Via
Ben Ramsey's blog I've come across an interesting post discussing what is possibly a better way to
teach PHP. Rather than giving the reader the bare essentials to accomplish the task they wish to undertake it is suggested that the focus should be more on what is best rather than what is fastest/simplest. Many books focus on putting together simple scripts and skip over the finer points of validating user input and other security matters. It is an easy trap to fall into and although it may produce quick results does it produce more knowledgeable php users? I have to answer that in all likelihood it doesn't.
Ben Ramsey raises the interesting question of whether a book focusing on producing better php programmers, rather than putting together a site quickly, would actually sell. In his own words,
While I agreed with the concept in general, I questioned the marketability of this approach. When a person picks up a book on PHP, I asked, what is it they want to do? The simple answer is: they want to create a dynamic Web site, and they want to do it now.
Although I doubt this is true for all aspiring php users it probably includes the majority. On the other hand this is a vast market so maybe there is room for an alternative approach. On a similarly positive note it could well be a book that more experienced programmers could recommend to anyone wishing to learn.
