Learning PHP

[Morthoseth]

I have tried to teach myself the basics of php about four or five times now and always give up after i've learned the very basic code to set up a php document, setting variables, if statements and so on - then always hit a wall, not knowing where to go next as far as being self taught is concerned.

I want, ultimately to write my own CMS for a website, whether it is very basic or not, it wont matter - i just dont know where to look, what aspect of the language to teach myself next

Sure i could find a script through google, but then its just guesswork as to what everything does, some is logical, other bits arent - i'd like to learn the general process, if you know what i mean?

Any advice here? I feel i can make a serious committment to the language if i actually achieve something worthwhile, i want to make scripting a profession later on in life, just need a few foot holds!

Thanks in advance, and if anyone can suggest any simple PHP projects for me to set my mind to before the CMS, that would be awesome!

Oli

 

[Morthoseth]

Thank you everyone for your advice thus far, i decided to purchase a couple of books on the subject, and i've settled with "Beginning PHP5, Apache, and
MySQL® Web Development"

It has so far led me through what the basics of the different abilities of PHP are, what kinds of code to use, where and when etc.

The best thing, in my opinion about the book is it actually has the 'small projects' there for you to do, although the code is actually there it helps to see what you have just read / learned in context.

So far i'm about 100 pages in, and its explained different ways to call lists, defining, including, basic functions.

The only thing i find hard at the moment, is remembering all of it... i am trying to go back day by day and write what i learned the previous day from memory, which i am managing okay, but certain things i find very hard to remember, lots of which are to do with the likes of $_SESSION and so on, i'm sure like any language (programming or lingual) it will get easier with time, i just feel reluctant to continue to the next part of the book before i know this part 'off by heart'

No idea what other peoples views are on that!

The small project i've set myself, is to be able to create some kind of image upload / view program with a basic rating system, i havent learned enough to do it yet but i remain hopeful!