[UPHPU] OALUG PHP Workshop

[Aaron Toponce]

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cole at colejoplin.com wrote:
> Quoting Wade Preston Shearer <lists at wadeshearer.com>:
> 
>> What are the group's thoughts on doing this for our January meeting?
> 
> I think this could be fine. I'll even volunteer to help present. The big
> question is what is really appropriate to present in that amount of
> time, for beginner to intermediate. Keyword: workshop. I'd like to know
> what their group wants, a PHP technology review, or a serious intro to
> PHP the language. They are both very different presentations. What's the
> goal?

I think we are looking for a serious intro to the PHP language.
Something hands on that we can sink our teeth into, and take with us
when the meeting is over.  I know for me, that I am very much a newbie
to PHP, and would love to be able to walk away from the meeting writing
some basic PHP scripts.  I guess I'm thinking of this workshop as a
college course, if you will.

> Tackling OOP, security, code management, databases and frameworks are
> easily hours unto each one. And the concepts are language-independent,
> well beyond PHP itself. This would be a broad-sweeping discussion on PHP
> peripheral technology. Or would they rather focus in on PHP basics, and
> have a hands-on lab at the end? For example:
> 
> a) Install/Settings - like php.ini settings, install of a db like MySQL,
> Apache settings, all assuming strictly under Linux

I would think learning how to install and briefly setup a working basic
LAMP stack would be all that we would need to cover here.

> b) Basic Language Syntax - variables, types, operators, etc.
> 
> c) Flow Control - loops, switches, conditionals
> 
> d) Arrays - create, iteration, multi-dimensional
> 
> e) Strings - there are tons of functions and concepts here
> 
> f) Forms - preparation and processing POST/GET/SESSION/COOKIE
> 
> g) Functions and Classes - more language structure, but brings up code
> style, concentrate on PHP4, or concentrate on PHP5-OOP?

Yeah. This is what I'm looking for I think.  Getting a decent idea of
language syntax and having the ability to apply it to problems I
encounter when I am at home or at work.

Just thinking out loud, how hard would it be to hand out a set of
practice problems to take home after the meeting?  Like homework? :)  We
wouldn't be handing it in or anything, but something that we can take
home with us, so we don't immediately forget what we were taught?

Being that I would like to focus on beginner to intermediate levels, I
think b), c) would probably be the majority (60% ?) of the topics
covered with c), d) and e) about 30% and f) and g) the last 10%.  I
don't know though.  I'm open to ideas on how and what to cover.  As
mentioned before, I'm really new to the language.

> 
> ....ok, a few heads might start smoking. I'm just trying to make a point
> about the difference in presentation material and goals. Do they want to
> see Zend in action, or do they want to write script to
> form/post/db_insert? In principle, I don't mind helping their group.
> What does everyone else think?
> 
> -- Cole

I REALLY appreciate the willingness of this group to help us with our
PHP workshop.  I think this will be a great success!

Thanks,

Aaron Toponce - http://www.pthree.org
OALUG President - http://www.oalug.com

1024D/8086060F
E041 3539 273A 6534 A3E1 9259 22EE E048 8086 060F

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