Posted by Peter Fox on 11/14/06 09:32

Following on from Mason's message. . .
>I've been working to become competent at making websites. My learning path
>has been:
>
>html -> css- > paintshop pro -> javascript -> php/mysql
>
>I'm getting somewhat proficient at php/mysql (although I have plenty to
>learn - I haven't even started on gd library) and want to think about my
>next step.
Good start. You've been looking at how to use a useful set of tools for
your workshop.

There are possibly a couple more bits of off the shelf technology that
you ought to get a feel for. Apache and setting up a web server. If
you can already do this (it's not hard on a familiar operating system)
then try it on an alternative OS. [1]

There is some important background reading to be done in the field of
security both the general scope and the specifics of dealing with user
input. You should also check out a little bit of the computer science
bit of programming (data structures and OO for example) and the software
engineering bit of programming (development methods and life cycle for
example). Almost anyone can write PHP code but very very few can
produce systems that are robust, resilient and reliable. It can take
years to be really good.

Then you will need to develop your working environment. This is a
matter of trying out editors[2], making useful tools, trying out
utilities, evolving reusable code and structuring your workspace
efficiently.

Of course you'll need the communication skills to find out what users
really want and convert that into something that 'works' on the screen.
This takes time and experimentation.

Finally you might want to investigate in a spirit of 'I wonder if these
can do anything for me' some frameworks.

o Good luck.
o When you have a fully functioning software workshop then hyped things
like for example AJAX will be a lot easier to evaluate for 'what can
they do for me'.
o Get in plenty of 'miles'. There is no substitute for screen-hours
spent sweating towards working systems.
o If you contact me direct (watch spam trap) I will send you a tutorial
resource which I think will be right up your street.

[1] Also remember that there are multiple PHP programming paradigms. As
snippets inside HTML and as programs that emit HTML.

[2] Have a look at, and keep your eye on, Eclipse. (It doesn't work for
me but YMMV.)


--
PETER FOX Not the same since the porcelain business went down the pan
peterfox@eminent.demon.co.uk.not.this.bit.no.html
2 Tees Close, Witham, Essex.
Gravity beer in Essex <http://www.eminent.demon.co.uk>

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