Like many people, I'm sure, I'm looking to get started with MySQL using PHP.

But, with all the ins and outs of it, where would you suggest a good platform for starting would be?

I like to point newcomers to: Build your own Database Driven Website using PHP & MySQL - Part 1: Installation [PHP & MySQL Tutorials]

And if you want to get a book, then I suggest: Amazon.com: PHP and MySQL Web Development (3rd Edition) (Developer's Library): Books: Luke Welling,Laura Thomson

I've wrote a basic tutorial at my blog

Once you understand the tutorial you can start your own application

And these:

You can start here: PHP: A simple tutorial - Manual

And here: Introduction to PHP

Also, look at some books like: PHP5/MySQL by Wrox, or Beginning PHP 5 and MySQL: From Novice to Professional

And many other places...

Or you could just go directly to the official manual site and start there, its a reference you cant live without if you gonna work with php anyway: PHP: PHP Manual - Manual

It also have nice references to how to work with MySQL, theres not really much to it. For more extensive information on MySQL itself, check out MySQL AB :: The world's most popular open source database.

For MySQL administration i recommend phpmyadmin.

As for platform, you just need a webserver on any OS with php + mysql, and a texteditor and some way to upload ur scripts, like ftp or just edit directly.

Thanks for all your help.. I use PHP quite a lot, bit have never used it in conjunction with MySQL, so these tutorials will be a great help!

Don't sweat the MySQL bud. I made the switch from ASP/C#/MSSQL to PHP/MySQL in about a week with no problems.

Check that: The problems with Database connections are a little different to deal with, but once that is sussed out, you are going to see how easy workng with the two together is.