Web Development Resources

Jeongf · 06-01-2008, 12:33 PM

I would like to read up more on Perl, PHP, MySQL, Java, HTML, XHTML, and CSS. What is the best resource (books) for these?

My friend suggested the books from the publisher, O'Reilly. I checked it out at a bookstore and they were pretty good.

Also, which web forum would be best for learning stuff about web development? I like the Tech Support forum, but I'd like to also talk with people on a forum that is specifically about web development.

**jamiemac2005** · 06-01-2008, 01:09 PM

Hey, i'd have to go with your friend's suggestion, nothing compares to O'reilly's books (The "Definitive Guide" books are really good for getting you started with a language then the reference gives you everything else you need)... Still, HTML, XHTML and CSS all have (Really) good tutorials online....

www.w3schools.com
will teach you the three (you probably just want to learn XHTML, Javascript and CSS[a mixture commonly referenced as "DHTML"] ), if you wan't to learn more i suggest references(you can find good ones online[or oreilly])

I've read the "for dummies" books for PHP and MySQL and i wasn't impressed, i also read the Javascript for dummies book but it didn't come close to the information contained in O'reilly's books... (Javascript the difinitive guide)...

As for forums, web development wise i tend to use www.webdeveloper.com which has subforums for each language (split into client-side and server-side) and also some quite useful tutorials...

At the end of the day it doesn't matter what resource you use (web-based/books) (in some cases the web based are better[w3schools and webdeveloper.com]) in some cases the books will be better[perl, php, mysql]...

Also i think Java has its own web resource doesn't it? sorry i can't remember i haven't experimented with Java fully yet

Cheers,
Jamey

aldernon · 06-01-2008, 01:10 PM

I've read O'Reilly books on Java and they are ok, but theres probably better out there.

Just a hint tho (and this isnt said to cause any trouble, please remove if you feel it goes against the forum in any way).

I come from a country where P2P is totally legal. Ive managed to find several Java books via Torrent. I am all for supporting the developer and whatnot, but if your looking to get many books they can run upward of 30-100$ each, myself as a student dont have that kind of money.

Just a suggestion that may help you :) E-books are in alot of ways as good as regular ones.

Good luck

-Sean

Jeongf · 06-02-2008, 07:02 AM

A country where P2P is legal? Wow! May I ask which country you live in?

And yes, books on web development are quite expensive, but I really like having a hard copy on hand rather than an E-book. Also, Amazon sells the same books for much, much cheaper.

**jamiemac2005** · 06-02-2008, 10:27 AM

Can i clear this up? P2P = Perfectly legal it is just a networking concept/type/whatever, Using P2P to share copyrighted files will be illegal in any country because you can always be prosecuted by the author under their country's laws/sued for sharing their files (some books specifically state that they can do that)... It may be that your country's law system "looks the other way" but i'm sure you could still end up prosecuted... It's not worth the risk and if someone takes the time to write books/software/music you should have the decency to pay for it, especially if you benefit from it (and i know the "but it's too expensive" argument comes along but it's copyight infringement which causes such high prices). Anyway that's my moral rant over (sorry all)...

I understand you'd prefer a hard copy (i do too in most cases)... And amazon defenately is a good price cutter, I'd definately suggest O'Reilly's books(especially the references, they are good hard-copy), actually SAMS "Teach yourself" series is quite good, and i can't think of any other amazing books, still online references are kept very up to date...

Cheers,
Jamey

06-01-2008, 12:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jeongf Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista	Web Development Resources I would like to read up more on Perl, PHP, MySQL, Java, HTML, XHTML, and CSS. What is the best resource (books) for these? My friend suggested the books from the publisher, O'Reilly. I checked it out at a bookstore and they were pretty good. Also, which web forum would be best for learning stuff about web development? I like the Tech Support forum, but I'd like to also talk with people on a forum that is specifically about web development.

06-01-2008, 01:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
jamiemac2005 Design Team Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Northampton, UK Posts: 1,090 OS: Win Vista Home Premium & Ubuntu Hardy(8.04)	Re: Web Development Resources Hey, i'd have to go with your friend's suggestion, nothing compares to O'reilly's books (The "Definitive Guide" books are really good for getting you started with a language then the reference gives you everything else you need)... Still, HTML, XHTML and CSS all have (Really) good tutorials online.... www.w3schools.com will teach you the three (you probably just want to learn XHTML, Javascript and CSS[a mixture commonly referenced as "DHTML"] ), if you wan't to learn more i suggest references(you can find good ones online[or oreilly]) I've read the "for dummies" books for PHP and MySQL and i wasn't impressed, i also read the Javascript for dummies book but it didn't come close to the information contained in O'reilly's books... (Javascript the difinitive guide)... As for forums, web development wise i tend to use www.webdeveloper.com which has subforums for each language (split into client-side and server-side) and also some quite useful tutorials... At the end of the day it doesn't matter what resource you use (web-based/books) (in some cases the web based are better[w3schools and webdeveloper.com]) in some cases the books will be better[perl, php, mysql]... Also i think Java has its own web resource doesn't it? sorry i can't remember i haven't experimented with Java fully yet Cheers, Jamey Last edited by jamiemac2005 : 06-01-2008 at 01:10 PM.

06-01-2008, 01:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
aldernon Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 26 OS: vista ultimate	Re: Web Development Resources I've read O'Reilly books on Java and they are ok, but theres probably better out there. Just a hint tho (and this isnt said to cause any trouble, please remove if you feel it goes against the forum in any way). I come from a country where P2P is totally legal. Ive managed to find several Java books via Torrent. I am all for supporting the developer and whatnot, but if your looking to get many books they can run upward of 30-100$ each, myself as a student dont have that kind of money. Just a suggestion that may help you :) E-books are in alot of ways as good as regular ones. Good luck -Sean

06-02-2008, 07:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jeongf Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista	Re: Web Development Resources A country where P2P is legal? Wow! May I ask which country you live in? And yes, books on web development are quite expensive, but I really like having a hard copy on hand rather than an E-book. Also, Amazon sells the same books for much, much cheaper.

06-02-2008, 10:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
jamiemac2005 Design Team Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Northampton, UK Posts: 1,090 OS: Win Vista Home Premium & Ubuntu Hardy(8.04)	Re: Web Development Resources Can i clear this up? P2P = Perfectly legal it is just a networking concept/type/whatever, Using P2P to share copyrighted files will be illegal in any country because you can always be prosecuted by the author under their country's laws/sued for sharing their files (some books specifically state that they can do that)... It may be that your country's law system "looks the other way" but i'm sure you could still end up prosecuted... It's not worth the risk and if someone takes the time to write books/software/music you should have the decency to pay for it, especially if you benefit from it (and i know the "but it's too expensive" argument comes along but it's copyight infringement which causes such high prices). Anyway that's my moral rant over (sorry all)... I understand you'd prefer a hard copy (i do too in most cases)... And amazon defenately is a good price cutter, I'd definately suggest O'Reilly's books(especially the references, they are good hard-copy), actually SAMS "Teach yourself" series is quite good, and i can't think of any other amazing books, still online references are kept very up to date... Cheers, Jamey