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1.3 What you will get out of this book

This is NOT the latest copy of this book; click here for the latest version.

Irrespective of what programming level you have before you start reading this book, there are a number of key things you should be able to take away once you are done reading:

You will have a thorough mastery of the ins and outs of PHP programming and development-related tasks, with particularly strong knowledge of forms, databases, and multimedia.
You'll be able to design, develop, and deploy complex web-based solutions across several platforms
You'll have a good understanding of the uses PHP can be put to above and beyond handling forms
Finally, I really hope you will share some of the passion I feel for PHP - it is an exciting, challenging, and ever-expanding language and it is my wish that you will have lots of fun working with it.

That said, I'm under no disillusions that this is the "ultimate" book on PHP or programming in general. I've provided reading recommendations at the end of each chapter where I feel other books will contribute to your learning.

<< 1.2 Who this book is not for		1.4 How to use this book >>
Table of Contents

Want to see this stuff in print? PHP in a Nutshell takes the core topics covered here, adds in thousands of edits from the editorial team and myself, and combines them to make an unbeatable reference for PHP programmers at all levels.

My latest book has hundreds more tips on how to use PHP, Apache, and MySQL, plus Perl, Python, shell scripts, performance tuning, and more!

justjoe - 30 Aug 2008

Respectfully, I hope the O'Reilly edition had a good copy editor. I do not expect a highly skilled and creative programmer, which you obviously are, to be any more than a passing competent writer. In that you do not disappoint, but neither do you excite. In every chapter I find myself looking for the editing pencil. That first sentence above is as good an example as any.

"Irrespective of what programming level you have before you start reading this book, there are a number of key things you should be able to take away once you are done reading:"

would be better as:

"Regardless of your level of programming experience when you begin reading the book, you may acquire the following by the time you have finished."

Shorter, clearer and a less tortured sentence.

But I will say that the content of the book, as seen here, holds sufficient promise that I will be buying a hard copy.

J Fin - 30 Aug 2008

I'm ready to sweat my ass off

Pedro - 30 Aug 2008

Ok, I am ready to have fun working with PHP.

San Diego, CA 26 Jan 2006

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