Beginning PHP

After numerous attempts at developing desktop applications for personal use and distribution I realised that the age of desktop applications was over, the ongoing release dramas, cross platform portability and operating system dependencies…

While I have been developing web based applications collaboratively for years, I have been reluctant to launch into that unknown of creating architecture, data storage, security and all other exciting and complicated areas of application development for web.

I considered many different cross platform solutions before finally embracing the web alternative. I read up on system like Real basic, GAMBAS and even Mozillas XUL before passing over Java for its complexity and settling on PHP.  Since making this decision I have developed a love/hate relationship with the language. While it allows for the rapid development of data driven web applications it lacks the precision or grace of systems I have seen come out of Java… or perhaps this is a result of my own inabilities?

So, PHP, what have I learnt so far? Well, like anything it seems to be full of its own challenges and surprises. One aspect of huge significance to a beginner like me is the huge following online and subsequent volume of help, support, tutorials and examples.

My aim now is to develop a rich data application that looks (and behaves) like a desktop application. Using AJAX and CSS I hope to reduce the interface into windows or panes with their own code blocks.

Updates will be posted as I make progress.