Working more efficiently in PHP

[Elizabeth Barnwell]

This is a tool for learning the PHP programming language:
http://www.yoyobrain.com/subjects/show/3120

You can look through the tabs to find information, and you can have
the site quiz you to help you retain more of the language. Our
developers have found this method useful, and are building YoYoBrain
to help others learn prorgmming languages. Any feedback on the site
and the flashcards is appreciated.

Best,

Elizabeth

[Dale]

"Elizabeth Barnwell" <el***************@gmail.comwrote in message
news:01**********************************@w7g2000h sa.googlegroups.com...

This is a tool for learning the PHP programming language:
http://www.yoyobrain.com/subjects/show/3120

You can look through the tabs to find information, and you can have
the site quiz you to help you retain more of the language. Our
developers have found this method useful, and are building YoYoBrain
to help others learn prorgmming languages. Any feedback on the site
and the flashcards is appreciated.

ask questions that are good questions, and then answer them correctly. ex.,

'special tags that tell apache that php should execute code' paraphrased.

first, you assume php is being run on apache. second, your answer: '<? ?>'
paraphrased, is wrong on several counts:

apache (whatever web server) can run php in a couple of modes, however
afaicr, it passes requests of for php to process in masse, not line by line.
it is *PHP* that interprets the tags so that it can tell when it needs to
process stuff. also, it is bad form anymore to just use <? as an opening
tag...<?php is the recommended/correct answer. i could go on...but...

finally, in another question, you ask how to output php results to the
browser. 'echo()' was your only answer. print, sprintf, print_r, and even
the venerable short-hand <?= ?notation are a few of MANY possible answers.

i went through about 20 of the flash cards and found either the question was
a poor question and/or the answer was a poor, or downright wrong answer.

perhaps you should have an actual php developer write the questions and give
the answers. more importantly, have a php illiterate check both using the
manual (jerry stuckle would be perfect for that job :).

[Twayne]

This is a tool for learning the PHP programming language:

http://www.yoyobrain.com/subjects/show/3120

You can look through the tabs to find information, and you can have
the site quiz you to help you retain more of the language. Our
developers have found this method useful, and are building YoYoBrain
to help others learn prorgmming languages. Any feedback on the site
and the flashcards is appreciated.

Best,

Elizabeth

Actually, that's not a bad idea; I kind of like it. I have to admit the
domain name sort of put me off at first, but you have a good concept
there IMO and as far as I know, unique. I think you need to do more
patter and introduction type work to better identify just exactly what's
going on, why, and who the intended audience is, but the meat is there
and looks like it could work out. Eventually I could see multiple
stages: Ignorant first time beginner, beginner, almost intermediate,
imtermediate, whatever.
Also IMO your font size is a little on the light side; I'm visually
impaired and without magnification I couldn't read your cards.

HTH

Twayne

[Elizabeth Barnwell]

Thanks, everyone, for the helpful advice. We are trying to make this a
community of learners- so people can add comments/site resources etc.
to correct errors like the ones you found. But currently, you can only
create and share material - so, to Dale's point, any PHP developer
could make their own questions/answers- it's not limited to just one
set of flashcards. The problem is that there's not much community
stuff up yet- but we're working on it (...and font sizes - thanks
Twayne!)

Thanks again,

Elizabeth

[Mark A. Boyd]

Twayne posted in comp.lang.php:

>

>"Elizabeth Barnwell" <el***************@gmail.comwrote in message
news:01**********************************@w7g2000 hsa.googlegroups.com...

>>This is a tool for learning the PHP programming language:
http://www.yoyobrain.com/subjects/show/3120

You can look through the tabs to find information, and you can have
the site quiz you to help you retain more of the language. Our
developers have found this method useful, and are building YoYoBrain
to help others learn prorgmming languages. Any feedback on the site
and the flashcards is appreciated.

Dale, instead of bitching, why not offer actual assistance? Your
response is nothing but a put-down for PHP beginners and worse than
useless the way you set your stance.

Twane, I sometimes come here just to watch the Steve & Jerry show, but
overall, and as "an experienced programmer not too far past the intermediate
stage," I feel Dale/Steve is right in this case. And IMHO he did provide some
constructive feedback.

Elizabeth, I don't know if the following should be categorized as "asking
proper questions" or if I'm suggesting some sort of qualification for the
questions/answers.

---
For example, besides assuming Apache Web server, the flip cards also assume
MySQL:

Q. Discover how many rows are in a result set
A. mysql_num_rows()

What if I use a different database? Should the questions - or the entire
course - be qualified as pertaining to Apache Module, MySQL, whatever
else...?

---
(Note: all line feeds in my "A." answers below are as I see them in my
current browser configuration.)
---

Inconsistant/incorrect terminology and syntax:

In the Default tab:
Q. Conditional operator. First evaluates an expression for true or false
value then executes one of 2 statements depending on the result of the
evaluation.
A.
( test-expression ) ? if-true-do-this :
if-false-do-this

In the Default1 tab:
Q. How do you do a ternary operator which returns one expression if true and
another if false
A.
{expression} ? return_when_expression_true :
return_when_expression_false;

---

Missing < and characters in the answers. For example, the one Dale/Steve
already mentioned now shows:

Q. Command to dynamically write content into a generated HTML page
A.
echo (); ex: ?php echo( "h1Hello
world/h1" );?

---

It is difficult to distinguish the difference between suggestive/explanatory
comments and example code in the answers (see previous example above). Better
linefeeds /might/ help.

Another example:

Q. Syntax for logical AND, OR, and NOT operations
A. AND - / and OR - || / or NOT - !

What?

---

Inconsistant conventions used.

copy ( $source, $dest );
unlink()

In the two examples above, variables and ; are used in one example, yet
omitted in the other.

IMO, all manuals/help systems should use a defined convention for all syntax
and said convention should be easily accessible. (Pick up any tech
manual/book and you'll likely see it in the first pages.)

Consistant punctuation is also a plus. Some question/statements use a period
at the end while others do not. I don't recall seeing any question marks,
though there may be some.
<disclaimer>
I haven't used flash cards since I was a young boy, so my opinion may be off
kilter on some of the above. Are they actually used today in schools/learning
systems beyond Kindergarten age? I seem to recall flash cards were intended
for memorization rather than as a learning tool. And it seems to me that
learnin' PHP would be far easier than trying to, somehow, memorize it. I just
don't see how flash cards are beneficial here.
</disclaimer>

--
Mark A. Boyd
Keep-On-Learnin' :)

[Geoff Berrow]

Message-ID: <Xn********************************@194.177.96.26f rom Mark
A. Boyd contained the following:

And it seems to me that
learnin' PHP would be far easier than trying to, somehow, memorize it. I just
don't see how flash cards are beneficial here.

I had a quick look through the first few before I got bored. I haven't
committed the entire PHP function set to memory, nor do I intend to. It
may be useful to me if I could remember the difference between implode
and explode but it's no big deal if the manual is just a click away.

--
Geoff Berrow 0110001001101100010000000110
001101101011011001000110111101100111001011
100110001101101111001011100111010101101011
http://slipperyhill.co.uk

[Mark A. Boyd]

Geoff Berrow posted in comp.lang.php:

Message-ID: <Xn********************************@194.177.96.26f rom Mark
A. Boyd contained the following:

>And it seems to me that
learnin' PHP would be far easier than trying to, somehow, memorize it. I
just don't see how flash cards are beneficial here.

I had a quick look through the first few before I got bored. I haven't
committed the entire PHP function set to memory, nor do I intend to. It
may be useful to me if I could remember the difference between implode
and explode but it's no big deal if the manual is just a click away.

You're right in that while learning the language, much of it does get
committed to memory. I tend to think that happens through usage, learning
from mistakes, and especially manual lookups rather memorization by rote.

I should add lurking in newsgroups and using dejanews.com to look up past
newsgroup threads. Kudos to the regulars in this newsgroup for pointing me
down the path of learning for a fair bit of my PHP knowledge.

Still, there are many styles of learnin' and this one seems to be targeting
people who don't learn easily via manuals, classrooms, example scripts, and
tutorials/videos. Maybe they've found a market.

I do think they should be consitant. And Twayne's suggestion that "other
methods are available" for many of the answers is a very good idea - perhaps
with links to other flash cards, articles on the site or the PHP docs
themselves. If done well, and if there's a significant number of people who
learn better with flash cards, then all power to them!*
* And as Twayne implied, perhaps a different domain name would be better -
unless YoYoBrain gets big enough to be a widely recognized brand - which may
be a goal.
--
Mark A. Boyd
Keep-On-Learnin' :)

[Dale]

"Mark A. Boyd" <li*******@mboydDotcom.invalidwrote in message
news:Xn********************************@194.177.96 .26...

Geoff Berrow posted in comp.lang.php:

>Message-ID: <Xn********************************@194.177.96.26f rom Mark
A. Boyd contained the following:

>>And it seems to me that
learnin' PHP would be far easier than trying to, somehow, memorize it. I
just don't see how flash cards are beneficial here.

I had a quick look through the first few before I got bored. I haven't
committed the entire PHP function set to memory, nor do I intend to. It
may be useful to me if I could remember the difference between implode
and explode but it's no big deal if the manual is just a click away.

fully agree. i use several languages and can't possibly remember specific
function names. i've got 3 reference books on my desk right now and the .chm
for 4 others on my desktop. my editor (crimson editor) is programmed to pull
up each by keyword.

all that to say, the constructs of a language are the most important things
to know and remember. the details, such as specific function names and the
like, are fairly insignificant when they are easily referenced from a manual
(electronic or paperback).

<snip>

Still, there are many styles of learnin' and this one seems to be
targeting
people who don't learn easily via manuals, classrooms, example scripts,
and
tutorials/videos. Maybe they've found a market.

perhaps i seemed a bit damning in my original response. i was pointing out
what i thought was a detractant for me as a seasoned developer. i feel the
questions could have been written better and full disclosure, regardless of
skill-level, should be in the answer.

having said that, i think the idea of the site is really a good one. it just
needs work. as twain had suggested, perhaps categorizing the flash cards
based on skill-level is a good route to go. if this site really wants to
make it, the owner must understand that flash cards should ONLY be used in
conjuction with LESSONS. flash cards do not help you LEARN anything, they
help you REMEMBER things. i would suggest having sample applications or code
snippets that have flash cards associated with them. without a context,
items from wrote are quickly forgotten...a scientific fact (and yes, i can
give cites).

<snip>

Mark A. Boyd
Keep-On-Learnin' :)

btw, mark, i'm glad to be of service. the steve-n-jerry show is not due for
cancelation any time soon. :)

[Elizabeth Barnwell]

This is great; thank you all for the constructive advice. It gives us
a sense of the direction in which to head.

Much appreciative,

Elizabeth

[Curtis]

Mark A. Boyd wrote:

Geoff Berrow posted in comp.lang.php:

>Message-ID: <Xn********************************@194.177.96.26f rom Mark
A. Boyd contained the following:

>>And it seems to me that
learnin' PHP would be far easier than trying to, somehow, memorize it. I
just don't see how flash cards are beneficial here.

I had a quick look through the first few before I got bored. I haven't
committed the entire PHP function set to memory, nor do I intend to. It
may be useful to me if I could remember the difference between implode
and explode but it's no big deal if the manual is just a click away.

You're right in that while learning the language, much of it does get
committed to memory. I tend to think that happens through usage, learning
from mistakes, and especially manual lookups rather memorization by rote.

Yeah, this is a good point. I can still remember when I was hopelessly
confused with programming, in general. The most important concepts are
learning general programming principles, and how to approach problems
as a programmer.

The beginner shouldn't be quizzed on an API, rather, they should be
taught how to use Google to search for solutions, how to look at code,
and understand what's going on. Programming is a difficult skill, and
there really aren't any shortcuts to get good.

Also, when learning Web scripting, I think learning security is
paramount from the beginning, since your code is at the mercy of the
world. PHP, especially, can be deceptively simple unless you're careful.

I should add lurking in newsgroups and using dejanews.com to look up past
newsgroup threads. Kudos to the regulars in this newsgroup for pointing me
down the path of learning for a fair bit of my PHP knowledge.

Still, there are many styles of learnin' and this one seems to be targeting
people who don't learn easily via manuals, classrooms, example scripts, and
tutorials/videos. Maybe they've found a market.

I do think they should be consitant. And Twayne's suggestion that "other
methods are available" for many of the answers is a very good idea - perhaps
with links to other flash cards, articles on the site or the PHP docs
themselves. If done well, and if there's a significant number of people who
learn better with flash cards, then all power to them!*
* And as Twayne implied, perhaps a different domain name would be better -
unless YoYoBrain gets big enough to be a widely recognized brand - which may
be a goal.

The best ways I've learned was from messing around with code. The
satisfaction when you finally figure something out, and get it to work
is great.

@OP: you don't seem to be escaping HTML markup on your flashcards, and
if users can submit their own flashcards, your site's in for a lot of
XSS attacks. Also, in Firefox, if I hover over the right-most cards,
the box gets clipped off by the right edge of my screen.

--
Curtis (http://dyersweb.com)