepts, the book shows how to put the concepts together to generate dynamic content. In the process, readers will also learn about error handling, security, HTTP authentication, and more.

Whether building a new site or adding new features to an old site, readers of Learning PHP & MySQL will quickly discover how best to apply PHP and MySQL, getting more results for less effort.

Part of O'Reilly's bestselling "Learning" series, the book is an easy-to-use resource designed specifically for newcomers. It's also a launching pad for future learning, providing readers with a solid foundation for more advanced development.