[Year 12 Its] PHP/MySQL learning environment

[Peter Ruwoldt (wrk)]

I have started my learning of PHP/MySQL and very happy with the progress 
to date.

*What I have done.*
I have downloaded and installed xampp 
<http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html> . Setup and 
configuration was a snap except that the Apache server would not start 
until I changed the port that Skype was using from port 80. Since I 
modified the MySQL login credentials the samples (eg CD’s) did not work 
until I modified the relevant PHP files using a text editor.

Next was to download and install the freeware tool PHP Designer 2005 
<http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html> . A couple of 
configuration settings were needed to let PHP Designer know where the 
PHP interpreter was located as well as the PHP ini file. I am also 
saving the php experiments into \xampp\xampp\htdocs where the php files 
that come with xampp are located. This means that my browser can also 
use these files using the address http://localhost/xampp/filename.php

Finally a great set of tutorials at 
http://www.tizag.com/mysqlTutorial/mysqlinsert.php that covers mySQL, 
PHP, HTML and CSS.

I have created a sample database using PHPmyadmin that comes with xampp. 
I created two tables that could be linked. Then I followed the mySQL 
tutorial from http://www.tizag.com/mysqlTutorial/mysqlinsert.php but 
modifying it on the fly to suit the database that I created. This 
modifying on the fly has been good as I know that I have understood.

I have successfully created a html form and used the data input into 
this form to update a MySQL table. Fantastic. I have enough to continue 
building my knowledge and feel comfortable with this development 
environment. I am not sure that it is the best environment for school 
and this relates to my next question. Before I go too much further I 
need to work out how do I implement this learning in a school.

*What I need is some advice about how to create a PHP/MySQL work 
environment at school*. Some of the issues are

* Students should not store there work on a PC. PC’s can be
re-imaged without notice. We can not assume that students will
work on the same PC each time either. They will need to be able to
continue with their work at other locations in the school and
hopefully at home.
* I would be happy with students doing their development on an
external server so that it can be accessed from school and home.
However, working on a server adds complexity as code has to be
written, uploaded to the server and then executed by checking with
a browser. They do not get the benefit of using tools like PHP
Designer 2005.
* How do you easily have a server set up so that 20 students can
each have their space for testing?
* It is easy to backup a database, destroy it and then restore it
using PHPmyadmin. PHP files can be copied to another location for
safe keeping.

Regards
Peter



-- 
If computers get too powerful, we can organize them into a committee -- that will do them in.

Peter Ruwoldt
ICT Coordinator
Grant High School
Hosking Avenue
MOUNT GAMBIER  SA  5290

P. 08 87263107 (Do not leave voice mail)
F. 08 87250173

ruwoldtp at granths.sa.edu.au
http://waraku.blogspot.com/