PHP Coding - Top 5 ways to get help from PHP Programmers

Lets start with the problem. You know PHP reasonably good, but still you may find problems with PHP code or maybe MySQL. But what about Linux, I mean the Linux based Operating Systems like Ubuntu, etc.

PHP is great but some day you might wanna work with LAMP stack. You need somebody to help you out with Linux. The permissions can be tricky.

Top 5 ways to get help from PHP Programmers

Here are some resources that, I found extremely useful. Utilize them all as much as you like. But remember don't unnecessarily annoy other users.

Get help from PHP programmers

Google Plus 

Majority is still not using Google Plus. But Google Plus groups have high quality users. Especially, PHP Programmers Community, you will get instant answers here. But ask the right question.

Don't be like, "Hey, I have no idea what I am asking?". And don't you are ask too simple questions. The questions that can be very easily Googled.

Google 

Don't forget. If you are not willing to Google, then better stop programming. If you are not in the habit of Googling, start it by searching you name on Google's web search and image search. See what you can get.

Okay stop searching for your own name. Back to business. Search your problems.

PHP Manual

How to learn PHP web development? Try as much as you want. But you'll find that even in the best books entire PHP is not covered. Maximum authors leave a number of functions unattended. Some function don't have all the optional parameters explained properly.

In the foot note, there are references of PHP Manual. Maybe a bit uncomfortable but the best book on Earth is PHP's own PHP Manual.

StackOverflow

Maximum of your queries are already answered on StackOverflow's forums. Don't miss them. Stack Overflow comes in handy.

Facebook Groups

Not exactly my choice. Facebook can give you hard times in finding the right PHP groups. Also, Facebook is full of idiots. No offence. But you may find users commenting idiotic stuff instead of answers.


Hey, Want any help from me comment below ↓ ↓ ↓

Author's Bio: Shubhashish Shukla (follow him) is the person behind Sector Techno (twitter, facebook), a technology blog. An always learning web developer.

Top 3 front end resources that every start up web developer should know

Start Up, a term very common among programmers. Doesn't matter if your application is a web application or a system software package or maybe a console application. To get the required visibility, every start up needs a website. But creating a premium web design is not as easy as it may look.

Top 3 front end resources that every start up web developer should know

When I created my first start up, I never knew these things even existed. But now, you will know a small but complete set of resources for developing premium front end. All resources given here are related to bootstrap front end framework.

Top 3 front end resources that every start up web developer should know

Bootstrap

Bootstrap is a complete front end framework. Bootstrap is a mobile first front end framework, that is, your design will be responsive. With the 12 grid layout you can manage your screen space very efficiently. Bootstrap provides a great documentation, within minutes you can get going.

One best thing about bootstrap is its super fast CDN. Entire bootstrap can be imported from the CDN server directly, and save server cost. Bootstrap CDN.

NOTE - Some functionality require jQuery to work. So, don't forget to include jQuery in your source code.

Bootsnipp

Bootstrap is used by millions, so there are a great chances of ending up with kind of similar design. Therefore there is a need to customize you front end. This is exactly where Bootsnipp comes in. Bootsnipp is a free HTML snippets to use in your project.

These includes a set of customized codes to create various components like forms, login buttons, social login buttons, tables, pop ups, etc. See the previews, and grab the HTML and CSS from Bootsnipp.

Font Awesome

Bootstrap provides a set of icons to use in form of Sprite Sheets. These icons are known as glyphs. But as a developer you might want more.

Font Awesome provides great set of hight quality icons for free. Now, you can push your design beyond the limit. Another GREAT news, Font Awesome too, is on CDN. You can import directly into your source code.

Author's Bio: Shubhashish Shukla (follow him) is the person behind Sector Techno (twitter, facebook), a technology blog. An always learning web developer.

How to add Google Analytics to WordPress?

Google Analytics is used to track the traffic data received on a website or a blog. You as a webmaster can use that data to analyze your visitors or audience. And implement the perfect or more accurate marketing strategies.

How to add Google Analytics to WordPress?

Users rely on plugin to integrate Google Analytics, code into WordPress blog. But accomplishing this task is very simple. Without using any plug-in you can very easily put your Google Analytics code to your blog or website.

Google Analytics recommends to add the code just after the opening body tags <body>. So, we will take that into consideration. You can also add the codes just before ending body tags </body>. The advantage in using the code just before </body> tag is that, it will not hinder the rendering of the page on slow internet connection.

1. Login into Google Analytics.
2. Navigate to Admin tab.
3. Select to Account and Property values.
4. From Property column click on Tracking Info and select Tracking Code. You will get your tracking code JavaScript here.
5. Copy all the codes.

Google Analytics to WordPress

1. Now, login into WordPress blog.
2. Navigate to Appearance > Editor. 
3. Select header.php or footer.php.
4. Now, in case you header.php paste the copied tracking code just below <body> tag. In case of footer.php, you will find </body> tag at the bottom. Paste the Google Analytics tracking code just above the ending body tag, </body>.

Problem with above method

There is one very big drawback. Every time, you will update your template your codes will be gone. So, you are required to do this again if you have applied any update.

In case you have a custom made template, you may rely on this method. Because custom made template don't get regular updates.

Add Google Analytics to WordPress

So, try using the text widget to avoid the error. Paste the codes, in any text widget and place it anywhere.

Author's Bio: Shubhashish Shukla (follow him) is the person behind Sector Techno (twitter, facebook), a technology blog. An always learning web developer.

How to learn PHP web development ?

PHP is a very popular language. Yet, it is the most easy to start with. In case you have no idea about the popularity of the language, let me tell you, Facebook is powered by PHP. Top CMS or Content Management Systems namely, WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, etc. are made using PHP and MySQL. Magento a very popular e-commerce framework, is made using PHP.

PHP web application on Sublime Text

So, it is quite clear. If you learn PHP web development,  you can rule the web. Create any type of application. PHP is open source, and has a vast external library that you can use, like PEAR package and frameworks like CodeIgnitor, CakePHP, Symphony, Zend, etc.

Prerequisite- What you need to know to learn PHP?

Any one can learn PHP. Even if you are from a non-programming background. Having previous knowledge of any programming language will just help you learn things quicker. You can skip basics, as they are always same in maximum programming languages.

1. HTML - HTML is important to develop a web application. But to learn PHP, only a very basic understanding of HTML is sufficient.
2. CSS - Again, CSS is important to make your web application look beautiful, but to learn PHP, it is not required at all.

Does that mean, I can go with PHP with very basic knowledge of HTML?

The answer is, Yes. But don't think that you can survive without HTML. Thinking that would be a pitfall.

Resources to learn PHP

Starting with HTML, CSS and PHP, before diving straight into it, start with getting familiar. The best way to learn basic HTML and CSS is nothing other than W3School.

So, now you have-

1. W3Schools.com
2. Codecademy.com - an online web development tutor.
3. Books - Doesn't matter how many on-line portals you visit, to learn PHP you always need a book.

Books on PHP web development

I read two books to learn the basics. Beginning PHP 5.3 by Matt Doyle and Beginning PHP and MySQL: From Novice to Professional 4th Edition by W.Jason Gilmore. You can go for any of them, but to give a little more recommendation. Go for first book if you are from non-programming background and if you have a programming background then go for the later one to learn PHP.

PHP editor or PHP IDE

You need some program to edit your PHP codes. There are a number of IDE available for PHP like Aptana Studios, NetBeans, etc. But don;t go for any of it. All you need is a PHP Editor, go for Sublime Text. It is a PHP editor and is very light with code completion and syntax highlighting. That is all you need. No need to go for bulky IDE.

Video Tutorials on PHP

Web is full of tutorials on PHP. A great series is available on phpacademy.org. On YouTube, there is a channel named The New Boston they have a playlist of 200 videos that will cover almost everything.

PHP on Google Plus

Join PHP communities on Google Plus. This will help you a lot. You might encounter a number of problems while implementing PHP. But some times there will be errors, or logical problems that you may encounter. Just ask on these communities, all your queries will be answered. You can also ask in the comments below.

For any query related learning the language online or offline, please comment below. You'll get your queries answered ASAP.

Author's Bio: Shubhashish Shukla (follow him) is the person behind Sector Techno (twitter, facebook), a technology blog. An always learning web developer.