What did I get myself into?
Seriously, I have read the first hundred or so pages of the PHP & MySQL Web Development for Dummies, and while the writing is clear, it is intimidating a bit. All those terms one has to get the hang of, and I breezed through the first part, that nattered about testing environments.
To begin with, like I really am going to set up a test section on my live server?
I THINK NOT!
So the next step is to get one of those lovely programs that will create a server type environment on your computer. Now they keep nattering about XAMPP & wamp. Now I tried wamp early on when I was looking at how to work with Joomla & Drupal, and got so frustrated, that I tossed the program.
This time around I went for XAMPP.
Thank GOD they have a forum for help. Mind you took me a second or two to scroll down to find the English Version of the forum, but I am glad I did.
AND THIS IS PROBLEM #1. Don’t skim through, and then go do something like setting up a testing environment on your computer. I should have gone back, re-read the damn chapter/pages that discussed this, so I could have avoided one or two problems. Like letting my damn machine access the testing environment.
The current version of XAMPP is 1.7.0 and so that is what I got. One of the first steps is to secure your installation of PHPmyAdmin & MySql. It also gives you an option to secure the folder that you are storing XAMPP into, which I also had to do. I like that by the way, as once I got my computer to access that security configeration page, things did go smoothly.
I have to say, from what I recall of wamp, versus XAMPP, I happen to like XAMPP but again, they are written by techie geeks, not average blokes like me, and certainly not BLOND one’s. For the record, I haven’t tried the new version of wamp, which is wamp5 and oh yeah, the url given in the book, was WRONG. The corrected url for it, is the one I have linked to the word, in this tutorial.
So, as I am totally exhausted now, thanks to pissing around trying to load the local security pages, I think it is time to give a quick recap.
1. You are going to need a proper testing setup. That means, despite the fancy name, that you need to replicate the server on your computer. For myself, that appears to be the less risky way to go.
2. Make sure your backups are up to date for your computer.
3. Keep that anti virus program up to date too, in case of security breeches because a testing environment (there is that damn fancy wordage again) could leave you vulnerable.
I think a lot of my frustration & problems are self created. I am impatient, and want to get started now, making or learning something relevant, but in all honesty, it has cost me some valuable time, because I didn’t take my time. I should know better, but as usual, I rush ahead, ignoring the lessons of the past.
This is not simple, and I have to understand, that it will not be quick or easy. To that end, reading every line, not skipping through, is going to be the key in keeping the errors down, and reducing the stress levels.
So the first step, is to read and then read it again. Then reference it constantly, as you set up the program. Now back to reading, and to try and learn from my first round of errors.
Feb 21st by Malcontent