A mature general programming question

[BartTv]

Hi,

I have started learning php a long time ago and stopped because school started and want to keep up with the class and pass all my exams and all. So i kinda forgot most of the things i had learned because i didn't look at it since then.

Now my question is:

If i like programming,working on computers and creating stuff how can i go back to re-start learning php and other languages withouht bothering my school time and studiying and all.

See i always loved codding stuff and all but the only thing i have had time to learn is actualy HTML. And now i saw php and understood that it was what i really was into so i got 13 books that can teach me php and have never had the time to entirely complete them.

Just some little suggestions or ideas of what i could do would help.

Thanks.

[Saeru]

PHP can be rather simple. I lerned it as a hobby honestly.

Best thing you could do is start with the simple stuff and work your way on. With a bit of work over time, the more complex stuff will become the 'simple' stuff for you ;P

You don't really have to sit down and be dedicated in order to learn. Any feww time I have, if I don't feel like playing a game or watching TV, I work on coding. You can learn a lot in a little time. Get stuck, google the answer or check in one of your books. ^^

[Noobarmy]

well sitting down for an hour a day reading your book will mean you've learnt most of it in a couple of weeks. Or taking online tutorials is good as well

[BartTv]

And what are the most important things to learn to create some MODs and some basic stuff?

[igorw]

Know the basics of PHP, know HTML and know how phpBB works (Template system, language variables)

[drathbun]

The first step - in my opinion - is learning good programming practice. Once you do that, anything else is just syntax.

[UseLess]

Greetings,

What drathbun said.

As fas as the web server parsing the PHP code, the structure of your code really doesn't matter. As the server will see your code as one continuous line regardless of tabs, indents and line returns. But to someone reading your code, and this could be you in a few months, how well your code is organised can really make a difference to it's readability.

And good programming practice would be;

• Consistency: Blocks of well written code always look the same and have the same indents and ways of coding, such as bracket/brace placement is consistant throughout the program.
• Frequent Comments: The more you use comments throughout your code the better off you will be. It's not that important in small simple scripts but when they become more and more complex it will be harder for you to remember what you did, where you did it and why you did it the way you did.

Caring about what your code looks like improves;

• Efficiency: The easier your code is to read and follow the easier it'll be to keep track of where you are and allow you to pick up where you left off quicker after a break.
• Debugging: If you have used comments you can easily follow your own logic and if you have an editor with line numbers and consistant formatting, you can quickly find a problem in your code.
• Future expansions and modifications: Using comments in your code is especially important for future changes, as not everyone can remember the logic behind code that was written years or even months ago. This is even more important when working as part of a team and everyone is using the same coding style, as it makes it easier to change someone elses work at a later date.