Quality PHP book...

[Intrigued]

I just wanted to share with those that may be interested in learning PHP that I have had good luck with Peachpit press books and I just purchase a PHP book from them (ISBN: 0321245652) for under $14 from Amazon.com.

Today I checked and I did not see this exact deal ($13.90 for a new book), but very close to it still on some "like new" books of the same ISBN:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/off...?condition=all

Sincerely,

[Corey]

You and your peachpit. Glad to hear it. Another one you might enjoy is Core PHP. I recently got ahold of the Zend PHP certification practice book. Long winded, rarely to the point, and focuses on the wrong things. Waste of money/time.

I don't know why anyone would try to "trick" someone with an exam. To my way of thinking the objective of an exam is to ensure that the applicant possesses certain core skills, and a good exam exposes the relevant asessment transparently, i.e. if the skills are there, the exam will detect them, as opposed to so many of the exams I see nowadays which are poorly designed such that their sole apparent purpose is to force applicants to merely memorize a small set of often meaningless factoids roughly centered around a given topic. Let me give you an example, here's an actual question from the practice book:

Which of the following is not valid PHP code?

A. $_10
B. ${"MyVar"}
C. &$something
D. $10_somethings
E. $aVaR

Of course the answer is D because PHP variables cannot start with a number but I find that this question is very badly designed, it serves only to make the student confused or nervous without neccesarily proving anything. ${"MyVar"} is not by any means a syntax most people would ever use in the real world, nor is "knowing it" integral to being able to use PHP to create and manage high end business applications. So... Testing people on the most obscure references to a given subject is the lowest form of examination IMHO. Sad stuff. It has nothing to do with the objectives of people hiring certified developers, and it has nothing to do with the goals of prospective applicants to a basic certification exam.

If you really want to just find out whether a student understands that PHP variables cannot start with a number, without confusing them or requiring them to know uselessly obscure methods for a basic certification test, you might ask:

Which of the following is invalid PHP code:

A. $_10
B. $aVar
C. $a_1
D. $10_somethings
E. none of the above

That's how I see it anyhow. I'm super disappointed by almost all the certification training I see nowadays. I had been hoping the Zend PHP course would strive for better quality especially given the whopping fees they've attached to their basic online courses.

[Intrigued]

Thanks Corey for the book title recommendation. As far as the Peachpit books... I have just had some very good luck. This Photoshop CS book is right on the money for my needs (getting acquainted with CS PS and learning some excellent tips to add to my work flow)

As far as your comments on the certification process that is more often the case than not.

I agree fully!

Also, a recent Civil Service test I took had some very abstract questions that could easily have been answered with at least two of the four multiple test questions supplied.

Nothing like trying to pick the best answer from a bunch of answers where upwards to all are correct!

Useless test overall in my opinion.

*Though it was interesting to see how a Civil Service test goes (it was my first one).

[Intrigued]

I am just about a couple hundred pages into this book (ISBN: 0321245652) and I recommend it to those trying to learn PHP.

It's easier for me to follow than the previous book I had purchased (O'Reilly was the publisher).

It looks like this author has a new Advanced book coming out around April, 2005 (next month! joy!), FWIW.

Tip: If you want to learn more about a PHP function and are in front of your 'Net enabled computer, then just type (where function = the function you need information on):

php.net/function (ie. php.net/asort)

[Intrigued]

I finished this book about 10 days after starting it. Not that it was a page-turner mind you (well, maybe a tad to a techno-geek'ish fella or gal). :d

Your mission:

1. With your browser open, Alt+D and type amazon.com (;-) )
2. Get a cheap copy of this book
3. Book arrives!
4. Get a Latte` (Dunkin Donuts--Mocha Swirl, warm, YES, with Whipcream! and make it a large!) ;-)
5. Read, read, read... feel the burn?

You're now officially in the "zone" (or zoned out because of that dang large latte`, buzzz'a buzzz'a) 8-D

[stickck]

i know you posted this a while back Intrigued, but i wanted to comment on your statement about taking an exam for Civil Service. I'm in the U.S. Air Force and i feel for you. I have to take those stupid multiple GUESS tests once a year for promotion! i thing its ignorant that we take tests that are designed to confuse you more than anything. its like they make these tests with the intent of making sure we are completely confused and can barely remember what the last question was so that when we leave the testing center we cant tell anyone what the test questions were in the first place.

just wanted to throw in my 2 bits.

chris

[Intrigued]

It must be some psychological test of some sort and it's not about the answers in the normal sense I'm starting to think.