New to PHP

/\ndy · 23 Jun 2009 at 21:18

Hey guys, just starting to learn how to use PHP in web design. So far I have created a simple feedback form for customer use, which all works fine now.

Just wondering if i could use php, so that the owner of the website can quickly edit the content? As they have no knowledge of how to use FTP or edit HTML.

Thanks.

Andy.

iNPUt · 23 Jun 2009 at 23:53

You mean like a content management system?

You would have to link it up to a MySQL back end and then you can make forms to change parts of it and update whats shown.

Depends, they can only change certain bits that you decide, like an install script. And then administrator tools. Be aware its not a small job! You might just want to search for some popular cms software.

MorningView · 24 Jun 2009 at 00:33

As iNPUt rightly suggests, depending how indepth you go with it it could be a pretty big job. It all depends how quickly you would need to make these changes for your client. It would certainly be a decent project to get yourself really up to speed with PHP + MySQL.

It's worth bearing in mind with things like that if it's a proper client you'll have to take into consideration security issues so you don't have people breaking into their website. In that sense using a freely available script might be better.

suarve · 24 Jun 2009 at 09:10

MatthewForshaw said:
As iNPUt rightly suggests, depending how indepth you go with it it could be a pretty big job. It all depends how quickly you would need to make these changes for your client. It would certainly be a decent project to get yourself really up to speed with PHP + MySQL.

It's worth bearing in mind with things like that if it's a proper client you'll have to take into consideration security issues so you don't have people breaking into their website. In that sense using a freely available script might be better.

I find that's the bit that is most time consuming, as you often have to use their existing design

iNPUt · 24 Jun 2009 at 12:36

MatthewForshaw said:
It's worth bearing in mind with things like that if it's a proper client you'll have to take into consideration security issues so you don't have people breaking into their website. In that sense using a freely available script might be better.

Security is a tricky job with these sort of things, there have been some really big cms/script makers been hit. Recently Zen Cart and PhpMyAdmin have big holes discovered in them. This causes nightmares for system admins, you have to look at security on client and server side, if someone does get in through your script you have to make sure the server is on lock down. Disabling command exec commands, system() etc. Maybe looking at safemode for php with the latest php since there are bypasses in lots of them.

Good luck..