Expert PHP and MySQL: Application Design and Development

Expert PHP and MySQL takes you beyond learning syntax to showing you how to apply proven software development methods to building commerce-grade PHP and MySQL projects that will stand the test of time and reliably deliver on customer needs.

Developers of real-world applications face numerous problems that seem trivial on the surface, but really do take some skill to get right. Error handling is about more than just the mechanics in the PHP syntax, but also about handling MySQL errors, logging those errors, and about hiding information about application internals that error messages sometimes can expose.

Meet these challenges and more head-on! Author Marc Rochkind shows how to begin a project right, with a clear contract and set of written requirements. You’ll learn about project organization, setting up a solid development environment, connecting with client personnel.  Database design is essential, and Expert PHP and MySQL has you covered with guidance on creating a sound model and database, and on pushing functionality into the database as appropriate; not everything should be done in PHP.

Error handling is covered at both the PHP and MySQL levels. Application structure is covered. Guidance is provided on reporting. And finally there is conversion. In Expert PHP and MySQL you’ll explore the following:

The popular and widely used combination of PHP and MySQL

• Commercial-grade application of language and database features
• Human factors such as planning and organization
• Organizing a project to meet requirements and satisfy the customer
• Structuring an application for efficient development and future modification
• Coding PHP for productivity, reliability, security
• Generating online, downloadable, and printed reports
• Converting existing data to the new application

What you’ll learn

• Organize a project to meet requirements and satisfy the customer.
• Structure an application for efficient development and future modification.
• Design a database to model the business and support the application.
• Code PHP for productivity, reliability, security.
• Generate online, downloadable, and printed reports.
• Convert existing data to the new application.

Who this book is for

Expert PHP and MySQL is aimed at programmers competent in PHP and MySQL. Readers should know the mechanics of the language and the database, and have a desire to learn to build commercial systems that will stand the test of time and reliably deliver on customer needs.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Project Organization
Chapter 2: Requirements
Chapter 3: Platforms and Tools
Chapter 4: The Database
Chapter 5: Application Structure
Chapter 6: Security, Forms, and Error Handling
Chapter 7: Reports and Other Outputs
Chapter 8: Data Conversion