Expert PHP and MySQL is about bringing commercial-grade practices to PHP and MySQL projects. You're a competent PHP developer, so you're comfortable in working with the language and the database; you've even implemented a few projects using them; now is the time to focus on successful practices for organizing your projects, setting mutually agreeable targets with clients, modelling and managing data, always with the end goal of delivering polished and robust applications 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. We all know that password encryption is desirable, but what's the best method to use? And then there is the bugaboo of converting data from the old system to the new. These are just some of the issues that any serious developer routinely faces.
Meet the challenges 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. By attacking conversion first you gain valuable insight into hidden requirements, useful test data, and the assurance in the end that the final conversion will be just another routine step, and not a sleepless night fraught with worry.
