Well this may seem a silly question but let me give some explanation.

I have read and tried to learn php by using free sites such as w3schools or tizag. when I say I have read i mean I read almost all of their pages, even mysql, sql or advanced php.

But still cannot use it for creating scripts. I cannot even validate a form( I mean I can, but not from none, need to consult a tutorial before).

My idea is to give a kind of strategy or work method for learning php.

I used the same method for loosing weight as I did for learning PHP years ago.... Hard work, dicipline and no cheating.

Originally Posted by Tulork

I used the same method for loosing weight as I did for learning PHP years ago.... Hard work, dicipline and no cheating.

That method works well

I decided on PHP after some research and being told it was generally quite easy and effective. So I got a book on it and made a few applications.
I'm currently working on becoming a qualified PHP guy (meaning if I go into a job interview I have a piece of paper saying I can code to a good level aswell as a portfolio).

So I basically learnt the basics (Took me about 2-4 weeks), then if I need to know about something (Or be reminded of) I just google it :-)

I still am, but more advanced. a book called
Beginning PHP and MySQL: From Novice to Professional

I learned from Trial & Error mainly, got my start on w3schools. Google is your friend if you can't figure how to do something, and we're your friend if you have a question. If you want to look up a function though, http://php.net/search.php that is your best friend and uncle.

Originally Posted by Tulork

I used the same method for loosing weight as I did for learning PHP years ago.... Hard work, dicipline and no cheating.

Yes you are right, I own the three of :Hard work, discipline and I am fair player but though cannot write any code

Just kidding


I started watching some good videos on killerphp.com and you know i realized that watching and listening is much better than rading(like a college lesson)

So today I wrote a news submition php code like at digg.com. I still didn't learn to validate it but i cannot figure out how to save it. Shoould i use MYSQL for this?

give a look, it is just experimental:

scutari.freevar.com/pr.php

Last question:if I install php on my computer do i need Internet to make experiments?

but how to establish discipline?

w3schools.com
google.com

I tought myself php in about a week, and was tackling difficult problems the following week. A friend of mine took a course on php + mysql and he said I'm more knowledgeable then what the course taught him.

So all you need is 2 websites....no, wrong...3 websites.

w3schools.com
google.com
webmaster-talk.com

Practice, consult docs, debug, practice, consult docs, debug.
The php documentation http://www.php.net/docs.php
When something works, save it in a folder for future use.

There are some okay books out there to give pointers but don't answer all the questions you have working through their scripts and examples.

I got a book from the library and worked through all of it, start to finish. That gave me a base and I used the web to add to it.

While it does help to have prior programming experience, all that is really required is effort, an excellent memory, and the ability to grasp programming paradigms.

Oh, I might add that the ability to look up answers if you don't know something is very helpful also. I usually use http://php.net

I still am, but more advanced. a book called
Beginning PHP and MySQL: From Novice to Professional

I have that book too! It is excellent.

I started out by picking up HTML/CSS, which was really the most basic "coding" you could say.

From there I had some knowledge of uploading, etc...

Then I went on to read from websites that had tutorials and articles on PHP/MySQL.

I also know a couple PHP coders who were able to guide me along the way.

And with the newer PHP versions coming out, I'm still learning new PHP every day!

The question is not how did you learn php, the question is if you will ever make money with php, most unlikely...

If you wanna make money you better learn the .NET framework. Far better oppertunities.

The question is, do you enjoy doing it?

I never got to grips with sites like the ones you mentioned, the articles all seem to be written too quickly and with poor attention to their basic English - let alone the PHP.

I first saw a primer on PHP in a PC magazine years ago (I forget which) but it basically taught you how to use variables to echo a query string (<? echo $QUERY_STRING; ?> ).

From there I just found existing PHP scripts that did what I wanted to get done and spent a while reading the code, finding what I needed to edit and trying to fix them once I had broken them.

Try looking on hotscripts.com at existing simple PHP scripts and see how you can edit them to your needs.

It's important that you know more than basic PHP or earning from it won't be much. .NET is a good thing to pick up, and there are other languages that go with PHP that work together to make yourself more widespread in terms of how much you can do with the code.

Also knowing different frameworks and templating systems helps when coming to coding...

The question is not how did you learn php, the question is if you will ever make money with php, most unlikely...

I sort of disagree and sort of agree. It isn't difficult to make a living as a web-developer if you have the skills. PHP is an excellent tool to have in your arsenal. Part of the reason I am able to make a living is that I know PHP, although it is also because I know standards-compliant tableless layout, Javascript, and Jquery, together with PHP, that I am really bankable.

Taught myself, w3schools was a big help.

The best way I have found to understand and learn PHP was to find small coding examples that I could download and run on my testing server. Then I read through each line of code and did searches until I understood what each command was and how it functioned. I then spent time experimenting with the code to see if I could add or change the functionality.

It is a lot of work but I personally learn best from a hands on approach.