Beginner Projects

**Jeff** · Aug 31 '08, 02:15 AM

Re: Beginner Projects

PHPGB wrote:

<comp.lang.ph p>
<Geoff Berrow>
<Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:40:51 +0100>
<oviib4h13eneat clohd85k81k3jpn 6f4tk@4ax.com>
>
Stuck hole doesnt trim his posts - he just sticks his reply at the
bottom - even if the quoted text is 200 lines in length .

Krusty's got a new identity.

>
Why dont you say anything to him ? .
>
Or any of the other users on here who do the same ? .

Trouble is Krusty, that you are not the one to complain about posting
styles. Upgrade your act and people might take you seriously. Until then
you aren't worth reading. Back in the killfile you go.

Jeff

>
>

**Jeff North** · Aug 31 '08, 03:45 PM

Re: Beginner Projects

On Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:03:52 -0700 (PDT), in comp.lang.php ddg_linux
<dgeorge29ca@gm ail.com>
<ca3a32bc-ee70-4dd1-b877-82dfc6fa8fce@z6 g2000pre.google groups.com>
wrote:

Yes this is a very large project that if you start it now you will
eventually give up on it.

>| I have also thought about building a simple address book. This is
>| something that I don't really
>| need at this point but thought it would be a good start.

Actually it is an ideal place to start. You will get the basics of the
language.

The first thing to do is clearly define what you want your application
to do. Then define the functionality of your application. Then create
a wishlist of things you would like in your application.

By writing out the details of the project it helps you focus on what
is required. You can then start coding for specific areas and
gradually build your application.

For example:
Application: address book.
Purpose: Maintain a list of names, addresses and contact information.
Functionality: must be able add, edit, delete, sort and search for
information.
Sort: must be available on first name, last name and phone number.
Search: must be on any item of information.

Storage of data: there will only be a few hundred entries so a basic
database is required (php/sqlite will fit this criteria).

Wish List:
have people allotted to one or more category (home, work, business)
Reminders for special events (birthday, anniversary etc). SMS/email
notification about event.
Print information out in a business card size format.
--------------------

For your 'ideal' project you would need to breakdown each area. For
example:
Class Information:
There is a need to reset the information each term/semester/year as
new classes are started. The old data must be kept as there maybe
regulations requiring this and students challenging their grades etc

The students information can be entered manually or imported from
another file ie. spreadsheet.

Students should be able to change classes and an other information
within the system.

etc etc etc

I think that you get the idea.

Because both of these projects require the storage of information, you
will also need to be familiar with SQL (a database language). SQLite
and php will suite your needs. You may have to enable the SQLite
extension within your php.ini file to access these functions.

Happy programming :->

**Twayne** · Aug 31 '08, 04:55 PM

Re: Beginner Projects

On Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:03:52 -0700 (PDT), in comp.lang.php ddg_linux

<dgeorge29ca@gm ail.com>
<ca3a32bc-ee70-4dd1-b877-82dfc6fa8fce@z6 g2000pre.google groups.com>
wrote:
>

>>Thank you for your response and posing those questions to me.
>>>
>>I really need to a scheduler created to manage my classes and
>>materials.
>>I teach 7 ESL classes a day and each class has its own book ( or
>>books)
>>for that matter. I need a place to add teacher comments, grades,
>>material tracker,
>>homework tracker etc. This is a project that I have thought about
>>starting but thought
>>it would be too large starting out as a beginner PHP programmer.

>
Yes this is a very large project that if you start it now you will
eventually give up on it.
>

>>I have also thought about building a simple address book. This is
>>something that I don't really
>>need at this point but thought it would be a good start.

>
Actually it is an ideal place to start. You will get the basics of the
language.
>
The first thing to do is clearly define what you want your application
to do. Then define the functionality of your application. Then create
a wishlist of things you would like in your application.
>
By writing out the details of the project it helps you focus on what
is required. You can then start coding for specific areas and
gradually build your application.
>
For example:
Application: address book.
Purpose: Maintain a list of names, addresses and contact information.
Functionality: must be able add, edit, delete, sort and search for
information.
Sort: must be available on first name, last name and phone number.
Search: must be on any item of information.
>
Storage of data: there will only be a few hundred entries so a basic
database is required (php/sqlite will fit this criteria).
>
Wish List:
have people allotted to one or more category (home, work, business)
Reminders for special events (birthday, anniversary etc). SMS/email
notification about event.
Print information out in a business card size format.
--------------------
>
For your 'ideal' project you would need to breakdown each area. For
example:
Class Information:
There is a need to reset the information each term/semester/year as
new classes are started. The old data must be kept as there maybe
regulations requiring this and students challenging their grades etc
>
The students information can be entered manually or imported from
another file ie. spreadsheet.
>
Students should be able to change classes and an other information
within the system.
>
etc etc etc
>
I think that you get the idea.
>
Because both of these projects require the storage of information, you
will also need to be familiar with SQL (a database language). SQLite
and php will suite your needs. You may have to enable the SQLite
extension within your php.ini file to access these functions.
>
Happy programming :->

All good points except one, IMO. The "ideal" project is one that you
might yourself need/use so that you'll have a vested interest in its
success and wont' back if/when it comes to the point where you realize
you'll have to rewrite it or parts of it. Try to take it right up to
the point of a production release.
During that trip you'll also have a chance to pick out the tools you
wish to use and which ones you don't like, etc.. For instance, I use
NoteTab and wrote my own little PHP lib for it (which they make very
easy) as I went along, and I also use NotePad++ for its better ability
to highlight. They do a good job of watching each other if you edit the
same file in both of them and continually offer to keep in step, plus
NoteTab is great for feeding a file to the local server; just click a
file tab and add a keyclick. But I'm a neophyte so there are likely
better combos; those just work well for me.
I don't recall whether you had a local server or not; if not, look
into one ASAP. You'll go nuts trying to use your ISP's services for
testing. And choose the same version of PHP that your server uses, of
course.
Even if that seems to create a rather short-sighted set of commands
to learn, it'll keep your interest in place because it'll have a reason
to exist, making you more apt to stick with it.
By that time, IMO, you'll have enough familiarity with the rest of
the language to put together a truly wide-area project where you can add
more quickly to the base you've just learned. In PHP it's really hard
to research one thing without coming across about ten different ways to
do it, and a dozen or so other interesting looking codes. A sandbox is
almost a requirement.
Personally, unless you have more background in coding than I think, it
feels like some of the suggestions might be a little over the top for a
rank beginner. But if you already have similar structured languages
under you belt, you won't be a rank beginner; just a beginner<g>. And
you'll probably progress quickly.

Twayne

>
>

>>I have a large image collection of my travels overseas. A custom
>>image gallery might be a good
>>solution for that.
>>>
>>I am also a forex trade when I have time and I might think of
>>building an application to manage these types of things.
>>>
>>Really what I am looking for is a simple project to get my feet wet
>>building an application from the ground up. Taking that experience
>>and applying it to other more complex projects.
>>>
>>Any suggestions would be great...
>>>
>>Thanks again for your post..
>>>
>>Cheers
>>>
>>On Aug 30, 3:23 am, Captain Paralytic <paul_laut...@y ahoo.com>
>>wrote:
>>>On 30 Aug, 07:51, ddg_linux <dgeorge2...@gm ail.comwrote:
>>>>
>>>>I have been reading about and doing a lot of php code examples
>>>>from books but now I find myself wanting to do something
>>>>practical with some of the skills that I have learned.
>>>>
>>>>I am a beginner php programmer and looking for a starting point in
>>>>regards to practical projects to work on.
>>>>
>>>>What are some projects that beginner programmers usually start
>>>>with?
>>>>
>>>>Please list a few that would be good for a beginner PHP
>>>>programme r to work on.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks in advance for your information.
>>>>
>>>>Cheers
>>>>
>>>Hi there and welcome to php.
>>>>
>>>I know the problem. It is one thing to do a bunch of examples but
>>>it all feels pointless unless you have some end game to work to.
>>>>
>>>Is there something that you want to do? Is there a reason why you
>>>started learning php? I found that tackling projects for no good
>>>reason did not help me. I needed to have something practical to
>>>need to do.
>>>>
>>>The first project I did was an application to manage a bonus ball
>>>competitio n for a club of which I am a member.
>>>>
>>>I'm still learning and I learn by having to do stuff. My current
>>>areas of learning are in creating pdf files, image management
>>>using the gd libraries and writing an Excel xml export class. All
>>>of these are things I currently need and so I have a good reason
>>>to learn them.

**ElPistolero** · Aug 31 '08, 06:15 PM

Re: Beginner Projects

ddg_linux wrote:
....

I am a beginner php programmer and looking for a starting point in
regards to practical projects to work on.
>
What are some projects that beginner programmers usually start with?

....
The first one I ever did was a grade-book looukup for students to see
what I had recorded for them. It had to use a password or the college
would not let me put it on the web. The original gradebook was an
OpenOffice spreadsheet.

It took two or three days to do. I consider that a beginners project.

--
Fui et vidi experiri.
=DSM=

**ddg_linux** · Sep 1 '08, 04:35 PM

Re: Beginner Projects

For example:

Application: address book.
Purpose: Maintain a list of names, addresses and contact information.
Functionality: must be able add, edit, delete, sort and search for
information.
Sort: must be available on first name, last name and phone number.
Search: must be on any item of information.
>
Storage of data: there will only be a few hundred entries so a basic
database is required (php/sqlite will fit this criteria).
>
Wish List:
have people allotted to one or more category (home, work, business)
Reminders for special events (birthday, anniversary etc). SMS/email
notification about event.
Print information out in a business card size format.
--------------------
>
For your 'ideal' project you would need to breakdown each area. For
example:
Class Information:
There is a need to reset the information each term/semester/year as
new classes are started. The old data must be kept as there maybe
regulations requiring this and students challenging their grades etc
>
The students information can be entered manually or imported from
another file ie. spreadsheet.
>
Students should be able to change classes and an other information
within the system.
>
Because both of these projects require the storage of information, you
will also need to be familiar with SQL (a database language). SQLite
and php will suite your needs. You may have to enable the SQLite
extension within your php.ini file to access these functions.
>
Happy programming :->
>

Thank you so much for this information. It really gives me a good
idea on where I need to start
and not to worry about making this harder at the start of a beginner
project.

I will start this address book and post it to you once it is completed
for you to review.

Thanks again, your article was very helpful.

Cheers

**Jeff North** · Sep 2 '08, 10:15 AM

Re: Beginner Projects

On Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:48:42 GMT, in comp.lang.php "Twayne"
<nobody@devnull .spamcop.net>
<KXzuk.115$Dj1. 104@trnddc02wro te:

>| On Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:03:52 -0700 (PDT), in comp.lang.php ddg_linux
>| <dgeorge29ca@gm ail.com>
>| <ca3a32bc-ee70-4dd1-b877-82dfc6fa8fce@z6 g2000pre.google groups.com>
>| wrote:
>| >
>| >>Thank you for your response and posing those questions to me.
>| >>>
>| >>I really need to a scheduler created to manage my classes and
>| >>materials.
>| >>I teach 7 ESL classes a day and each class has its own book ( or
>| >>books)
>| >>for that matter. I need a place to add teacher comments, grades,
>| >>material tracker,
>| >>homework tracker etc. This is a project that I have thought about
>| >>starting but thought
>| >>it would be too large starting out as a beginner PHP programmer.
>| >
>| Yes this is a very large project that if you start it now you will
>| eventually give up on it.
>| >
>| >>I have also thought about building a simple address book. This is
>| >>something that I don't really
>| >>need at this point but thought it would be a good start.
>| >
>| Actually it is an ideal place to start. You will get the basics of the
>| language.
>| >
>| The first thing to do is clearly define what you want your application
>| to do. Then define the functionality of your application. Then create
>| a wishlist of things you would like in your application.
>| >
>| By writing out the details of the project it helps you focus on what
>| is required. You can then start coding for specific areas and
>| gradually build your application.
>| >
>| For example:
>| Application: address book.
>| Purpose: Maintain a list of names, addresses and contact information.
>| Functionality: must be able add, edit, delete, sort and search for
>| information.
>| Sort: must be available on first name, last name and phone number.
>| Search: must be on any item of information.
>| >
>| Storage of data: there will only be a few hundred entries so a basic
>| database is required (php/sqlite will fit this criteria).
>| >
>| Wish List:
>| have people allotted to one or more category (home, work, business)
>| Reminders for special events (birthday, anniversary etc). SMS/email
>| notification about event.
>| Print information out in a business card size format.
>| --------------------
>| >
>| For your 'ideal' project you would need to breakdown each area. For
>| example:
>| Class Information:
>| There is a need to reset the information each term/semester/year as
>| new classes are started. The old data must be kept as there maybe
>| regulations requiring this and students challenging their grades etc
>| >
>| The students information can be entered manually or imported from
>| another file ie. spreadsheet.
>| >
>| Students should be able to change classes and an other information
>| within the system.
>| >
>| etc etc etc
>| >
>| I think that you get the idea.
>| >
>| Because both of these projects require the storage of information, you
>| will also need to be familiar with SQL (a database language). SQLite
>| and php will suite your needs. You may have to enable the SQLite
>| extension within your php.ini file to access these functions.
>| >
>| Happy programming :->
>|
>| All good points except one, IMO. The "ideal" project is one that you
>| might yourself need/use so that you'll have a vested interest in its
>| success and wont' back if/when it comes to the point where you realize
>| you'll have to rewrite it or parts of it. Try to take it right up to
>| the point of a production release.
>| During that trip you'll also have a chance to pick out the tools you
>| wish to use and which ones you don't like, etc.. For instance, I use
>| NoteTab and wrote my own little PHP lib for it (which they make very
>| easy) as I went along, and I also use NotePad++ for its better ability
>| to highlight. They do a good job of watching each other if you edit the
>| same file in both of them and continually offer to keep in step, plus
>| NoteTab is great for feeding a file to the local server; just click a
>| file tab and add a keyclick. But I'm a neophyte so there are likely
>| better combos; those just work well for me.
>| I don't recall whether you had a local server or not; if not, look
>| into one ASAP. You'll go nuts trying to use your ISP's services for
>| testing. And choose the same version of PHP that your server uses, of
>| course.
>| Even if that seems to create a rather short-sighted set of commands
>| to learn, it'll keep your interest in place because it'll have a reason
>| to exist, making you more apt to stick with it.
>| By that time, IMO, you'll have enough familiarity with the rest of
>| the language to put together a truly wide-area project where you can add
>| more quickly to the base you've just learned. In PHP it's really hard
>| to research one thing without coming across about ten different ways to
>| do it, and a dozen or so other interesting looking codes. A sandbox is
>| almost a requirement.
>| Personally, unless you have more background in coding than I think, it
>| feels like some of the suggestions might be a little over the top for a
>| rank beginner. But if you already have similar structured languages
>| under you belt, you won't be a rank beginner; just a beginner<g>. And
>| you'll probably progress quickly.
>|
>| Twayne

Excellent points.

Having your own web server is a must IMHO. I use chsoftware WOS (Web
On-A Stick). You can install apache, php and mysql on a USB drive.
Invaluable for when you visit clients with updates as you don't need
to lug you computer around - just a USB drive. Best of all - its free.

I also highly recommend nusphere phpED integrated programming
environment. This has the advantage of allowing the programmer to
single step through the code to see what is actually happening. There
are other IDEs out there that I've tried but nusphere worked straight
out of the box.

[snip 2 end]

**Jeff North** · Sep 2 '08, 10:25 AM

Re: Beginner Projects

On Mon, 1 Sep 2008 09:27:06 -0700 (PDT), in comp.lang.php ddg_linux
<dgeorge29ca@gm ail.com>
<fdce18d3-7fea-4b04-865d-80497c00f135@q2 6g2000prq.googl egroups.com>
wrote:

>| For example:
>| Application: address book.
>| Purpose: Maintain a list of names, addresses and contact information.
>| Functionality: must be able add, edit, delete, sort and search for
>| information.
>| Sort: must be available on first name, last name and phone number.
>| Search: must be on any item of information.
>| >
>| Storage of data: there will only be a few hundred entries so a basic
>| database is required (php/sqlite will fit this criteria).
>| >
>| Wish List:
>| have people allotted to one or more category (home, work, business)
>| Reminders for special events (birthday, anniversary etc). SMS/email
>| notification about event.
>| Print information out in a business card size format.
>| --------------------
>| >
>| For your 'ideal' project you would need to breakdown each area. For
>| example:
>| Class Information:
>| There is a need to reset the information each term/semester/year as
>| new classes are started. The old data must be kept as there maybe
>| regulations requiring this and students challenging their grades etc
>| >
>| The students information can be entered manually or imported from
>| another file ie. spreadsheet.
>| >
>| Students should be able to change classes and an other information
>| within the system.
>| >
>| Because both of these projects require the storage of information, you
>| will also need to be familiar with SQL (a database language). SQLite
>| and php will suite your needs. You may have to enable the SQLite
>| extension within your php.ini file to access these functions.
>| >
>| Happy programming :->
>| >
>|
>| Thank you so much for this information. It really gives me a good
>| idea on where I need to start
>| and not to worry about making this harder at the start of a beginner
>| project.
>|
>| I will start this address book and post it to you once it is completed
>| for you to review.
>|
>| Thanks again, your article was very helpful.
>|
>| Cheers

No probs :-)

**Twayne** · Sep 2 '08, 02:55 PM

Re: Beginner Projects

On Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:48:42 GMT, in comp.lang.php "Twayne"

<nobody@devnull .spamcop.net>
<KXzuk.115$Dj1. 104@trnddc02wro te:
>

>>>On Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:03:52 -0700 (PDT), in comp.lang.php
>>>ddg_linux <dgeorge29ca@gm ail.com>
>>><ca3a32bc-ee70-4dd1-b877-82dfc6fa8fce@z6 g2000pre.google groups.com>
>>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Thank you for your response and posing those questions to me.
>>>>>>
>>>>>I really need to a scheduler created to manage my classes and
>>>>>material s.
>>>>>I teach 7 ESL classes a day and each class has its own book ( or
>>>>>books)
>>>>>for that matter. I need a place to add teacher comments, grades,
>>>>>material tracker,
>>>>>homework tracker etc. This is a project that I have thought about
>>>>>starting but thought
>>>>>it would be too large starting out as a beginner PHP programmer.
>>>>
>>>Yes this is a very large project that if you start it now you will
>>>eventually give up on it.
>>>>
>>>>>I have also thought about building a simple address book. This is
>>>>>somethin g that I don't really
>>>>>need at this point but thought it would be a good start.
>>>>
>>>Actually it is an ideal place to start. You will get the basics of
>>>the language.
>>>>
>>>The first thing to do is clearly define what you want your
>>>applicatio n to do. Then define the functionality of your
>>>applicatio n. Then create a wishlist of things you would like in
>>>your application.
>>>>
>>>By writing out the details of the project it helps you focus on
>>>what is required. You can then start coding for specific areas and
>>>gradually build your application.
>>>>
>>>For example:
>>>Applicatio n: address book.
>>>Purpose: Maintain a list of names, addresses and contact
>>>informatio n. Functionality: must be able add, edit, delete, sort
>>>and search for information.
>>>Sort: must be available on first name, last name and phone number.
>>>Search: must be on any item of information.
>>>>
>>>Storage of data: there will only be a few hundred entries so a
>>>basic database is required (php/sqlite will fit this criteria).
>>>>
>>>Wish List:
>>>have people allotted to one or more category (home, work, business)
>>>Reminders for special events (birthday, anniversary etc). SMS/email
>>>notificati on about event.
>>>Print information out in a business card size format.
>>>--------------------
>>>>
>>>For your 'ideal' project you would need to breakdown each area. For
>>>example:
>>>Class Information:
>>>There is a need to reset the information each term/semester/year as
>>>new classes are started. The old data must be kept as there maybe
>>>regulation s requiring this and students challenging their grades
>>>etc
>>>>
>>>The students information can be entered manually or imported from
>>>another file ie. spreadsheet.
>>>>
>>>Students should be able to change classes and an other information
>>>within the system.
>>>>
>>>etc etc etc
>>>>
>>>I think that you get the idea.
>>>>
>>>Because both of these projects require the storage of information,
>>>you will also need to be familiar with SQL (a database language).
>>>SQLite and php will suite your needs. You may have to enable the
>>>SQLite extension within your php.ini file to access these
>>>functions.
>>>>
>>>Happy programming :->
>>>
>>All good points except one, IMO. The "ideal" project is one that
>>you might yourself need/use so that you'll have a vested interest
>>in its success and wont' back if/when it comes to the point where
>>you realize you'll have to rewrite it or parts of it. Try to take
>>it right up to the point of a production release.
>> During that trip you'll also have a chance to pick out the tools
>>you wish to use and which ones you don't like, etc.. For instance,
>>I use NoteTab and wrote my own little PHP lib for it (which they
>>make very easy) as I went along, and I also use NotePad++ for its
>>better ability to highlight. They do a good job of watching each
>>other if you edit the same file in both of them and continually
>>offer to keep in step, plus NoteTab is great for feeding a file to
>>the local server; just click a file tab and add a keyclick. But I'm
>>a neophyte so there are likely better combos; those just work well
>> for me. I don't recall whether you had a local server or not; if
>>not, look
>>into one ASAP. You'll go nuts trying to use your ISP's services for
>>testing. And choose the same version of PHP that your server uses,
>>of course.
>> Even if that seems to create a rather short-sighted set of
>>commands to learn, it'll keep your interest in place because it'll
>>have a reason to exist, making you more apt to stick with it.
>> By that time, IMO, you'll have enough familiarity with the rest
>>of the language to put together a truly wide-area project where you
>>can add more quickly to the base you've just learned. In PHP it's
>>really hard to research one thing without coming across about ten
>>different ways to do it, and a dozen or so other interesting
>>looking codes. A sandbox is almost a requirement.
>> Personally, unless you have more background in coding than I
>>think, it feels like some of the suggestions might be a little over
>>the top for a rank beginner. But if you already have similar
>>structured languages under you belt, you won't be a rank beginner;
>>just a beginner<g>. And you'll probably progress quickly.
>>>
>>Twayne

>
Excellent points.
>
Having your own web server is a must IMHO. I use chsoftware WOS (Web
On-A Stick). You can install apache, php and mysql on a USB drive.
Invaluable for when you visit clients with updates as you don't need
to lug you computer around - just a USB drive. Best of all - its free.
>
I also highly recommend nusphere phpED integrated programming
environment. This has the advantage of allowing the programmer to
single step through the code to see what is actually happening. There
are other IDEs out there that I've tried but nusphere worked straight
out of the box.
>
[snip 2 end]

Oof! That's kind of pricey but I guess if you're sure you're going to
go into a production environment with PHP it'd be worth it. ROI will
take a bit to cover off though. Else I think the freebie route, frought
with problems as it is, would be better to get started with and to be
able to be sure something like that is what you need.

Twayne

Beginner Projects

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