Certainly! Here's a response you could post as a solution:
I've worked through the "PHP & MySQL" book before (likely the one by Kevin Yank, or by Larry Ullman), and I found it quite helpful, especially if you're newer to backend development and databases. These books tend to offer a hands-on, project-based approach, where you build a simple content management system or similar application.
Benefits:
- Reinforces PHP basics (variables, loops, forms, etc.)
- Solid foundation in SQL and database relationships
- Practice integrating PHP with a MySQL database (CRUD operations)
- Good for understanding older patterns, which helps when reading legacy code
Couple of tips:
- The book might use
mysql_*functions (deprecated). Swap them withPDOormysqliif possible. - Focus on concepts, not just the code—knowing why you do something is as important as how.
- Supplement your reading by experimenting and referring to official PHP and MySQL documentation.
Sample code adjustment:
If you see something like:
$connection = mysql_connect('localhost', 'root', '');
Change to:
$connection = new mysqli('localhost', 'root', '', 'your_database');
Or, better yet, use PDO:
$pdo = new PDO('mysql:host=localhost;dbname=your_database', 'root', '');
Conclusion:
If you prefer guided, hands-on learning, working through a book like this is definitely worth it, especially if you complement it with Laravel or modern PHP resources (as taught on Laracasts). It can help consolidate your foundational knowledge.
Happy coding!