PHP

Welcome to the Online Teaching/Learning Resources for PHP

This is primarily usable as a workbook for HTML for SCIT students.

PHP101 - What is PHP?

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Do I have to installed Linux on my home computer to take CP1079 (PHP)?

No.

There are a number of ways in which you can approach the practical work in CP1079.

1. Use only university computers - log in to Linux and work on your files locally

• Advantages - fast, no home computer required, no Internet connection at home required
• Disadvantages - need to be on-campus to work on your practical

2. Use a "live CD" version of Linux A live CD is a version that does not install onto your hard drive, but runs from the CD - is essence, your computer's hardware is temporarily borrowed by the Linux Operating System and your hard disk is not touched.

• Advantages - don't need to install anything onto your computer
• Disadvantages - your live CD will likely not have a web-server and the necessary languages installed, meaning that you will need an Internet access to "MI-LINUX" to be able to create and run PHP files
• Disadvantages - as the whole operating system is running from a CD, it will run slower than it would if it were installed.

UPDATE: This said I have found one distribution called DeveLinux which claims to have Apache, MySQL, PHP built into the live CD so this should enable you to store your files on something like a USB pen/key and work without an Internet connection - I have yet to test this so I can't comment anymore on it.

3. Install Linux on your computer All linux installation CDs (and most live CDs have an install option) that allow you to install Linux on your computer - this is not a scary option to take, as unlike Windows, Linux respects any other operating systems you have installed on your computer, and have options in the install process to allow you to "shrink" the amount of space other operating systems (like Windows) uses on your hard disk, and install itself in a small amount of free space made by the shrinking process. This is actually the default installation option for most modern Linux distributions.

• Advantages - once installed you can add the Apache Webserver, PHP, and MySQL to your installation and work when disconnected, and Matthew does on the laptop he uses in lectures. You can also experience the full range of Linux software at the full performance of your computer.