Beginner Wannabe PHP User

[hds]

Howdy.

I am looking into utilizing PHP. I have an intermediate understanding of Actionscripting and HTML. I have been to sites that explain PHP and it seems logical to me.

Now this is where you come in.

How do I incorporate PHP with my web server and Flash?
For example, I am using a MAC and a UNIX web server with PHP capabilities and I don't know where to get started. I pretty much need a PHP for Knuckleheads tutorial to get me started. Once I know how to incorporate PHP, I will be set. I do understand the coding of PHP.

Thank you.

[eyezberg]

Why do you want to use PHP?
I mean, IF you want to use it, must be for a reason..?
All depends what you wanna do with it.

[hds]

To start with: WHY should you bother learning PHP?

1/ it's free! most hosts give you acces in the basic packages.

2/ there's a huge community on the web with 1000s of scripts
for you to download and use:
- http://www.asp-php.net/scripts/asp-php/download.php
- http://phpclasses.goelette.net/browse.html/browse.html
- http://www.evilwalrus.com/
- http://codewalkers.com/archives/phpcoding/
- http://www.mattsscripts.co.uk/php_scripts.htm
- ... (just do a Google search...)

3/ it's very well documented, help is available on lots of
forums, and the scripting is very similar to actionscript.

4/ it lets you achieve things Flash alone can't:
-send server-side email (think "contact form, survey etc"...)
-read contents of your online folders (think "list all files/mp3s/images in a folder"...)
-store data in a database (think "guestbook"...)
-write data to a textfile in your webspace (think "guestbook - i got no database"...)
-upload (and resize!) images to your server (think "photogallery"...)
-create swf on the fly (MING library)
-maintain registered users records (think "login"...)
-...basically, save data to your server for later retrieval.
If you want a few examples of Flash/PHP integration, check out
- http://www.sephiroth.it
- http://www.flash-db.com
- http://www.phpforflash.com


I am interested in becoming a well-round web developer.

Thank you.

[eyezberg]

"I pretty much need a PHP for Knuckleheads tutorial to get me started. Once I know how to incorporate PHP, I will be set."
-by started, you mean setup on the comp? to use it?
-incorporate = into your pages?

Sorry, never use Macs (like 'em tho'..), I'd do a google on mac+php+server+setup+....

[hds]

Right now, I don't have a particular project I want to accomplish with PHP. I hear that PHP is excellent and easy to use. Ideally, I would like to learn PHP, XML, mySQL, and Coldfusion. From what I have been told, Coldfusion, mySQL, and XML only works with Windows Servers.

I feel like I would have been better off with a PC. There is so much information out there on the web for that sort of stuff. Look at this site. This is the best Flash Tutorial site I ever came across. Many of these tutorials that involve PHP, XML, etc... are PC oriented.

I have a good understanding of programming. I just need to know how to get started.

Thank you.