Very outdated, needs significant refactoring
Synopsis:
At this point, when considering purchasing this book, I'd say get a real reference if you want to learn PHP, or if you need a big function reference off-line, then install the help that comes with PHP or just use php.net on-line. This book might be marginally okay for bathroom reading, but otherwise, it really needs to be updated. The reference only covers through PHP 4 which is now unsupported. The way things are done in PHP 5 have changed enough that it's time to deprecate this resource.
Details:
I've owned this pocket reference since it was published in '02 and put it away when I switched to Perl as my primary language in '04 till this year. Now that I'm back to PHP again, I'm reminded of how annoying it is to use this book. The tips at the front of the book are good, but the function reference is difficult to use at best. I'm terribly surprised that O'Reilly hasn't worked with Mr. Lerdorf for a new version. I own lots of O'Reilly materials, many of them pocket references. I don't believe this is up to O'Reilly standards for pocket references. If given a chance to review a new version of this reference, I'd push hard for significant changes, especially to formatting. Other reviewers correctly identified issues with function descriptions. There are times when a pocket reference like this deserves to skip descriptions when the description doesn't add any value to what's already obvious.
Hit(s):
o Contains basic PHP syntax information
Miss(es):
o The latest PHP version covered in this book is no longer supported
o Function listing is grouped in a manner that doesn't make sense to most readers
o Function descriptions are often worthless
Out of date & needing improvement
O'Reilly must sell a ton of these. Why not get a new author willing to do a good job of updating and improving. We all owe Lerdorf a lot for starting PHP in the first place. Having said that, O'Reilly needs to get an author who can update this and make it a useful reference. PHP is now on version 5.2 and this book is on version 4. It is nearly useless. I try to use this book from time to time, but never seem to find the information I need. Ie: Each function in the reference section needs at least two sentences of explanation, not a half sentence.
PHP needs a couple of good current reference books. Where are they?
Don't buy this book
What went wrong? I have many of the O'Reilly pocket references and I bought this one on the assumption it would measure up to the others. It doesn't.
Starts out promising but once it reaches page 34 the remainder is unorganize junk with no examples, no hint of what you would use it for.
Shame on O'Reilly for putting this out under their name; they have done their faithful customers who buy on their name's reputation a disservice.
You need a no stars category for this book!
not really worth it
it seems like a handy thing and all but if you have an internet connection open when you code (presumably, since you're doing web development), the php.net documentation is much more helpful... not sure why anybody would use this. not even sure why i really bought this. i guess it looks good with all of the other little o'reilly guides that i own but it really was a waste of 5 dollars...
Short Review of "PHP Pocket Reference", 2nd Edition
This is a very good small concise reference to PHP 4. Most of the book consists of a summary of the basics of the PHP language plus a function reference to about 1400 PHP functions. If you are in need of a handy reference to PHP 4, this pocket reference would be an excellent companion for "Programming PHP" (which is a fuller reference to PHP and is also published by O'Reilly).
I would not get this pocket reference unless you are already somewhat familiar with PHP and already own "Programming PHP" (or rough equivalent). This book, though well written, is not designed as an introduction to PHP. Oh, and you need to be OK with it not covering PHP 5.
If you want more detail, you could take a look at my somewhat longer review on the Oakland Perl Mongers site.
George Woolley of Oakland.pm and Camelot.pm
(35 reviews)
