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As someone fairly new to software, I was brought up on React, Node.js, Flask, Typescript, and AWS Lambda as my tech stack. Is there a definitive resource where

As someone fairly new to software, I was brought up on React, Node.js, Flask, Typescript, and AWS Lambda as my tech stack. Is there a definitive resource where I can learn about the older methods of web dev that are talked about in this article?

hlandau 4y ago
Author here. I'm glad you asked. Basically if you want an "authentic" experience: - Install Apache with mod_php and a MySQL (/MariaDB) server. Your distro will probably make this fairly easy (with Debian it's just apt install libapache2-mod-php7, etc., for example). You might need some PHP extensions as well, like for MySQL. - For more information read about the "LAMP" stack, though keep in mind modern materials will probably encourage you to use some PHP framework. - Create a file named info.php and put in it "<?php phpinfo();". - Visit the file on the web server. Congratulations, you've done the classic PHP hello world. - Have fun doing random stuff. If you want to do anything serious you will probably want to use (or craft your own) framework, but try seeing what you can do with just 'bare' PHP. PHP also has a built in sessions facility which comes in handy in a pinch. - Remember that going to php.net/FOO does a search of PHP documentation for FOO - they have a 404 handler which does a search for functions. This has been a feature of the PHP website from the very beginning and it's very neat. - Challenge yourself not to use JavaScript. I'm not even saying don't use it (but definitely do use progressive enhancement), but it's a good exercise to give an impression of when people would have done things on the server side instead. You might also look at some older PHP web software - for example things like old-style web forums like phpBB, SMF, etc. to get an idea of how things were done. If you're willing to spend (very few) dollars, you could sign up with a cheapo PHP shared host (they still exist, even if VPSes are big now) and see what you can do with it. (I've used nearlyfreespeech.net in the past, and they're particularly cheap. I have no affiliation with them.) I guess most people probably install WordPress, but back in the day people would craft their own sites in PHP, each with their own character.

hlandau 4y ago

Author here. I'm glad you asked. Basically if you want an "authentic" experience: - Install Apache with mod_php and a MySQL (/MariaDB) server. Your distro will probably make this fairly easy (with Debian it's just apt install libapache2-mod-php7, etc., for example). You might need some PHP extensions as well, like for MySQL. - For more information read about the "LAMP" stack, though keep in mind modern materials will probably encourage you to use some PHP framework. - Create a file named info.php and put in it "<?php phpinfo();". - Visit the file on the web server. Congratulations, you've done the classic PHP hello world. - Have fun doing random stuff. If you want to do anything serious you will probably want to use (or craft your own) framework, but try seeing what you can do with just 'bare' PHP. PHP also has a built in sessions facility which comes in handy in a pinch. - Remember that going to php.net/FOO does a search of PHP documentation for FOO - they have a 404 handler which does a search for functions. This has been a feature of the PHP website from the very beginning and it's very neat. - Challenge yourself not to use JavaScript. I'm not even saying don't use it (but definitely do use progressive enhancement), but it's a good exercise to give an impression of when people would have done things on the server side instead. You might also look at some older PHP web software - for example things like old-style web forums like phpBB, SMF, etc. to get an idea of how things were done. If you're willing to spend (very few) dollars, you could sign up with a cheapo PHP shared host (they still exist, even if VPSes are big now) and see what you can do with it. (I've used nearlyfreespeech.net in the past, and they're particularly cheap. I have no affiliation with them.) I guess most people probably install WordPress, but back in the day people would craft their own sites in PHP, each with their own character.