Understanding the Zend Framework
I am relatively new to the Zend Framework, but have been working in PHP for around 4 years now.
The book is very good for unexperienced Zend Framework developers or people that want to learn it.
Don't let me confuse you, no way you'll be able to understand some of the features discussed in this book if you do not have at least some basic experience with PHP!
The book is like a short tutorial explaining the author's view and preffered best practices. I agree with other reviewers that the Web Services chapters are maybe a little too well represented and maybe other things could have been written in the book like more in-depth Exceptions, the Zend Registry, the ACL, Zend Config and many more.
Also I don't agree with the authors opinion that you should stay clear of modules.
Overall it's a good read for 2-3 days and if you're starting out in the Zend Framework you can get this book.
Do not expect that you'll be able to use this book as a reference guide.
For that try the Zend Framework manual at http://framework.zend.com/manual/en/ and I'd also get this book: Zend Framework in Action.
Always have fun !
Can I give it no stars?
Don't bother.
I ignored the advice of others here and ordered this book anyway, mainly because it's the only book in print on the subject. It sucks...bad.
I got the book this afternoon and had the RMA paperwork filed before bedtime. No thanks.
Super thin on information, and it's not even basic of information. Lets skim the surface of some pretty important concepts and libraries, shall we? At least thats how it felt to me.
The database chapter was the final straw for me. You're introduced to the basic db library then promptly directed to the online documentation for all the REAL db libraries that likely even the most trivial of web apps would require.
Good job Nanobooks on being first to market, but don't pat yourselves on the back too soon. You may have hurt ZF more than you're helping it with this book.
If you want a better (albeit not perfect) introduction to the Zend Framework then go check out Mannings Early Access Program and download 'Zend Framework in Action' (or pre-order here). A lot better footing after reading that plus some time spent with the ZF online docs.
The pickings are slim
I purchased this book, despite the negative reviews. As other reviewers have already mentioned, the book was poorly edited and several errors exist in code samples. The sample application is esoteric for a general guide. I'm not saying we need another blog tutorial, but jumping into consuming web services certainly doesn't consider what most readers will want to know.
Discussion of the flexibility provided by the Zend Framework in comparison to other PHP frameworks is missing. I also think more references to generally accepted MVC design best practices should have been included.
The Model chapter gets off to a good start describing conventional thought on data modeling in MVC but the rest of the chapter doesn't support the introduction. I did find the Data Access chapter helpful and appreciated the mention of Data Profiling.
Until more ZF titles are available, I recommend reviewing the Zend Framework documentation and available blog posts.
Ok information but Cal Evans assumes alot knowledge
Although there is some good information. You have to fight the book to get to it. Some of the code examples are broken. Nothing major, but when you buy a book to learn new coding techniques. It helps to not have to troubleshoot the example code. ( plus the author names the application directory "application" but in his paths he refers to it as app ). Also there is only one reference that I saw that points you to the example code. Maybe I missed it but I looked again before I wrote this, and I only found it listed once and within an explanation of some code. Since he doesn't print the entire files in the book and points back to the example code. I would think that you might make a bigger deal about making sure you download the example code. I don't mind not having all the files printed out. But if you going to do it make easy for the people buying your knowledge to follow.
Also when showing you the code example the author doesn't give the file name that you are looking at. So you will be looking at code and you dont know if you are looking at Controller code model or view code ( although view code usually has a lot of print( echo ) statements )
If given the chance to do it again. I would not buy this book.
Good starter.
Good book to start with if you know MVC but don't know ZF. If you're looking to learn the MVC model I'd suggest picking up something else along with book. There is some organization and placement talk but I think it could have been even more in depth. One thing I noticed is he refered to things that were in the sample code and not in the book directly. So if you hadn't downloaded the sample code and worked with it you wouldn't have known what he was talking about. Also the books editing was so so, as there were a good number of typos and thing improper english. But all and all if you want to see how Zend Framework functions it's a great starter piece for that.
