Neverside

Server-Side Rules & Guidelines

Server Side Rules & Resources
Last Updated: 4/19/05 by Phil

What belongs in Server Side?

• Questions about PHP, MySQL, ASP.NET, or a Web Development Language
• NOT tutorial requests, without checking this thread and Google.
• NOT Script Requests - we have a subforum
• NOT Job Requests - Use the Marketplace
• Not questions about PHPBB, VB, IBP, etc - they have their own forums.

Before you post

• Have you checked php.net?
• Have you checked MySQL Documentations
• Have you checked Google
• Are you sure this is the right forum?

Rules

• No spamming, trolling, or anything that violates TOS
• No falmming someone for language choice
• Try to spell well
• Make sure this is the proper forum before posting.

How to ask questions

• Use a descriptive title
• Be clear in what you need help with - line numbers, errors, etc. We should know everything that might be important.
• Explain to us what your script DOES (or what it's supposed to do).
• Explain to us what exactly the error is. Is it a PHP error? Your own error reporting? MySQL error? Or is it just not doing what you want?
• Dont assume we know what it does
• Clarity = Results

Don't use poor topic names
This is vital. Here are some bad ones.

• Help me
• Hello
• You must know the answer
• Please help this female newbie
• Something wrong
• Come on PHP gurus
• This one for you
• Just wondering
• This is too complicated for me
• possible?
• Very urgent
• I have a question
• Stupid question
• Newbie needs help
• pulling my hair out
• this is driving me nuts
• to start
• complicated
• a quick question
• a little help please
• php problem
• help meeee
• ultra urgent quick help
• hosting

These are good titles

• validating emails w/ ereg() regular expressions
• showing code in a textfield that allows html char
• Creating folders and copying files
• Pointing to the correct version of php in apache/linux
• Gradients with GD
• Why Does IE 6.0 want to D/L *.php ?

Only post the part fo your script with problems
PLEASE do not post your entire script in a message. And if you have to use 2 messages that's a good indication that you're going to annoy people. Only post the part of your script where you have problems. That's it. Just a very small piece of it. It's not hard. Just find the part you think doesn't work and post that. WE DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR ENTIRE SCRIPT. And if you post the entire script it's going to take us a lot longer to find the problem. Also, if you only post part of the script, indicate the LINE THE ERROR IS ON with a comment because the LINE NUMBERS WELL BE OFF

Use the PHP Tags

If you're not going to take the advice, don't ask for help
Often times, people post questions about their script with the wrong mindset from the very beginning. Soon they are receiving replies, and silently debugging their code, making no effort to even acknowledge the people helping them! It becomes one sided, and the poster isn't aware that many of the people helping them hope to learn something as well! Letting people know of your progress and how their suggestions apply (or do not apply) will not only help you figure out your problem quicker, but you'll be returning the favor to those of us who learn more by helping.

In even worse scenarios, sometimes the poster will argue back even when they don't know what they're talking about. Hey - if you know it all, don't ask for help.

When people give you free code that may solve your problem, by all means, try it out! And if it's not what you need, at least thank them.

And if people post code that is over your head, ask them for an explanation. Too many times I see great solutions posted, then the original poster doesn't understand it and goes hunting around the PHP manual and finds some function they think will solve their problem but really has Nothing to do with their problem! The solution you are given may not always be something you are totally familiar with, so just ask for a better explanation!

Remember when people help you, they are doing YOU a favor!

Regardless of how big your ego is, it is NOT someone else's privilege to debug your code. It is not their privilege to have them help you. It is YOURS.

Remember that when people help you they are doing YOU a favor. You are not doing them a favor by letting them see your incredible application.

Be patient, help people out by posting good descriptions of what you need help with, and not snapping at people with garbage such as "if you aren't going to help don't waste my time replying".

Some of these guidelines were originally written by JeffCT at the DevShed Forums.

___________________

RAAAH

Last edited by Phil, April 20th, 2005 02:45 AM (Edited 6 times)

Resources

Resources - Specific

[list]
[*] Query Strings (page.php?section=main)

Tutorial: page.php?page=blah / query strings / easy template tutorial (UPDATED)
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36220

Help with query strings
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=55676

[*] BB Code, Smilies, and Newline to PageBreak

[b]Implementing [PHP] Tags[/b]
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26299

[b]BBCode (other)[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54150

[b]Tutorial: BBCode[/b] (In Depth Thread)
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=441309#post441309

[b]Tutorial: Newline to PageBreak[/b]
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&thr ... enumber=2#post637461

[b]Tutorial: Smilies[/b]
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&thr ... enumber=3#post637467

[*] [color=firebrick][b]Debugging[/b][/color]

[b]Tutorial : Troubleshooting PHP Scripts[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadi ... p;highlight=Tutorial

[b]MySQL debugging tip[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=58646

[b]Debugging In PHP[/b]
http://home.iprimus.com.au/jeb99/debugging.html

[*] [color=firebrick][b]Variables, Supervariables, Variable Scope and the Like[/b][/color]

[b]Tutorial: GPC variables the good way![/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadi ... p;highlight=Tutorial

[b]Tutorials - Variable Scope, Variable Variables, Sessions[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadi ... p;highlight=Tutorial

[*] [color=firebrick][b]Images / GD Library[/b][/color]

[b]Gradients with GD[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=59456

[b]after using imagcopyresampled and then resaving it.[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53910

[b]Tutorial: Introduction to Images (Registration Img Auth Tut)[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadi ... p;highlight=tutorial

[*] [color=firebrick][b]Files[/b][/color]

[b]Uploading a file[/b] (upload a file even if safemode is on)
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26092

[b]Checking MIME types on Multiple Uploads[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57901

[b]SEVERAL tutorials in the In Depth Sticky Thread!![/b]

[*] [color=firebrick][b]Banning[/b][/color]

[b]help with banning ips and database[/b]
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22634

[b]Banning IP's?[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=55671

[*] [color=firebrick][b]Counters[/b][/color]

[b]text counter[/b]
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27037

[b]A question with MYSQL...[/b] (mysql counter)
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27393

[*] [color=firebrick][b]References[/b][/color]

[b]PHP 4: Reference Counting and Aliasing[/b]
http://www.zend.com/zend/art/ref-count.php

[b]zez.org: about code (PHP References explained)[/b]
http://www.zez.org/article/articleview/77/

[*] [color=firebrick][b]Patterns[/b][/color]

[b]Applying patterns to PHP[/b]
http://www.zend.com/zend/trick/tricks-app-patt-php.php

[*] [color=firebrick][b]Regular Expressions[/b][/color]

[b]RegEx Editor! (woot)[/b] (a sweet, sweet program)
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=59658

[b]PRE :: PHP RegEx Editor[/b] (made by EvilGenius)
http://www.programatrix.net/pre/index.php?tab=1

[b]RegExp Library[/b]
http://regexlib.com/

[b]Perl Regular Expressions tutorial[/b]
http://www.english.uga.edu/humcomp/perl/regex2a.html#2.4

[*] [color=firebrick][b]Optimization and Security[/b][/color]

[b]An alternative method for PHP profiling then AB[/b] (XDebug)
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=58661

[b]PHP Benchmark tests[/b]
http://www.php.lt/benchmark/phpbench.php

[b]Short Shoutbox Competion[/b] (Line Optimization)
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=56236

[b]A HOWTO on Optimizing PHP with tips and methodologies[/b]
http://phplens.com/lens/php-book/optimizing-debugging-php.php

[b]Best Practice[/b] (one big file vs many smaller ones)
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=56505

[b]Zez Security[/b]
http://zez.org/article/articleview/69/

[b]Zend Security![/b]
http://zend.com/zend/art/art-oertli.php

[b]Tutorial: Better Coding Practices[/b]
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65340

[*] [color=firebrick][b]Server / Standalone[/b][/color]

[b]Convert PHP site to application[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=59944

[b].tf?[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57956

[b]Hide PHP as program language[/b]
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=74348

[b]Tutorial: Installing PHP4, MySQL, PHPMYADMIN, and Apache(1) on windows[/b]
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=66320

[*] [color=firebrick][b]Random but Specific[/b][/color]

[b]Hierarchial Data[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57813

[b]Tutorial: Modified Preordered Tree Traversal (Hiearchial Data)[/b]
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=66584

[b]Really Randomizing[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=55705

[b]PHP Snippets[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53543

[b]Alternating Row Colors[/b]
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12004

[b]Top 21 Mistakes When Coding PHP[/b]
http://www.zend.com/zend/art/mistake.php
http://www.zend.com/zend/art/mistake1.php
http://www.zend.com/zend/art/mistake2.php

[b]Tutorial: Bitwise Operators[/b]
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65155

[*] [color=firebrick][b]PHP5[/b][/color]

[b]Read: PHP5[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=52914

[b]Will PHP Suck?[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadi ... 5&highlight=php5

[b]php5[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadi ... 9&highlight=php5

[b]PHP5 Intro[/b]
http://tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadi ... 3&highlight=php5
[/list]
[b]I (Ares) use php5b, so if you have any questions feel free to aim them at me[/b]

[b][size=4][color=firebrick]Resources - General[/color][/size][/b]
[list]
[*]http://www.google.com/
ALWAYS CHECK GOOGLE FIRST! IT HAS EVERYTHING

[*]http://www.php.net/manual/en - Manual
This is the php manul which covers EVERYTHING related to php with great example and user comments!

[*][url]http://www.mysql.com[/url] - Manual
Covers all the aspects of MySQL, an open-source database backend.

[*][url]http://www.devshed.com[/url] - All Levels
This is a great web development site with a extreme large bank of articles on all forms of web programming. This is a great website for intermeditate coders. It as also as a [b]EXTREMELY[/b] active forums, like us here

[*][url]http://www.devarticles.com[/url] - All Level
Another great website. This is the best resource of the people who are not beginner, but not yet experts. This website will greatly expand your knowledge and you can also browse their script archive.

[*][url]http://www.spoono.com[/url] - Beginner
This is a nice website with a fair amount of php tutorials that cover the basics-nothing to fancy here.

[*][url]http://robouk.mchost.com[/url] - Beginner
Here we have another beginner level site. It has a valuable tutorial on how to Setup your own server, and some other useful, entry level how-to's.

[*][url]http://www.phpbuilder.net[/url] - Intermediate
This site is focused on the expanding of your knowledge of php. They have some great intermediate and orginal articles.

[*][url]http://www.evilwalrus.com[/url] - Intermediate
Another great medium level programmer resource with a nice script/snippet libary to boot!

[*]http://www.phpdeveloper.org/ - Intermediate To Advanced
Another great resource with some nice OOP tutorials and unqiue how-to's and articles.

[*]http://www.phpclasses.org/ - Script Archive
All sorts of classes in every category for you to download an impliment.

[*][url]http://www.phpcomplete.com[/url] - Intermediate
A throng of Application Desgin/ Database / HTML / PHP Functions / Setup and Installion / and Misc. artilces for you enjoyment here!

[*][url]http://www.webmonkey.com[/url] - All Levels
Another great resource for the beginner or master web tinker!

[*]http://regexlib.com/ - All Levels
This site has a ton of regex's for you to use for free.

[*]http://www.zend.com/zend/tut/ - All Levels
This a awesome resource bank with a nice stash of hard-core php articles.

[*]http://codewalkers.com/tutorials.php - All Levels
A horde of all sort of mysql and php tutorials combined into a number of exteremely useful tutorials.

[*]http://www.linuxguruz.org/z.php?id=3 - All Levels
a large number of assorted tutorials from tim to alternating row colors.

[*][url]http://www.oxyscripts.com[/url] - All Levels
An awesome resource for every type of php programmer. It has a load of tutorials everyone, even a well placed shoutbox tutorial and script/snippet archive.

[*]http://www.phphelp.com/article/index.php?category=PHP - Beginner
Some easy php tutorials with MySQL.

[*]http://www.phpkitchen.com/ - Intermediate
A nice resource with a great OOP section and corresponding Tips and MySQL sections.

[*][url]http://www.ascenvia.net[/url] - Search Engine
A great search engine to find anthying tutorial orientated.

[*]http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24419
many more
[/list]

[*][url]http://www.sitepoint.com[/url] - All Level
The website has some good tutorials, but the advanced php forum is simply excellent, its about twice as complex as you'll ever find on TF. Those guys know everything.

PM Ares with more!

___________________

http://www.philbrodeur.com - Expert PHP Development and Tutorials

Last edited by BigToach, April 22nd, 2004 04:39 PM (Edited 1 times)

Update Log

I'm starting this so people can easily find new material.

Nov. 16
A HOWTO on Optimizing PHP with tips and methodologies
http://phplens.com/lens/php-book/optimizing-debugging-php.php

Nov. 17
Added pattern / references

[*] References

PHP 4: Reference Counting and Aliasing http://www.zend.com/zend/art/ref-count.php

zez.org: about code (PHP References explained) http://www.zez.org/article/articleview/77/

[*] Patterns

Applying patterns to PHP http://www.zend.com/zend/trick/tricks-app-patt-php.php

Nov. 21

Added foreign script rule (#

___________________

http://www.philbrodeur.com - Expert PHP Development and Tutorials

Last edited by Phil, November 21st, 2003 09:10 PM (Edited 1 times)

December 31
Happy new years!

Added these:

Tutorial: Bitwise Operators
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65155

Perl Regular Expressions tutorial
http://www.english.uga.edu/humcomp/perl/regex2a.html#2.4

Tutorial: Better Coding Practices
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65340

Tutorial: Installing PHP4, MySQL, PHPMYADMIN, and Apache(1) on windows
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=66320

Tutorial: Modified Preordered Tree Traversal (Hiearchial Data)
http://www.tutorialforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=66584

http://www.sitepoint.com - All Level
The website has some good tutorials, but the advanced php forum is simply excellent, its about twice as complex as you'll ever find on TF. Those guys know everything.

___________________

http://www.philbrodeur.com - Expert PHP Development and Tutorials

Last edited by BigToach, April 22nd, 2004 04:33 PM (Edited 1 times)

In the proccess of updating this, rewriting a few times. This week is the time frame. Portions may be missing while it is rewrote.

___________________

http://www.philbrodeur.com - Expert PHP Development and Tutorials

Last edited by Phil, April 19th, 2005 03:18 AM (Edited 1 times)

BB Code, Smilies

• BBCode for Forums and Shotboxes How to set up BB Code
• Changing standard text into smilies Scott's smilie solution
• Implementing [ PHP ] tags How to set up a PHP highlighter
• Smilies Jeb's fast/quick/easy solution for making smilies work

Debugging

• Handling PHP Errors, and how to solve, by Phil Located off NS - I cant find the thread right now.
• PHP Errors, by Jeb More coverage of how to debug your own scripts

Images in PHP

• Introduction to ImageAuth (CAPTCHA) Phil discusses how to verify someone is real using CAPTCHAs.
• Random Signatures How to make random signatures, by Radley

New Line to HTML Break

• nl2br($str) at PHP.NET PHP has a function for this

Query Strings (page.php?section=portfolio)

• Help With Query Strings More comments and methods
• Query Strings The largest thread in Server Side, this is a defenitive guide to query strings. It is also available on Phil's site

SQL

• Basic SQL Statements This tutorial covers general syntax, definitions, whitespace, and basic SELECT statements

Variable Scope, User Input

• GPC variables the good way! Jeremie takes a look with emphasis on security.
• Variable Scope, Variable Variables, Sessions A scope survey by Phil. Also available on his site

___________________

http://www.philbrodeur.com - Expert PHP Development and Tutorials

Last edited by Phil, April 20th, 2005 02:44 AM (Edited 1 times)