Rating:  - The best php5 book
First, I have to disagree strongly with the last reviewer. Every php5 book I have encountered has some errors in the code, but this one actually has the *least*. The php5 engine was being developed at the time of all these books and there were many changes. Anyone who can't correct the occasional non-working line of code shouldn't be reading this anyway.
I have been through all the new php5 pro books and this one is the better. Most of the other books have a tedious approach and the chapters don't build on one another. Here there is a gradual approach of both theoretical and practice.
Rating:  - Ready to become a pro - Try the code before you buy
First, visit wrox dot com and download the sample code that is available for free on their site.
If you think you want this book, you probably already have php5/Apache/mySQL installed on your development workstation.
Unzip the sample code, browse it using your favorite IDE. Note the usage of PostgreSQL instead of MySQL. Take a shot at executing the very simple OO sample files in the first chapter. Notice the syntax errors, the use of depracated functions, and errors in filenaming.
This book was rushed through development, much like most poorly developed applications. Very much a shame. I bought the book based off of previous Amazon reviews but failed to visit the user forum on the wrox site.
You'll notice there that the topic of greatest interest for this book is that of disappointment in it's development. In print for most of this year and not a single errata to correct the carelessness of the authors' inattention to detail.
0 stars for typos.
0 stars for poor sample code.
0 stars for the editors.
1 star for providing great general reference in the non-code oriented chapters.
1 star for giving me the chance to fix the errors in sample code and offering it up to wrox in exchange for refund of this purchase.
Be warned. This is a great reference book, the code is bukaki.
Rating: - Excellent resource to improve as a PHP programmer.
Most of the people in who write php know that it's a very informal language in terms of quality. It's easy to get something done -- that's it's appeal -- but because of that it's also easy to write poorly written code.
This book teaches methods and concepts. When I picked it up I was expecting to learn about the features of php 5 but by the time I finished it I felt like I had gotten better as a developer. Alot of the general concepts of well written software are adapted here for PHP. So you learn not only what you can do with the language, but also how you should do correctly.
If you care about the quality of your code and write PHP get this book.
Rating: - A must read for all PHP Programmers
This book is just what the PHP community needs. I come from a strong C++ background, and I have struggled with the huge amounts of poorly written PHP code out there. The PHP community needs to step up and become professional, and this book is a must read for anyone that wans to create solid software. This book touches on the most important aspects of high level software design using PHP. It also provides some usefule code and examples to help illustrate the benefits of proper Object Oriented design.
Rating: - Aptly named outstanding work
For years I have relied on the reviews on Amazon to help me select the technical books I would purchase, this is only the 3rd time I've been moved to actually write a review and the first 5-star rating I've given. I bought this book because it seemed to have a lot more depth on oop in php5 than other titles available. What I got was that, plus a whole lot more.
If you are a garage php programmer, a hobbyist or a novice... if you don't make your living programming (or aspire to) - then this book is not for you.
On the other hand, if you are a professional, you will find that this book is written by professionals with you in mind. All of the excellent PHP5 related instruction and reference is discussed in the context of serious development methodologies and practices. It gives you insight as to how a serious development team can (and does) approach large-scale development projects in PHP. Any by the way, it ends forever any doubts you may have that PHP could or should be used for such projects.
Nice job guys! I only regret that I have but 5 stars to give.
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