Professional PHP4 Web Development Solutions by Raj Dash, Bryan Waters, Alison Gianotto, Jo Henrick, Matt Anton, and Jon Stephens.

Published by: Wrox

I have read several PHP books. This one is defiantly different. But that's not a bad thing. This book starts out as any other book. What is PHP?, Who invented it?, Blah, Blah, Blah. Although that information is good know I got that same information from the first dozen or so books I've read. Can you say "beating a dead horse". Ok, now that is out of my system lets get into the book.

By : postalcow

Most books have prerequisites, you should have a working knowledge of HTML and have a server to work from. This one jumps right into XML without giving you much of an XML lesson at all. So add XML to the basic list of prerequisites for this book.

This book really makes you visually look at relational databases. This might or might not help you plan your database a little better. Starting at chapter 3 you start to build real world applications from start to finish. You will build the "Book of Mankind Project" I liked this project you use pear::db, and learn powerful search techniques. Through out the book you continue to build applications, a store directory, a wireless job board (good WAP example), content management systems, and a nice little classified add board. It also has some other wireless examples which had been neglected in most books I've read.

Final Word...

When I first looked at this book I did not believe I would like it. As a matter of fact I would not have bought it. I wanted to give this book a fair review though so I dug in. After spending some time with the book I started to enjoy it and found it useful. This book is like "Green Eggs and Ham" Try it, Try it, You will see, You will like it, it's PHP!

This I liked about the book.

• Real World examples,
• WAP applications,
• pear examples

Things I disliked about the book.

• Poor or no code breakdown you can become lost easily.
• The price $49.95 A little steep.
• Sample code needs to be downloaded, no CD provided.

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