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My recommendation: Stop learning PHP (as you've just started) and try JavaScript instead. You can use it in backends, front ends and even in some databases. no

My recommendation: Stop learning PHP (as you've just started) and try JavaScript instead. You can use it in backends, front ends and even in some databases. node.js and angularJS tutorials might help to get started right away, without any book to read.

Bahamut 12y ago
Second this - JavaScript will give you a higher likelihood of finding a job, and it is easy to get into. For angular, the egghead.io videos are generally recommended by people.
atmosx 12y ago
Actually can't stress this enough: Go JS as @ifcologne said. PHP is the way of the past, JS is the current status quo and (given what people are creating around JS) the future. That said, programming is not about one language. It's about understanding patterns and program design (most specifically models). But you'll have to time to learn all these things later on.
- dorfuss 12y ago
  Yes, start with HTML + JavaScript. http://www.w3schools.com/js/ http://www.w3schools.com/js/ has a very clean, straightforward tutorial with complete reference. My advice would be that as you learn you should take notes in form of questions, so instead of writing: "To declare a function: function name (...) {...}" write a question: "How to define a function?" Then rewise your questions after each chapter and write your answers on a piece of paper, not into the computer - you'll memorise the syntax faster and better. After reading the entire tutorial you should have about 8-10 pages of notes with questions. If you don't remember how to write something, go back to the online tutorial/reference and find what you need. At the beginning don't spend too much time on the Math or Date functions, as these won't be that much useful. Focus on Strings and Arrays instead, regular expressions are also fun to play with. And after you're done with the basics you could try the Design Patterns: http://addyosmani.com/resources/essentialjsdesignpatterns/book/ http://addyosmani.com/resources/essentialjsdesignpatterns/bo... Thirdly: as you learn you should try to build things that could be useful for yourself and that you would enjoy building. For instance you could try to make a simple flashcard system or a little script that could strip a given string from HTML tags, or a script that would create numerated footnotes on your website. Something like 150-200 lines of code. Your could also play with manipulting SVG elements with your JS - it's very rewarding and I believe that as for a beginner it's important to SEE the effects instantly.
  - atmosx 12y ago
    That's an excellent set of comments that I'll take into account for the next lang I'm gonna learn! :-) ty
sixQuarks 12y ago
I do plan on learning javascript as well. The thing is, PHP is easy to pick up, and I feel it has helped me grasp programming concepts easier. Also, I need to work with a database and MySQL seems like the easy way to do that. I'm not looking to program as a career. I just want to be able to do some basic stuff without having to rely on an outside programmer.
- gordonzhu 12y ago
  After you get the basics of JS, you should check out https://www.angularcourse.com https://www.angularcourse.com. It helps you get to exactly where you want, which is to have a real deployed app with a database. I'm the creator and am happy to walk you through anything if you find something confusing.

Bahamut 12y ago

Second this - JavaScript will give you a higher likelihood of finding a job, and it is easy to get into. For angular, the egghead.io videos are generally recommended by people.

atmosx 12y ago

Actually can't stress this enough: Go JS as @ifcologne said. PHP is the way of the past, JS is the current status quo and (given what people are creating around JS) the future. That said, programming is not about one language. It's about understanding patterns and program design (most specifically models). But you'll have to time to learn all these things later on.

dorfuss 12y ago
Yes, start with HTML + JavaScript. http://www.w3schools.com/js/ http://www.w3schools.com/js/ has a very clean, straightforward tutorial with complete reference. My advice would be that as you learn you should take notes in form of questions, so instead of writing: "To declare a function: function name (...) {...}" write a question: "How to define a function?" Then rewise your questions after each chapter and write your answers on a piece of paper, not into the computer - you'll memorise the syntax faster and better. After reading the entire tutorial you should have about 8-10 pages of notes with questions. If you don't remember how to write something, go back to the online tutorial/reference and find what you need. At the beginning don't spend too much time on the Math or Date functions, as these won't be that much useful. Focus on Strings and Arrays instead, regular expressions are also fun to play with. And after you're done with the basics you could try the Design Patterns: http://addyosmani.com/resources/essentialjsdesignpatterns/book/ http://addyosmani.com/resources/essentialjsdesignpatterns/bo... Thirdly: as you learn you should try to build things that could be useful for yourself and that you would enjoy building. For instance you could try to make a simple flashcard system or a little script that could strip a given string from HTML tags, or a script that would create numerated footnotes on your website. Something like 150-200 lines of code. Your could also play with manipulting SVG elements with your JS - it's very rewarding and I believe that as for a beginner it's important to SEE the effects instantly.
- atmosx 12y ago
  That's an excellent set of comments that I'll take into account for the next lang I'm gonna learn! :-) ty

sixQuarks 12y ago

I do plan on learning javascript as well. The thing is, PHP is easy to pick up, and I feel it has helped me grasp programming concepts easier. Also, I need to work with a database and MySQL seems like the easy way to do that. I'm not looking to program as a career. I just want to be able to do some basic stuff without having to rely on an outside programmer.

gordonzhu 12y ago
After you get the basics of JS, you should check out https://www.angularcourse.com https://www.angularcourse.com. It helps you get to exactly where you want, which is to have a real deployed app with a database. I'm the creator and am happy to walk you through anything if you find something confusing.