Recommended reading for PHP5?

[probedb]

Hi folks,

I'm already an experienced PHP4 developer but currently only use it for stuff I do in my spare time. I use Java/JSP at work so have never upgraded my skills to PHP5/6.

Are there any good books for updating my knowledge on PHP out there?

Cheers
Paul.

[aidanjt]

If you're already experienced with PHP4, I'd just read the PHP5 manual to get an idea of what's changed. As a basic run down, OOP support has been strongly enhanced, and a number of built-in functions have been refashioned into class form.

[probedb]

OK thanks for the info. I was just searching for some date functions and noticed they'd all been put in classes/packages which I've not really used before. I shall have a hunt around the manual

Cheers!
Paul.

[david@scan]

What is the best PHP5 tutorial anyone can suggest? The O'Reilly series? Or any of the Packt range?

[scaryjim]

I've always sworn by the SAMS 24hour series as starting point tutorials, although I've not looked at any of their PHP5 stuff (I've gone all corporate and .NET recently ). They're normally the first books I browse through when I'm considering a new technology though - head for about Chapter 12: if it makes sense you don't need to buy the book

[yamangman]

Tough to justify a book on PHP5 really if you are already a programmer. Read the docs, examine the workings of the web server you intend to use, and apply the same OO logic you would to any other OO language, for the most part.