PHP I: Foundations Training (IBMi)

The Zend PHP I: Foundations (IBM i) course is designed to provide ILE programmers with a solid foundation in the PHP language. This course guides you through the basics of PHP with an experiential approach, filled with numerous examples and hands-on exercises, and makes frequent reference to the similarities and differences between the PHP and RPG languages, for better comprehension. You will also learn about the exciting new 5250 Bridge for your legacy content, as well as tools for i5 system programmers, such as the PHP i5 Toolkit and DB2 extensions. A coding project at the end of the course serves to reinforce the concepts taught and your proficiency in working within PHP.

The online Zend Training Center allows you to code exercises live during the course with your instructor able to both see and coach your progress. This course is offered online - with a live instructor or can be adapted for the classroom setting.

Upcoming Course Schedule

Audience

This course is designed for experienced i5 system programmers who currently utilize RPG (or COBOL), and want to explore using PHP to create web-based application front ends for existing RPG applications or begin the track to become PHP programmers.

Pre-requisite(s)

Active i5/OS programming experience (ILE language DB2 experience). Basic knowledge of HTML, please see: Course Note.

Objectives

To learn the basics of the PHP programming language and its relation to the i5/OS system

Topics Include

Why use PHP : What is PHP, Why use it, Benefits for RPG programmers,Connecting to a DB2 data source & accessing data demonstration
Zend Core Management: What an ILE programmer needs to know about Zend Core
Development Tools: Increasing code efficiency & performance through Zend Studio for i5, including code completion, syntax highlighting, context sensitive templates for the PHP i5 Toolkit, DB2 extensions, 5250 bridge
Language Basics: Syntax, Quotes, Comments, Data Types
Variable Basics: Numbers, Constants, Variables, Strings, and Arrays
Control Flow Basics: Operators, Conditionals, Loops
Function Basics: Functions, Libraries, Array functions, File Handling functions
Programming Basics: Best Practices, Debugging, Introduction to HTML
Web Basics: Introduction to Server Communications, Sessions, Security
Database Basics: Introduction focused on how databases relate to PHP and websites
Application Basics: Course project

Course Note

Basic knowledge of HTML is critical to understanding the conversion of RPG programs to web-based. However, this is outside of the focus of this course. For Participants without this pre-requisite knowledge, we strongly advise you to take advantage of free online tutorials (for example at: http://www.w3courses.com) or reference books such as “Sams Teach Yourself HTML in 10 Minutes”.

Related Topics	Packaged Deals
PHP II: Higher Structures	A-to-Zend for the IBMi Programmer
Test Prep: PHP 5.3 Certification

Next Steps

Resources

DOCUMENTATION

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Customer Quote

I haven't done *any* online courses like this before, so I don't have much fodder for comparison, but I'm really enjoying the class so far. Compared to just buying a book, which is what I normally do, this is a far more engaging way to learn.

David Wolfe AAA Northern California

Well done. The examples were to the point. Also, you helped us keep an eye on security and performance in php (something all too often overlooked).

Troy Wright,Information Technology Services, University of California, Santa Cruz

Thanks for making PHP look much easier then what it has.

Dale Looft

Zend - The PHP Company