Comments on: PHP Pocket Reference, 2nd Edition http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/php-pocket-reference-2nd-edition/ Enhance your site with CGi, PHP and ASP scripts Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:32:35 +0000 hourly 1 By: Bill C Kuker http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/php-pocket-reference-2nd-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-658 Bill C Kuker Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:40:32 +0000 http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/php-pocket-reference-2nd-edition/#comment-658 If you can code you already know PHP, you just need to be "reminded" of all the built in functions and a few little details. This book does just that, cheaply.<p>Some CGI background is helpfull if you have never done any web programming, but any intelligent programmer should be coding PHP in half an hour with this book. Rating: 5 / 5 If you can code you already know PHP, you just need to be "reminded" of all the built in functions and a few little details. This book does just that, cheaply.

Some CGI background is helpfull if you have never done any web programming, but any intelligent programmer should be coding PHP in half an hour with this book.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Bill C Kuker http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/php-pocket-reference-2nd-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-657 Bill C Kuker Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:33:05 +0000 http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/php-pocket-reference-2nd-edition/#comment-657 If you can code you already know PHP, you just need to be "reminded" of all the built in functions and a few little details. This book does just that, cheaply.<p>Some CGI background is helpfull if you have never done any web programming, but any intelligent programmer should be coding PHP in half an hour with this book. Rating: 5 / 5 If you can code you already know PHP, you just need to be "reminded" of all the built in functions and a few little details. This book does just that, cheaply.

Some CGI background is helpfull if you have never done any web programming, but any intelligent programmer should be coding PHP in half an hour with this book.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Kevin Benton http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/php-pocket-reference-2nd-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-656 Kevin Benton Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:11:34 +0000 http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/php-pocket-reference-2nd-edition/#comment-656 Synopsis: <br /> <br />At this point, when considering purchasing this book, I'd say get a real reference if you want to learn PHP, or if you need a big function reference off-line, then install the help that comes with PHP or just use php.net on-line. This book might be marginally okay for bathroom reading, but otherwise, it really needs to be updated. The reference only covers through PHP 4 which is now unsupported. The way things are done in PHP 5 have changed enough that it's time to deprecate this resource. <br /> <br />Details: <br /> <br />I've owned this pocket reference since it was published in '02 and put it away when I switched to Perl as my primary language in '04 till this year. Now that I'm back to PHP again, I'm reminded of how annoying it is to use this book. The tips at the front of the book are good, but the function reference is difficult to use at best. I'm terribly surprised that O'Reilly hasn't worked with Mr. Lerdorf for a new version. I own lots of O'Reilly materials, many of them pocket references. I don't believe this is up to O'Reilly standards for pocket references. If given a chance to review a new version of this reference, I'd push hard for significant changes, especially to formatting. Other reviewers correctly identified issues with function descriptions. There are times when a pocket reference like this deserves to skip descriptions when the description doesn't add any value to what's already obvious. <br /> <br />Hit(s): <br /> <br />o Contains basic PHP syntax information <br /> <br />Miss(es): <br /> <br />o The latest PHP version covered in this book is no longer supported <br />o Function listing is grouped in a manner that doesn't make sense to most readers <br />o Function descriptions are often worthless <br /> Rating: 2 / 5 Synopsis:

At this point, when considering purchasing this book, I'd say get a real reference if you want to learn PHP, or if you need a big function reference off-line, then install the help that comes with PHP or just use php.net on-line. This book might be marginally okay for bathroom reading, but otherwise, it really needs to be updated. The reference only covers through PHP 4 which is now unsupported. The way things are done in PHP 5 have changed enough that it's time to deprecate this resource.

Details:

I've owned this pocket reference since it was published in '02 and put it away when I switched to Perl as my primary language in '04 till this year. Now that I'm back to PHP again, I'm reminded of how annoying it is to use this book. The tips at the front of the book are good, but the function reference is difficult to use at best. I'm terribly surprised that O'Reilly hasn't worked with Mr. Lerdorf for a new version. I own lots of O'Reilly materials, many of them pocket references. I don't believe this is up to O'Reilly standards for pocket references. If given a chance to review a new version of this reference, I'd push hard for significant changes, especially to formatting. Other reviewers correctly identified issues with function descriptions. There are times when a pocket reference like this deserves to skip descriptions when the description doesn't add any value to what's already obvious.

Hit(s):

o Contains basic PHP syntax information

Miss(es):

o The latest PHP version covered in this book is no longer supported

o Function listing is grouped in a manner that doesn't make sense to most readers

o Function descriptions are often worthless

Rating: 2 / 5

]]> By: Marcus Eklund http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/php-pocket-reference-2nd-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-655 Marcus Eklund Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:05:06 +0000 http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/php-pocket-reference-2nd-edition/#comment-655 I can really recommend this book if you know PHP and need a fast and simple way to look up a function or something else.. Easy to find very thing in the book and i would like to see the next version of this book for PHP 4 when that will be released! Rating: 5 / 5 I can really recommend this book if you know PHP and need a fast and simple way to look up a function or something else.. Easy to find very thing in the book and i would like to see the next version of this book for PHP 4 when that will be released!
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Andy Lester http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/php-pocket-reference-2nd-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-654 Andy Lester Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:19:39 +0000 http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/php-pocket-reference-2nd-edition/#comment-654 It's been said by prior reviewers, but just in case you missed it: This book has no index. <p>ORA should put out PHP In A Nutshell, rather than just PHP Pocket Reference. Rating: 3 / 5 It's been said by prior reviewers, but just in case you missed it: This book has no index.

ORA should put out PHP In A Nutshell, rather than just PHP Pocket Reference.
Rating: 3 / 5

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