Web Application Development with PHP 4.0

As Web sites and intranets become larger and more complex, static HTML files hit their limits. They are hard to maintain and cannot be used for advanced Web-based applications like e-commerce systems or XML data processing. PHP is the right tool for anyone wanting to create highly sophisticated Web applications. This server-side scripting language is fast, free, and easy to use for novice users and powerful Web developers. This book teaches professionals the advanced aspects of Web applications. They will learn how to write applications that provide real value to their customers, how to connect databases to the Web, use XML to layout data and make large Web sites easier to maintain. It provides information that is sorely needed by the Open Source development community.

In the first part of Web Application Development with PHP the authors explain PHP's advanced syntax like classes, recursive functions and variable variables. They present software development methodologies and coding conventions which are a must-know for industry quality products as well as to help making development faster and more productive. This part covers also many standard algorithms for tree-structures, string sorting and searching. Part two focuses on the concept of Web applications (as opposed to single scripts) and gives insight into user and session management, e-commerce systems, XML applications and WDDX. The third part of the book is for developers who need to take PHP to the limit: it covers extending PHP with C functions, shows PHP4's great new features and tools, such as the debugger and optimizing compiler.

If you're developing Web applications with PHP, this book provides you with:

• Explanations of PHP concepts and advanced syntax
• Coverage of software design, teamwork, security, and usability
• Information on many standard algorithms for tree structures, string sorting, and searching
• Insights into user and session management, e-commerce sytems,
• XML applications, WDDX, and knowledge repositories
• Real-world tips and tricks for using PHP, gleaned from hands-on experience
• An in-depth look at new PHP 4.0 features and tools such as the code optimizer

The companion CD-ROM includes:

• The infernal trio: PHP, MySQL, Apache
• TurboLinux Server Open Source Edition 6.0.2OS
• Postgresql
• phpIRC
• WeberDev
• Book text in searchable PDF form, with the Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Source code from the book