Learning the Basics

**AmbulanceBlues** · 09-14-2006, 04:19 AM

Does anyone know where I can go to get a (preferably free) introductory course / tutorial into MySQL and/or PHP? I have never used either. I went to the PHP and MySQL websites and there didn't seem to be any beginner's tutorials at either site. I've done some stuff with VBA in MSAccess, which I know is very very different, but at least I have some concept of databases.

I'll probably buy a book, but I'd like to know if I could get it on the cheap online. I didn't see any references in Chris' blog posts and the sitepoint stuff is all ads for their books (which I will probably end up buying anyway).

**deronsizemore** · 09-14-2006, 05:16 AM

www.w3schools.com should have some very basic lessons.

http://www.phpfreaks.com/tutorials.php

http://www.pixel2life.com/tutorials/php_coding/

http://www.php.net/manual/en/

http://www.rnel.net/tutorials/Php

Hope those help

**Chris** · 09-14-2006, 06:50 AM

I learned it from Kevin Yank's tutorial on sitepoint, the one they turned into their first book. Unfortunately it is no longer published for free.

**AmbulanceBlues** · 09-14-2006, 06:54 AM

Sweet. Thanks.

**James** · 09-14-2006, 01:36 PM

Do you know any languages currently?

**AmbulanceBlues** · 09-14-2006, 09:55 PM

Just VBA. For whatever that's worth. I spent alot of time studying MSAccess for work only to discover it was pretty much useless for the web.

**James** · 09-14-2006, 11:23 PM

As long as you've done any coding you'll pick it up easy.

You'll find the php manual and google a huge help. Actually, I'll warrant that you don't even need to know PHP if you have Google :P

**AmbulanceBlues** · 09-16-2006, 07:26 AM

So, learning PHP is the same as learning MySQL? You can't learn the first without knowing the second?

**bbolte** · 09-16-2006, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by AmbulanceBlues

So, learning PHP is the same as learning MySQL? You can't learn the first without knowing the second?

not necessarily. but you'll need to know a bit about database design, etc. if you've done some studying on access you should at least know the basics about db design and querying. that should get you started on the mysql side. it's not radically different but there are some.

**AmbulanceBlues** · 09-25-2006, 02:40 AM

As an update or a note for anyone in the same boat as me, all of the sites Deron mentioned were great. I also am very happy with www.learnphpfree.com - The name says it all. The guy who runs the site is also into Jesus, which is cool for those of us of a like mind. It seems to be a very secular site between the PHP and the Bible studies, so go check it out either way.