Total PHP noob

[Lucifrex]

Ok, I'm just starting the PHP learning process and so far I've downloaded everything the tutorial told me to. My question is: now what? How do I utilize these things I have downloaded? If you have an answer for me, PM it to me, just in case I forget I made this topic. I check back to see what ya'll have said tomorrow.

[Jack McKalling]

You could also instead, try to get a webhost that does already support PHP and MySQL, so that you don't have to download, install and configure them. :)If you do want to, you should have also downloaded Apache webserver for example, to let other people see the site you are serving too.

[boen_robot]

A lot more easier solution might be XAMPP. It's a all-in-one server pack that includes Apache, PHP, MySQL, FireZillaFTP server, Zend Optimizer and more. Once you install it and start the services, all you need to do is to check your security setting by typing http://localhost in your browser and go to the apropriate menues. After that you may move/delete everything in XAMPP's "htdocs" folder and place all of your PHP files there. They will be accesable by typing http://localhost/*the-name-of-the-file* or http://*yor-IP*/*the-name-of-the-file* in the browser window.Notice: If someone knows your IP they will also be able to see your pages.

[Selacius]

The server package i use is IBserver and works quite well for a personal desktop server. Just install the software, and away you go. Whatever your trying to code will go in the www folder which is created when you install IBserver.

[Lucifrex]

I already downloaded the Apache thing. I want to know how to put it to use. I'm not worried about hosting on a site yet, I just want to be able to use it on my PC so I can learn PHP.

[Chocolate570]

Then you can do it without installing that stuff. All you need is a browser, prefrably FireFox, and MS notepad. Save the file as .php, open it in a browser, and you can view it.

[Jack McKalling]

Standardly, .PHP files cannot be opened by the browser :)Notice you would have to type http://localhost/file.php before it can do the server script