[Love Calm Quiet]

Mac-centric beginner needs guidance in making choices for DB development. Can somebody help out a lady? I've used a combo of Dreamweaver MX and handcoding for DHTML development on a Unix remote server, but sure do need to move into DB development on that server.

I'd love to use the open source resources of PHP & MySQL. It sounds like they have the power (and offer an alternative to spending money I'd don't have on Microsoft software, Macromedia ColdFusion, etc.). But... sheash, I'm having to study skads of diverse books on PHP, MySQL, and DreamweaverMX. That's OK... except that examples for tapping the DWMX power of databases seem always to focus on ASP, etc., finally admitting that "Dreamweaver MX support for PHP is weak."

Anyone out there use DWMX for PHP/MySQL development? Is it practicable? Since Macromedia seems to have reason to support *its own* DB development tools (CF) rather than open source like PHP/MySQL, do you think DW will ever be inclined to help developers uses freebies like PHP?

Please note that I'm sure *not* asking anybody to overview the field/software for me, but... *IS* there a comprehensive review (online, book, etc.) out there that would compare competing approaches? ( ESPECIALLY with a Mac-centric view?) Thanks guys!

[Amorya]

Well, PHP and MySQL are hand-coded most of the time. I started off just entering the code straight into BBEdit. IMO it's a great way to learn, and teaches you much more than getting a package to do it for you.

I don't use dreamweaver specifically, but you shouldn't have any problem doing the site design in dreamweaver and then adding all the PHP database code by hand.

To learn PHP, the best thing to do is read code that exists. Places like devshed have tutorials that you can follow. And the PHP manual is always on hand in case you need help with a command.

Amorya

[duck design]

There is some pretty good basic information on PHP and MySQL on the SitePoint web site. It was very helpful for me when I was starting out with this. There's a particularly good article by Kevin Yank at http://www.sitepoint.com/article/228

I hope this helps.

[Love Calm Quiet]

Thanks guys, those are all very helpful.

I still feel that I need a better look at the BIG picture... even a review of the relative merits of PHP versus CF versus asp versus perl-cgi. Know of any online (or magazine) overview-of-the-technology-options type article?

Also... the basics of programming and MySQL through PHP seem pretty straightforward compared to things like set-up, configuration -- which most of books' demo examples seem to assume I'll be operating from a windows machine

[Amorya]

Setup is easy. You can install MySQL directly on MacOS X - visit http://www.mysql.org and download the installer. For PHP it's a bit more tricky because you have to edit a few files... but it's still pretty simple. Go here for instructions. (There's better instructions elsewhere on the net I think, Try Google if these aren't good enough).

Amorya

[Love Calm Quiet]

Thanks. I would agree. Mysql seemed to install seemlessly.... but I'm HOPELESS at the command line... and so need a front-end like MyPHPadmin. But when I download it (Safari in OS X) to my "Downloads" folder I have NO idea where to put it so that I can use a "cd" command to reference it. {e.g., why do all the cd commands start "usr/local/"? - I don't have any such folder at the root level of my "Macintosh HD"} See what a total newbie I am at this?

{Similar problems trying even to *locate* PHP that I downloaded}

NONE of the several "beginner" books pay enough attention to hold the hand of an OS X person to get all this done via the obscure workings of terminal.

When will the OS-X community (i.e., outside the command line) connect with the great open-sources of PHP/MySQL to make it available to THE REST OF US?
{Apologies for my impatience }

[clam2000]

I would highly recomend webmin (http://www.webmin.com/) which is a much nicer replacement to the command line (the mysql module which comes with the default download does just about everything you want).

for php there are several binary distros, if you don't feel comfortable i'd recommend these:
for the origional apache installation that came with the mac:
http://www.entropy.ch/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=137

another set of binarys for apache 2 / php / mysql :
http://serverlogistics.com/apache2.php
http://serverlogistics.com/mysql.php
http://serverlogistics.com/php4.php


I started learning php through dreamweaver, I recomend going to the macromedia exchage and downloading some of the php extentions, especially the PHP 4 documentation. Having the documentation in dreamweaver has saved me a lot of time.

start with something simple, for instance within dreamweaver you can show a mysql database (through php) by using drag-and-drop... then look at the code and try to put a search into ("... where field = value")

eventually you can get to the point where visitors can search the database and it gives you a nice understanding of php because not only are you working with mysql, but you are also dealing with user input and saving state.

php.net is always your friend when learning php, look at it often!

--will

[Love Calm Quiet]

Thanks, Will. I really like the looks of webmin. What a great service.
Even more unbelievably, I was able to get it downloaded and INSTALLED on my TiBook.

One little puzzle: my TiBook is not the server that I need Webmin to configure. It's my IP's Linux Apache MySQL/PHP server I need to be able to send commands to. And once I got into the Webmin site I found it giving me info on MY machine's setup (not what I needed).

I can't find a Q&A facility at Webmin, so I guess I'm back to you... because as I go back and reread the Webmin README, it SEEMS like it's saying I would have had to install Webmin on my IP's machine. Hmmm... if they don't have it they seem unlikely to add it. If they do... is that something they'd likely have access to? Am I missing something?

[clam2000]

doesn't your isp already have php on it the, (if you can't install webmin you won't be able to install php) i'm confused. webmin will give you information on the computer it is configured on.

if your if your isp is providing mysql / php they will most likely have a configuration utility of some sort, i would contact them to see what it is and how to use it.

--will

[Love Calm Quiet]

And once again, thanks. Their support isn't always very fast but the ISP was able to provide connection to MyPHPAdmin to get me started.

Now if I can just sort through the DreamWeaver forum possibilities for the quirkiness of its working with its <supposed> database automation.

A much more satisfying day thanks to MacNN resources!

[clam2000]

i recommended the php reference from macromedia not realizing that they are trying to sell it now. I downloaded a similar extention for free, and would be happy to email it to you (or anyone else) who wants it. send an email to clam@sluggy.net or post here.

--will