Total PHP Noob, suggestions for books needed

[blackrabbit]

Ok I'm a TOTAL PHP NOOB. I've been doing ASP and ASP.net for years but now I'm working on a site and want to use vBulletin as the forum software since people say its the best one out there and a lot of the sites i frequent use it. Anyway vBulletin is written in PHP and so I would like to make the rest of the site using php as well.

Does anyone have any suggestions as far as reading material I should pick up to start learning PHP? I was looking around php.net and the online manual seems pretty good but I would also like a book that I can have on my desk while I learn, I find I learn better that way when its right in front of me and I can touch the reading materials.

Thanks.

 

[southbeach]

Check this boot at amazon.com

[URL unfurl="true"]http://www.amazon.com/dp/1590595092?tag=thefreegrou-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=1590595092&adid=1HTG37ZXFFVCAGYBQ1P6&[/URL]

They also show a few suggestions in addition to ...

Buying the book is a good idea. What worked for me may not work for you so it is tough to make a specific recommendation. This book looks pretty good and it is based on PHP 5.

I believe that once you learn the basic things: Add, Edit, View, Delete; it is downhill from there. With forums such as this, you will find quick help and snippets to solve just about everything you can imagine.

Welcome to PHP and good luck!


--
SouthBeach
The good thing about not knowing is the opportunity to learn - Yours truly, 2008.

 

[ingresman]

I'd avoid the dummys guide they tend to be too noddy for some one like your self.
I've used the PHP bible and I quite like the core reference.
This link

http://www.zend.com/en/store/php-books/

is worth looking at. Zend are the number one name in the PHP world,I like the advanced PHP book as it the only I know off that talks about how the Zend engine works and has some good performance text.
In general PHP is very like classic ASP, you have to be beware of mixing too much PHP in with the HTML.
Any how welcome to the PHP world, we're mostly tame !

 

[Stretchwickster]

I rate SitePoint highly as a publisher and have several of their PHP offerings - I think you can normally get some sample chapters to see if it's pitched at the right level/style for you:

http://www.sitepoint.com/books/library/

Clive

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