Web Development with PHP and MySQL

CIS 86

Mission College

Fall 2015

Instructor: Mark Brautigam

Description

This is an introductory course on web server side programming using PHP and MySQL. This course covers basic PHP programming elements including variables, strings, arrays, files and forms processing. It covers MySQL database basics and how to create a database driven web application. This course may be offered via distance learning. Pass/No Pass Option.

Dates and times

  • August 31 to December 19, 2015
  • Mandatory lab sessions on Thursday evenings, 6:30–9:40 pm
  • Classroom: Gillmor Center Room 202
  • Office hours will be 6:00–6:30 pm in GC 114

Instructor

Mark Brautigam

I prefer contact via email at markb@mixed-up.com

Mission College email is mark.brautigam@wvm.edu, but I don't check it very often.

Cell phone is 408-209-9641.

Office hours will be 6:00–6:30 pm in GC 114.

Class Objectives

  • Students will demonstrate the ability to use the PHP programming language to create applications.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to use MySQL as a back end database for web applications.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to create a database driven web application with PHP and MySQL.

Required Book

PHP Programming with MySQL, 2nd edition, 2010. Don Gosselin, Course Technology. ISBN 0-538-74584-3

All the course exercises and assignments are in this book. It is not possible to pass this course without access to the textbook. It is an excellent book for learning PHP and MySQL, but after the class is over, you will probably want to obtain a better reference book.

I will try to make a copy of this book available in the Mission College Library reference section. You won't be able to take the book home.

It is possible to rent this book, and I suggest you do so if you find it expensive.

Software

You will need 4 important pieces of software for this class.

  • WAMP or MAMP. This is the Apache web server, MySQL database, and PHP interpreter, with one easy installer. The WAMP version is for Windows, and the MAMP version is for Mac.
  • FTP software for uploading your projects to the Mission College PHP server. FileZilla is a good choice that runs on both Mac and Windows, and it is free. WinSCP is a good Windows-only choice. Fetch is an excellent Mac FTP client, but it does cost money. It is possible to get an educational discount.
  • Telnet software for logging in to the Mission College MySQL server and executing commands. PuTTY is a good choice for Windows. The Mac's built-in Terminal program works well for this purpose.
  • A text editor for typing in the HTML, MySQL, and PHP programs. The most important feature in a text editor is that it be able to save raw text files. For this reason, Microsoft Word and WordPad are not good choices. NotePad on Windows is a slightly better choice, but it is pretty rudimentary. A much better choice is the free NotePad++. For the Mac, an excellent choice is the free TextWrangler. For both Windows and Mac, Adobe Dreamweaver is a great choice if you have access to it, but it is expensive. If you do a lot of web design work, it could be worthwhile to get the educational discount on a monthly subscription. A bonus is that you can set up Dreamweaver to do the FTP for you.

How the class works

  • Online lectures. I will post short video lectures early each week. The videos will give you good hints that may not be in the book.
  • Weekly assignments. Every week there will be several short PHP programs to write. You will write these programs using the WAMP or MAMP software on your own computer using a text editor. Then you will post these programs to your account on the Mission College PHP server (see below) using your FTP software.
  • Discovery Projects. Every week there will be small projects that form the pieces you'll need to finish the larger midterm and final projects. You will post these projects to your account on the Mission College PHP server.
  • Group Projects. Every student will be assigned to a group. Your midterm and final projects will be turned in by your group. You will post these projects to your group account on the Mission College PHP server.
  • Discussion Forum. There will be a discussion forum where you can ask questions and answer questions posed by others. Participation in these discussion forums is an important part of your grade. The forums will be on the Angel learning system.
  • Mandatory lab session. Thursday evenings, 6:30–9:40 pm in room GC 202. In the lab, we will answer questions, go over difficult material, make sure all the software is installed and we are all on track, and work together in our groups.

Mission College PHP Server

Every student will have an account on the Mission College PHP server, located at php.missioncollege.edu. Your account will have a URL like php.missioncollege.edu/~ca86_xx, where xx is your account number. Account numbers will be assigned during the first or second week of class. There will be a separate account number for your group. Everyone in your group will have access to your group account.

Angel Learning

Angel Learning is a course management system adopted by the WVMCCD for all classes. When you log into the system, you will see a listing of classes that you are teaching (faculty) or a list of classes that you are taking.

Angel is where you will participate in discussion forums, send messages to me or other students, take quizzes and exams, and check your grades.

The easiest way to log in to Angel is to go to the Mission College home page, www.missioncollege.edu, then click the Angel Login link in the right-hand column.

If you've never logged in to Angel before, your credentials are your student ID number and your six-digit birth date (mmddyy). There are instructions on the main Angel login page, under the bold heading "Need help with Angel?"

Grading

A90–100%
B80–89.9%
C70–79.9%
NC0–69.9%
Quizzes15%
Weekly Exercises25%
Midterm Exam20%
Final Exam20%
Final Group Project20%