I want to learn php. Should i learn php 4 first or just straight to php 5?
Any suggestion would be appreciated.
Thx

quote (I think from `Dead Poets Society'): "The greatest freedom is to make up our own mind. I won't take that away from you."

... but I will give you a bit to think about:
1) What do you plan on using php for?
2) Which versions are supported by the places where you'd like to use it?
3) How big a benefit would use of php5+ features be?

If it's just for the fun of it, I'd say php 5 is probably the better choice (more features, idioms and paradigms). If it's for your hosted web page, check what the host offers. If it's for putting on your resume--learn both (first 4, then 5).

hth --Jonas

From my experience, all PHP versions are more or less the same, except that each one adds or extends functions.

So you'd better learn the latest one, so as to have a broad view of the language. Then for each project, you decide for a minimum required version of PHP, and you make sure not to use functions that won't work with this minimal version.

There's one exception, though: Object Oriented programming. Classes from PHP5 are very different from classes from PHP4. On this topic, either you dupplicate your code by testing the major PHP version, or you don't use classes at all.
Myself, I chose not to use classes, as PHP is not really done for that anyway, and as in most cases I can manage (admitedly less cleanly) with arrays.

Yves.

1)For fun (personal web site, web UI apps, etc.), gain more knowledge about server-side web programming, and while doing all these, accumulating experience to build up my resume

I think i wll go for php4 first and php5 later.

Now, Let's say if i learn php4 first for a couple hours per week. How long should i stay coding with php4 as it acts as the fundamental for php5?

Do you know what i mean?

Sorry, as this is a basic question again. I need to plan like this so that the knowledges i gain know, would be worth it in the not-so-distant future. I'm running out a little bit of time, you know.

(The following is mostly my opinion from 4 years of PHP expirence)

For the things you plan on doing, PHP5 will offer little difference in functionality between PHP4. Because, as previously mensioned the big changes in PHP5 are mostly class/OOP related. Either one you choose will be fine. Other than classes a few useful functions and changes are present in PHP5, so you can start straight away with 5, but keep in mind the differences.

Back to your last question - How long to stay with PHP4.

If you are startign with 4, stick with it untill:
1) The things you are doing could be done better in PHP5. (This mostly has to do with classes)
OR
2) The hosting you use for whatever sites you make completely switches to PHP5.

Good Luck.