Beginner Projects

[ddg_linux]

I have been reading about and doing a lot of php code examples from
books but now I find myself wanting to do something practical with
some of the skills that I have learned.

I am a beginner php programmer and looking for a starting point in
regards to practical projects to work on.

What are some projects that beginner programmers usually start with?

Please list a few that would be good for a beginner PHP programmer to
work on.

Thanks in advance for your information.

Cheers

[Captain Paralytic]

On 30 Aug, 07:51, ddg_linux <[e-mail]:

I have been reading about and doing a lot of php code examples from
books but now I find myself wanting to do something practical with
some of the skills that I have learned.

I am a beginner php programmer and looking for a starting point in
regards to practical projects to work on.

What are some projects that beginner programmers usually start with?

Please list a few that would be good for a beginner PHP programmer to
work on.

Thanks in advance for your information.

Cheers

Hi there and welcome to php.

I know the problem. It is one thing to do a bunch of examples but it
all feels pointless unless you have some end game to work to.

Is there something that you want to do? Is there a reason why you
started learning php? I found that tackling projects for no good
reason did not help me. I needed to have something practical to need
to do.

The first project I did was an application to manage a bonus ball
competition for a club of which I am a member.

I'm still learning and I learn by having to do stuff. My current areas
of learning are in creating pdf files, image management using the gd
libraries and writing an Excel xml export class. All of these are
things I currently need and so I have a good reason to learn them.

[Geoff Berrow]

Message-ID:
<bc**********************************@w1g2000prk.g ooglegroups.comfrom
ddg_linux contained the following:

>What are some projects that beginner programmers usually start with?

The first thing you can do is start using includes for stuff like common
headers and footers. That can help your web page design a lot.

One of the first things I wrote was a page which listed the recent
changes to a website (with an admin form to add new lines to it). In a
similar vein you could make sections of your website editable. With
these projects you will learn about writing to files and, if you
password protect your admin section, sessions. Other things you can try
are counters and simple guestbooks or storing user settings in cookies.

My first database project was an upcoming events calendar (antique
fairs). It's still in use. I enter new events at the beginning of the
year and from then on it's automatic, the code only displays events in
the future. http://www.antiqueforumgroup.com/pages/trentham2day.php

You may find some ideas for projects here

http://www.4theweb.co.uk/phpcourse/

You can try your hand at making various games, e.g. roll the dice, or a
lottery number generator.

Other projects you may like to try are a body mass index calculator and
a currency converter. For a more advanced version try screen scraping
the conversion values from a currency converter website.
--
Geoff Berrow 0110001001101100010000000110
001101101011011001000110111101100111001011
100110001101101111001011100111010101101011
http://slipperyhill.co.uk - http://4theweb.co.uk

[ddg_linux]

Thank you for your response and posing those questions to me.

I really need to a scheduler created to manage my classes and
materials.
I teach 7 ESL classes a day and each class has its own book ( or
books)
for that matter. I need a place to add teacher comments, grades,
material tracker,
homework tracker etc. This is a project that I have thought about
starting but thought
it would be too large starting out as a beginner PHP programmer.

I have also thought about building a simple address book. This is
something that I don't really
need at this point but thought it would be a good start.

I have a large image collection of my travels overseas. A custom
image gallery might be a good
solution for that.

I am also a forex trade when I have time and I might think of building
an application to manage these types of things.

Really what I am looking for is a simple project to get my feet wet
building an application from the ground up. Taking that experience
and applying it to other more complex projects.

Any suggestions would be great...

Thanks again for your post..

Cheers

On Aug 30, 3:23*am, Captain Paralytic <[e-mail]:

On 30 Aug, 07:51, ddg_linux <[e-mail]:

I have been reading about and doing a lot of php code examples from
books but now I find myself wanting to do something practical with
some of the skills that I have learned.

I am a beginner php programmer and looking for a starting point in
regards to practical projects to work on.

What are some projects that beginner programmers usually start with?

Please list a few that would be good for a beginner PHP programmer to
work on.

Thanks in advance for your information.

Cheers

Hi there and welcome to php.

I know the problem. It is one thing to do a bunch of examples but it
all feels pointless unless you have some end game to work to.

Is there something that you want to do? Is there a reason why you
started learning php? I found that tackling projects for no good
reason did not help me. I needed to have something practical to need
to do.

The first project I did was an application to manage a bonus ball
competition for a club of which I am a member.

I'm still learning and I learn by having to do stuff. My current areas
of learning are in creating pdf files, image management using the gd
libraries and writing an Excel xml export class. All of these are
things I currently need and so I have a good reason to learn them.

[ddg_linux]

Thank you for all of your suggestions listed. The php course link was
very
useful. This is the type of instruction that I am looking for. I
need to
see the examples and have some direction to branch out on my own and
create
something new with the concepts being talked about.

Do you know of any books that might do the same thing?

Do you know of any online PHP courses that might use this
type of teaching style.

Once again thinks for your information.

Cheers

On Aug 30, 3:57*am, Geoff Berrow <[e-mail]:

Message-ID:
<[e-mail]
ddg_linux contained the following:

What are some projects that beginner programmers usually start with?

The first thing you can do is start using includes for stuff like common
headers and footers. *That can help your web page design a lot. *

One of the first things I wrote was a page which listed the recent
changes to a website (with an admin form to add new lines to it). *In a
similar vein you could make sections of your website editable. *With
these projects you will learn about writing to files and, if you
password protect your admin section, sessions. *Other things you can try
are counters and simple guestbooks or storing user settings in cookies.

My first database project was an upcoming events calendar (antique
fairs). *It's still in use. *I enter new events at the beginning of the
year and from then on it's automatic, the code only displays events in
the future.http://www.antiqueforumgroup.com/pages/trentham2day.php

You may find some ideas for projects here

http://www.4theweb.co.uk/phpcourse/

You can try your hand at making various games, e.g. roll the dice, or a
lottery number generator.

Other projects you may like to try are a body mass index calculator and
a currency converter. *For a more advanced version try screen scraping
the conversion values from a currency converter website.
--
Geoff Berrow *0110001001101100010000000110
001101101011011001000110111101100111001011
100110001101101111001011100111010101101011http://slipperyhill.co.uk-http://4theweb.co.uk

[Captain Paralytic]

On 30 Aug, 10:03, ddg_linux <[e-mail]:

On Aug 30, 3:23*am, Captain Paralytic <[e-mail]:

On 30 Aug, 07:51, ddg_linux <[e-mail]:

I have been reading about and doing a lot of php code examples from
books but now I find myself wanting to do something practical with
some of the skills that I have learned.

I am a beginner php programmer and looking for a starting point in
regards to practical projects to work on.

What are some projects that beginner programmers usually start with?

Please list a few that would be good for a beginner PHP programmer to
work on.

Thanks in advance for your information.

Cheers

Hi there and welcome to php.

I know the problem. It is one thing to do a bunch of examples but it
all feels pointless unless you have some end game to work to.

Is there something that you want to do? Is there a reason why you
started learning php? I found that tackling projects for no good
reason did not help me. I needed to have something practical to need
to do.

The first project I did was an application to manage a bonus ball
competition for a club of which I am a member.

I'm still learning and I learn by having to do stuff. My current areas
of learning are in creating pdf files, image management using the gd
libraries and writing an Excel xml export class. All of these are
things I currently need and so I have a good reason to learn them

Thank you for your response and posing those questions to me.

I really need to a scheduler created to manage my classes and
materials.
I teach 7 ESL classes a day and each class has its own book ( or
books)
for that matter. I need a place to add teacher comments, grades,
material tracker,
homework tracker etc. This is a project that I have thought about
starting but thought
it would be too large starting out as a beginner PHP programmer.

I have also thought about building a simple address book. This is
something that I don't really
need at this point but thought it would be a good start.

I have a large image collection of my travels overseas. A custom
image gallery might be a good
solution for that.

I am also a forex trade when I have time and I might think of building
an application to manage these types of things.

Really what I am looking for is a simple project to get my feet wet
building an application from the ground up. Taking that experience
and applying it to other more complex projects.

Any suggestions would be great...

Thanks again for your post..

Cheers

Please do not top post (top posting fixed).

Remember the 2 adages:

"How do you eat an elephant? One piece at a time."
"The longest journey starts with a single step"

Tackle each part of your scheduler bit by bit. First of all research a
simple calendar application, build the database and some php controls.
It doesn't have to be sophisticated, for now you will be the only one
using it.
Once you have mastered that, add some extra fields and extra controls.
Bit by bit you will build your complete application.

If you work with commercial IT departments, you will find that new
applications often end up being delivered in multiple releases, with
the core requirements in the first release and enhancements following
bit by bit.

[nice.guy.nige]

While the city slept, ddg_linux feverishly typed:

Thank you for your response and posing those questions to me.

I really need to a scheduler created to manage my classes and materials.
I teach 7 ESL classes a day and each class has its own book ( or
books) for that matter. I need a place to add teacher comments, grades,
material tracker, homework tracker etc.

Hi,

Just a quick point on the above, and not a PHP related one... If you are
thinking of doing something like this you need to think very, very carefully
about security. If you are going to store student data - and especially
yours and your colleagues comments on students - then you have to make
absolutely sure that you are storing that data in a safe and reliable way.

Unless, of course, you happen to work for the British Government, in which
case just burn the data onto CDs and hand them out to random passers-by ;-)

Cheers,
Nige

--
Nigel Moss | http://www.nigenet.org.uk
Email not valid. ni***@dog.nigenet.org.uk - take the dog out!
"You're mother ate my dog!", "Not all of him..."

[Geoff Berrow]

Message-ID:
<00**********************************@b2g2000prf.g ooglegroups.comfrom
ddg_linux contained the following:

>Do you know of any books that might do the same thing?

Do you know of any online PHP courses that might use this
type of teaching style.

Please note how I am replying below the quoted text which I have trimmed
so that there is sufficient to give context. This is the preferred
method in Newsgroups (Usenet).

Those files to which you refer are from a beginners' course in PHP that
I wrote while working at a local college. I've never read a PHP book.
I'm at the kind of age where brain capacity is limited and I only
memorise stuff I use all the time :-). Fortunately the online resources
available for PHP and MySQL are first class, if a little difficult to
understand at first.

I do recommend taking the time to find out more about Usenet, getting a
decent newsfeed and newsreader and ditching Google. These groups are a
fantastic source of help.
--
Geoff Berrow 0110001001101100010000000110
001101101011011001000110111101100111001011
100110001101101111001011100111010101101011
http://slipperyhill.co.uk - http://4theweb.co.uk

[Captain Paralytic]

On 30 Aug, 12:59, "nice.guy.nige" <[e-mail]:

Unless, of course, you happen to work for the British Government, in which
case just burn the data onto CDs and hand them out to random passers-by ;-)

You're not being fair to the government. They have moved on to memory
sticks now!

[PHPGB]

<comp.lang.php>
<Geoff Berrow>
<Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:40:51 +0100>
<ov********************************@4ax.com>

Stuck hole doesnt trim his posts - he just sticks his reply at the
bottom - even if the quoted text is 200 lines in length .

Why dont you say anything to him ? .

Or any of the other users on here who do the same ? .
--
www.phpguestbook.co.uk/phpgb
(the best php guestbook on planet earth)

Do you know of any books that might do the same thing?

Do you know of any online PHP courses that might use this
type of teaching style.

Please note how I am replying below the quoted text which I have trimmed
so that there is sufficient to give context

[Geoff Berrow]

Message-ID: <MP************************@news.newsreader.comfro m PHPGB
contained the following:

>Stuck hole doesnt trim his posts - he just sticks his reply at the
bottom - even if the quoted text is 200 lines in length .

Why dont you say anything to him ? .

Or any of the other users on here who do the same ? .

I /have/ commented on it several times in the past.

I've killed whole threads where the line numbers just went up and up.
People who don't trim should know this and I'm sure Jerry is aware.

But top posting is far worse, especially in a computer language group
where logical flow is everything. Try writing code upside down and see
how far you get.

Or perhaps you do. ;-)

--
Geoff Berrow 0110001001101100010000000110
001101101011011001000110111101100111001011
100110001101101111001011100111010101101011
http://slipperyhill.co.uk - http://4theweb.co.uk

[nice.guy.nige]

While the city slept, Captain Paralytic feverishly typed:

On 30 Aug, 12:59, "nice.guy.nige" <[e-mail]:

>Unless, of course, you happen to work for the British Government, in
which case just burn the data onto CDs and hand them out to random
passers-by ;-)

You're not being fair to the government. They have moved on to memory
sticks now!

Not quite... they have to bring in private contractors for that particular
level of high-tech cluelessness ;-)

Cheers,
Nige

--
Nigel Moss | http://www.nigenet.org.uk
Email not valid. ni***@dog.nigenet.org.uk - take the dog out!
"You're mother ate my dog!", "Not all of him..."

[PHPGB]

<comp.lang.php>
<Geoff Berrow>
<Sat, 30 Aug 2008 18:10:01 +0100>
<2b********************************@4ax.com>

But top posting is far worse, especially in a computer language group
where logical flow is everything. Try writing code upside down and see
how far you get.

Or perhaps you do. ;-)

Yes i do - for krustov thinks in russian :-)
--
www.phpguestbook.co.uk/phpgb
(the best php guestbook on planet earth)

[Jerry Stuckle]

Geoff Berrow wrote:

Message-ID: <MP************************@news.newsreader.comfro m PHPGB
contained the following:

>Stuck hole doesnt trim his posts - he just sticks his reply at the
bottom - even if the quoted text is 200 lines in length .

Why dont you say anything to him ? .

Or any of the other users on here who do the same ? .

I /have/ commented on it several times in the past.

I've killed whole threads where the line numbers just went up and up.
People who don't trim should know this and I'm sure Jerry is aware.

But top posting is far worse, especially in a computer language group
where logical flow is everything. Try writing code upside down and see
how far you get.

Or perhaps you do. ;-)

ROFLMAO. So old Krusty is trying to displace the blame onto someone
else again. Just proving once again what a total idiot he is.

I wonder if he and Steve/Barry/Dale have ever dated. They are meant for
each other.

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
js*******@attglobal.net
==================

[sliverdigger]

MINI-CMS:

Make a class that does a readdir into a hashed array
of objects, where each hashed object stores info about
the file it found (file system path, mime-type mostly)
where the hash key is the basename($file) with suffix stripped.
Now use the has to make a website. Think of the has as a list of
links. (some files types would be excluded from the list).

Some mime types could become displayable pages (images, text files, html
files, html fragments) while others (in the link list) could be
displayed as clickable download links. During collection of
the list, choose one (displayable) link to make a default page with.
That page would have header, a navigation column or bar (showing all
the links you collected) and one default display.

So now all you have to do is put that code into a directory and
voila, you see a page, with links to all the other files. Each
link either downloads a file or displays it somehow.

Now all you have to do is figure out how to make it recursive,
so if that directory had subdirectories, then your class would drill
down into it, and climb back up, but never above the base directory.
Figure out how to add links to external sites, and viola, you
have the world's smallest CMS.

--
cut the board three times and it's still too short

[Jeff]

PHPGB wrote:

<comp.lang.php>
<Geoff Berrow>
<Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:40:51 +0100>
<ov********************************@4ax.com>

Stuck hole doesnt trim his posts - he just sticks his reply at the
bottom - even if the quoted text is 200 lines in length .

Krusty's got a new identity.

>
Why dont you say anything to him ? .

Or any of the other users on here who do the same ? .

Trouble is Krusty, that you are not the one to complain about posting
styles. Upgrade your act and people might take you seriously. Until then
you aren't worth reading. Back in the killfile you go.

Jeff

>

[Jeff North]

On Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:03:52 -0700 (PDT), in comp.lang.php ddg_linux
<dg*********@gmail.com>
<ca**********************************@z6g2000pre.g ooglegroups.com>
wrote:

>| Thank you for your response and posing those questions to me.
|
| I really need to a scheduler created to manage my classes and
| materials.
| I teach 7 ESL classes a day and each class has its own book ( or
| books)
| for that matter. I need a place to add teacher comments, grades,
| material tracker,
| homework tracker etc. This is a project that I have thought about
| starting but thought
| it would be too large starting out as a beginner PHP programmer.

Yes this is a very large project that if you start it now you will
eventually give up on it.

>| I have also thought about building a simple address book. This is
| something that I don't really
| need at this point but thought it would be a good start.

Actually it is an ideal place to start. You will get the basics of the
language.

The first thing to do is clearly define what you want your application
to do. Then define the functionality of your application. Then create
a wishlist of things you would like in your application.

By writing out the details of the project it helps you focus on what
is required. You can then start coding for specific areas and
gradually build your application.

For example:
Application: address book.
Purpose: Maintain a list of names, addresses and contact information.
Functionality: must be able add, edit, delete, sort and search for
information.
Sort: must be available on first name, last name and phone number.
Search: must be on any item of information.

Storage of data: there will only be a few hundred entries so a basic
database is required (php/sqlite will fit this criteria).

Wish List:
have people allotted to one or more category (home, work, business)
Reminders for special events (birthday, anniversary etc). SMS/email
notification about event.
Print information out in a business card size format.
--------------------

For your 'ideal' project you would need to breakdown each area. For
example:
Class Information:
There is a need to reset the information each term/semester/year as
new classes are started. The old data must be kept as there maybe
regulations requiring this and students challenging their grades etc

The students information can be entered manually or imported from
another file ie. spreadsheet.

Students should be able to change classes and an other information
within the system.

etc etc etc

I think that you get the idea.

Because both of these projects require the storage of information, you
will also need to be familiar with SQL (a database language). SQLite
and php will suite your needs. You may have to enable the SQLite
extension within your php.ini file to access these functions.

Happy programming :->

>| I have a large image collection of my travels overseas. A custom
| image gallery might be a good
| solution for that.
|
| I am also a forex trade when I have time and I might think of building
| an application to manage these types of things.
|
| Really what I am looking for is a simple project to get my feet wet
| building an application from the ground up. Taking that experience
| and applying it to other more complex projects.
|
| Any suggestions would be great...
|
| Thanks again for your post..
|
| Cheers
|
| On Aug 30, 3:23*am, Captain Paralytic <[e-mail]:
| On 30 Aug, 07:51, ddg_linux <[e-mail]:
| >
| I have been reading about and doing a lot of php code examples from
| books but now I find myself wanting to do something practical with
| some of the skills that I have learned.
| >
| I am a beginner php programmer and looking for a starting point in
| regards to practical projects to work on.
| >
| What are some projects that beginner programmers usually start with?
| >
| Please list a few that would be good for a beginner PHP programmer to
| work on.
| >
| Thanks in advance for your information.
| >
| Cheers
| >
| Hi there and welcome to php.
| >
| I know the problem. It is one thing to do a bunch of examples but it
| all feels pointless unless you have some end game to work to.
| >
| Is there something that you want to do? Is there a reason why you
| started learning php? I found that tackling projects for no good
| reason did not help me. I needed to have something practical to need
| to do.
| >
| The first project I did was an application to manage a bonus ball
| competition for a club of which I am a member.
| >
| I'm still learning and I learn by having to do stuff. My current areas
| of learning are in creating pdf files, image management using the gd
| libraries and writing an Excel xml export class. All of these are
| things I currently need and so I have a good reason to learn them.

[Twayne]

On Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:03:52 -0700 (PDT), in comp.lang.php ddg_linux

<dg*********@gmail.com>
<ca**********************************@z6g2000pre.g ooglegroups.com>
wrote:

>>Thank you for your response and posing those questions to me.

I really need to a scheduler created to manage my classes and
materials.
I teach 7 ESL classes a day and each class has its own book ( or
books)
for that matter. I need a place to add teacher comments, grades,
material tracker,
homework tracker etc. This is a project that I have thought about
starting but thought
it would be too large starting out as a beginner PHP programmer.

Yes this is a very large project that if you start it now you will
eventually give up on it.

>>I have also thought about building a simple address book. This is
something that I don't really
need at this point but thought it would be a good start.

Actually it is an ideal place to start. You will get the basics of the
language.

The first thing to do is clearly define what you want your application
to do. Then define the functionality of your application. Then create
a wishlist of things you would like in your application.

By writing out the details of the project it helps you focus on what
is required. You can then start coding for specific areas and
gradually build your application.

For example:
Application: address book.
Purpose: Maintain a list of names, addresses and contact information.
Functionality: must be able add, edit, delete, sort and search for
information.
Sort: must be available on first name, last name and phone number.
Search: must be on any item of information.

Storage of data: there will only be a few hundred entries so a basic
database is required (php/sqlite will fit this criteria).

Wish List:
have people allotted to one or more category (home, work, business)
Reminders for special events (birthday, anniversary etc). SMS/email
notification about event.
Print information out in a business card size format.
--------------------

For your 'ideal' project you would need to breakdown each area. For
example:
Class Information:
There is a need to reset the information each term/semester/year as
new classes are started. The old data must be kept as there maybe
regulations requiring this and students challenging their grades etc

The students information can be entered manually or imported from
another file ie. spreadsheet.

Students should be able to change classes and an other information
within the system.

etc etc etc

I think that you get the idea.

Because both of these projects require the storage of information, you
will also need to be familiar with SQL (a database language). SQLite
and php will suite your needs. You may have to enable the SQLite
extension within your php.ini file to access these functions.

Happy programming :->

All good points except one, IMO. The "ideal" project is one that you
might yourself need/use so that you'll have a vested interest in its
success and wont' back if/when it comes to the point where you realize
you'll have to rewrite it or parts of it. Try to take it right up to
the point of a production release.
During that trip you'll also have a chance to pick out the tools you
wish to use and which ones you don't like, etc.. For instance, I use
NoteTab and wrote my own little PHP lib for it (which they make very
easy) as I went along, and I also use NotePad++ for its better ability
to highlight. They do a good job of watching each other if you edit the
same file in both of them and continually offer to keep in step, plus
NoteTab is great for feeding a file to the local server; just click a
file tab and add a keyclick. But I'm a neophyte so there are likely
better combos; those just work well for me.
I don't recall whether you had a local server or not; if not, look
into one ASAP. You'll go nuts trying to use your ISP's services for
testing. And choose the same version of PHP that your server uses, of
course.
Even if that seems to create a rather short-sighted set of commands
to learn, it'll keep your interest in place because it'll have a reason
to exist, making you more apt to stick with it.
By that time, IMO, you'll have enough familiarity with the rest of
the language to put together a truly wide-area project where you can add
more quickly to the base you've just learned. In PHP it's really hard
to research one thing without coming across about ten different ways to
do it, and a dozen or so other interesting looking codes. A sandbox is
almost a requirement.
Personally, unless you have more background in coding than I think, it
feels like some of the suggestions might be a little over the top for a
rank beginner. But if you already have similar structured languages
under you belt, you won't be a rank beginner; just a beginner<g>. And
you'll probably progress quickly.

Twayne

>

>>I have a large image collection of my travels overseas. A custom
image gallery might be a good
solution for that.

I am also a forex trade when I have time and I might think of
building an application to manage these types of things.

Really what I am looking for is a simple project to get my feet wet
building an application from the ground up. Taking that experience
and applying it to other more complex projects.

Any suggestions would be great...

Thanks again for your post..

Cheers

On Aug 30, 3:23 am, Captain Paralytic <[e-mail]>
wrote:
On 30 Aug, 07:51, ddg_linux <[e-mail]:

I have been reading about and doing a lot of php code examples
from books but now I find myself wanting to do something
practical with some of the skills that I have learned.

I am a beginner php programmer and looking for a starting point in
regards to practical projects to work on.

What are some projects that beginner programmers usually start
with?

Please list a few that would be good for a beginner PHP
programmer to work on.

Thanks in advance for your information.

Cheers

Hi there and welcome to php.

I know the problem. It is one thing to do a bunch of examples but
it all feels pointless unless you have some end game to work to.

Is there something that you want to do? Is there a reason why you
started learning php? I found that tackling projects for no good
reason did not help me. I needed to have something practical to
need to do.

The first project I did was an application to manage a bonus ball
competition for a club of which I am a member.

I'm still learning and I learn by having to do stuff. My current
areas of learning are in creating pdf files, image management
using the gd libraries and writing an Excel xml export class. All
of these are things I currently need and so I have a good reason
to learn them.

[ElPistolero]

ddg_linux wrote:
....

I am a beginner php programmer and looking for a starting point in
regards to practical projects to work on.

What are some projects that beginner programmers usually start with?

....
The first one I ever did was a grade-book looukup for students to see
what I had recorded for them. It had to use a password or the college
would not let me put it on the web. The original gradebook was an
OpenOffice spreadsheet.

It took two or three days to do. I consider that a beginners project.

--
Fui et vidi experiri.
=DSM=

[ddg_linux]

For example:

Application: address book.
Purpose: Maintain a list of names, addresses and contact information.
Functionality: must be able add, edit, delete, sort and search for
information.
Sort: must be available on first name, last name and phone number.
Search: must be on any item of information.

Storage of data: there will only be a few hundred entries so a basic
database is required (php/sqlite will fit this criteria).

Wish List:
have people allotted to one or more category (home, work, business)
Reminders for special events (birthday, anniversary etc). SMS/email
notification about event.
Print information out in a business card size format.
--------------------

For your 'ideal' project you would need to breakdown each area. For
example:
Class Information:
There is a need to reset the information each term/semester/year as
new classes are started. The old data must be kept as there maybe
regulations requiring this and students challenging their grades etc

The students information can be entered manually or imported from
another file ie. spreadsheet.

Students should be able to change classes and an other information
within the system.

Because both of these projects require the storage of information, you
will also need to be familiar with SQL (a database language). SQLite
and php will suite your needs. You may have to enable the SQLite
extension within your php.ini file to access these functions.

Happy programming :->

Thank you so much for this information. It really gives me a good
idea on where I need to start
and not to worry about making this harder at the start of a beginner
project.

I will start this address book and post it to you once it is completed
for you to review.

Thanks again, your article was very helpful.

Cheers

[Jeff North]

On Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:48:42 GMT, in comp.lang.php "Twayne"
<no****@devnull.spamcop.net>
<KXzuk.115$Dj1.104@trnddc02wrote:

>| On Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:03:52 -0700 (PDT), in comp.lang.php ddg_linux
| <dg*********@gmail.com>
| <ca**********************************@z6g2000pre.g ooglegroups.com>
| wrote:
| >
| >>Thank you for your response and posing those questions to me.
| >>>
| >>I really need to a scheduler created to manage my classes and
| >>materials.
| >>I teach 7 ESL classes a day and each class has its own book ( or
| >>books)
| >>for that matter. I need a place to add teacher comments, grades,
| >>material tracker,
| >>homework tracker etc. This is a project that I have thought about
| >>starting but thought
| >>it would be too large starting out as a beginner PHP programmer.
| >
| Yes this is a very large project that if you start it now you will
| eventually give up on it.
| >
| >>I have also thought about building a simple address book. This is
| >>something that I don't really
| >>need at this point but thought it would be a good start.
| >
| Actually it is an ideal place to start. You will get the basics of the
| language.
| >
| The first thing to do is clearly define what you want your application
| to do. Then define the functionality of your application. Then create
| a wishlist of things you would like in your application.
| >
| By writing out the details of the project it helps you focus on what
| is required. You can then start coding for specific areas and
| gradually build your application.
| >
| For example:
| Application: address book.
| Purpose: Maintain a list of names, addresses and contact information.
| Functionality: must be able add, edit, delete, sort and search for
| information.
| Sort: must be available on first name, last name and phone number.
| Search: must be on any item of information.
| >
| Storage of data: there will only be a few hundred entries so a basic
| database is required (php/sqlite will fit this criteria).
| >
| Wish List:
| have people allotted to one or more category (home, work, business)
| Reminders for special events (birthday, anniversary etc). SMS/email
| notification about event.
| Print information out in a business card size format.
| --------------------
| >
| For your 'ideal' project you would need to breakdown each area. For
| example:
| Class Information:
| There is a need to reset the information each term/semester/year as
| new classes are started. The old data must be kept as there maybe
| regulations requiring this and students challenging their grades etc
| >
| The students information can be entered manually or imported from
| another file ie. spreadsheet.
| >
| Students should be able to change classes and an other information
| within the system.
| >
| etc etc etc
| >
| I think that you get the idea.
| >
| Because both of these projects require the storage of information, you
| will also need to be familiar with SQL (a database language). SQLite
| and php will suite your needs. You may have to enable the SQLite
| extension within your php.ini file to access these functions.
| >
| Happy programming :->
|
| All good points except one, IMO. The "ideal" project is one that you
| might yourself need/use so that you'll have a vested interest in its
| success and wont' back if/when it comes to the point where you realize
| you'll have to rewrite it or parts of it. Try to take it right up to
| the point of a production release.
| During that trip you'll also have a chance to pick out the tools you
| wish to use and which ones you don't like, etc.. For instance, I use
| NoteTab and wrote my own little PHP lib for it (which they make very
| easy) as I went along, and I also use NotePad++ for its better ability
| to highlight. They do a good job of watching each other if you edit the
| same file in both of them and continually offer to keep in step, plus
| NoteTab is great for feeding a file to the local server; just click a
| file tab and add a keyclick. But I'm a neophyte so there are likely
| better combos; those just work well for me.
| I don't recall whether you had a local server or not; if not, look
| into one ASAP. You'll go nuts trying to use your ISP's services for
| testing. And choose the same version of PHP that your server uses, of
| course.
| Even if that seems to create a rather short-sighted set of commands
| to learn, it'll keep your interest in place because it'll have a reason
| to exist, making you more apt to stick with it.
| By that time, IMO, you'll have enough familiarity with the rest of
| the language to put together a truly wide-area project where you can add
| more quickly to the base you've just learned. In PHP it's really hard
| to research one thing without coming across about ten different ways to
| do it, and a dozen or so other interesting looking codes. A sandbox is
| almost a requirement.
| Personally, unless you have more background in coding than I think, it
| feels like some of the suggestions might be a little over the top for a
| rank beginner. But if you already have similar structured languages
| under you belt, you won't be a rank beginner; just a beginner<g>. And
| you'll probably progress quickly.
|
| Twayne

Excellent points.

Having your own web server is a must IMHO. I use chsoftware WOS (Web
On-A Stick). You can install apache, php and mysql on a USB drive.
Invaluable for when you visit clients with updates as you don't need
to lug you computer around - just a USB drive. Best of all - its free.

I also highly recommend nusphere phpED integrated programming
environment. This has the advantage of allowing the programmer to
single step through the code to see what is actually happening. There
are other IDEs out there that I've tried but nusphere worked straight
out of the box.

[snip 2 end]

[Jeff North]

On Mon, 1 Sep 2008 09:27:06 -0700 (PDT), in comp.lang.php ddg_linux
<dg*********@gmail.com>
<fd**********************************@q26g2000prq. googlegroups.com>
wrote:

>| For example:
| Application: address book.
| Purpose: Maintain a list of names, addresses and contact information.
| Functionality: must be able add, edit, delete, sort and search for
| information.
| Sort: must be available on first name, last name and phone number.
| Search: must be on any item of information.
| >
| Storage of data: there will only be a few hundred entries so a basic
| database is required (php/sqlite will fit this criteria).
| >
| Wish List:
| have people allotted to one or more category (home, work, business)
| Reminders for special events (birthday, anniversary etc). SMS/email
| notification about event.
| Print information out in a business card size format.
| --------------------
| >
| For your 'ideal' project you would need to breakdown each area. For
| example:
| Class Information:
| There is a need to reset the information each term/semester/year as
| new classes are started. The old data must be kept as there maybe
| regulations requiring this and students challenging their grades etc
| >
| The students information can be entered manually or imported from
| another file ie. spreadsheet.
| >
| Students should be able to change classes and an other information
| within the system.
| >
| Because both of these projects require the storage of information, you
| will also need to be familiar with SQL (a database language). SQLite
| and php will suite your needs. You may have to enable the SQLite
| extension within your php.ini file to access these functions.
| >
| Happy programming :->
| >
|
| Thank you so much for this information. It really gives me a good
| idea on where I need to start
| and not to worry about making this harder at the start of a beginner
| project.
|
| I will start this address book and post it to you once it is completed
| for you to review.
|
| Thanks again, your article was very helpful.
|
| Cheers

No probs :-)

[Twayne]

On Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:48:42 GMT, in comp.lang.php "Twayne"

<no****@devnull.spamcop.net>
<KXzuk.115$Dj1.104@trnddc02wrote:

>>>On Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:03:52 -0700 (PDT), in comp.lang.php
ddg_linux <dg*********@gmail.com>
<ca**********************************@z6g2000pr e.googlegroups.com>
wrote:

>Thank you for your response and posing those questions to me.
>>
>I really need to a scheduler created to manage my classes and
>materials.
>I teach 7 ESL classes a day and each class has its own book ( or
>books)
>for that matter. I need a place to add teacher comments, grades,
>material tracker,
>homework tracker etc. This is a project that I have thought about
>starting but thought
>it would be too large starting out as a beginner PHP programmer.

Yes this is a very large project that if you start it now you will
eventually give up on it.

>I have also thought about building a simple address book. This is
>something that I don't really
>need at this point but thought it would be a good start.

Actually it is an ideal place to start. You will get the basics of
the language.

The first thing to do is clearly define what you want your
application to do. Then define the functionality of your
application. Then create a wishlist of things you would like in
your application.

By writing out the details of the project it helps you focus on
what is required. You can then start coding for specific areas and
gradually build your application.

For example:
Application: address book.
Purpose: Maintain a list of names, addresses and contact
information. Functionality: must be able add, edit, delete, sort
and search for information.
Sort: must be available on first name, last name and phone number.
Search: must be on any item of information.

Storage of data: there will only be a few hundred entries so a
basic database is required (php/sqlite will fit this criteria).

Wish List:
have people allotted to one or more category (home, work, business)
Reminders for special events (birthday, anniversary etc). SMS/email
notification about event.
Print information out in a business card size format.
--------------------

For your 'ideal' project you would need to breakdown each area. For
example:
Class Information:
There is a need to reset the information each term/semester/year as
new classes are started. The old data must be kept as there maybe
regulations requiring this and students challenging their grades
etc

The students information can be entered manually or imported from
another file ie. spreadsheet.

Students should be able to change classes and an other information
within the system.

etc etc etc

I think that you get the idea.

Because both of these projects require the storage of information,
you will also need to be familiar with SQL (a database language).
SQLite and php will suite your needs. You may have to enable the
SQLite extension within your php.ini file to access these
functions.

Happy programming :->

All good points except one, IMO. The "ideal" project is one that
you might yourself need/use so that you'll have a vested interest
in its success and wont' back if/when it comes to the point where
you realize you'll have to rewrite it or parts of it. Try to take
it right up to the point of a production release.
During that trip you'll also have a chance to pick out the tools
you wish to use and which ones you don't like, etc.. For instance,
I use NoteTab and wrote my own little PHP lib for it (which they
make very easy) as I went along, and I also use NotePad++ for its
better ability to highlight. They do a good job of watching each
other if you edit the same file in both of them and continually
offer to keep in step, plus NoteTab is great for feeding a file to
the local server; just click a file tab and add a keyclick. But I'm
a neophyte so there are likely better combos; those just work well
for me. I don't recall whether you had a local server or not; if
not, look
into one ASAP. You'll go nuts trying to use your ISP's services for
testing. And choose the same version of PHP that your server uses,
of course.
Even if that seems to create a rather short-sighted set of
commands to learn, it'll keep your interest in place because it'll
have a reason to exist, making you more apt to stick with it.
By that time, IMO, you'll have enough familiarity with the rest
of the language to put together a truly wide-area project where you
can add more quickly to the base you've just learned. In PHP it's
really hard to research one thing without coming across about ten
different ways to do it, and a dozen or so other interesting
looking codes. A sandbox is almost a requirement.
Personally, unless you have more background in coding than I
think, it feels like some of the suggestions might be a little over
the top for a rank beginner. But if you already have similar
structured languages under you belt, you won't be a rank beginner;
just a beginner<g>. And you'll probably progress quickly.

Twayne

Excellent points.

Having your own web server is a must IMHO. I use chsoftware WOS (Web
On-A Stick). You can install apache, php and mysql on a USB drive.
Invaluable for when you visit clients with updates as you don't need
to lug you computer around - just a USB drive. Best of all - its free.

I also highly recommend nusphere phpED integrated programming
environment. This has the advantage of allowing the programmer to
single step through the code to see what is actually happening. There
are other IDEs out there that I've tried but nusphere worked straight
out of the box.

[snip 2 end]

Oof! That's kind of pricey but I guess if you're sure you're going to
go into a production environment with PHP it'd be worth it. ROI will
take a bit to cover off though. Else I think the freebie route, frought
with problems as it is, would be better to get started with and to be
able to be sure something like that is what you need.

Twayne