Learning PHP on Dreamweaver?

[AnotherMe]

Can I learn PHP on Adobe Dreamweaver?

[BenPleysier]

Short Answer: Yes.

Long Answer: There are many editors and IDE's that may be better than Dreamweaver. I do use Dreamweaver for my PHP programming, but this is because I also use extensions that do most of the heavy work for me. For an overview of what may be a better option, have a look at Top Code Editors and IDE for PHP Development of 2017

[rayek.elfin]

Sure, you can learn PHP with Notepad, if required.

But you'd best get a proper IDE that supports good built-in PHP debugging, offers a database inspector, etc. Netbeans is free, and highly regarded as a great PHP coding environment. But I am biased, because I love coding PHP in Netbeans myself 😉

[osgood_ · Accepted solution]

Yes DW is a perfectly capable web editor for learning and working with entry level php and l would advise you to use such an editor if you are a beginner with php.

Once you are a more competent php developer you may wish to further develop with php in a more dedicated IDE, which offers more capabilities once or if you need to produce more complex php built applications but for all but a few who intend to focus solely on php a dedicated IDE will not be that necessary.

To start learning php in a more php dedicated environment infact could be a wrong choice as the program will attempt to hold your hand which will hinder your ability to write some simple application/coding without being child minded.

[rayek.elfin]

An IDE like Netbeans doesn't "hold your hands". A beginner can start with a simple empty html file with a single php tag, and as the user learns more about PHP the application grows with the user to accommodate more complex options and support for the various popular PHP frameworks.

With Dreamweaver, however, the limits are reached relatively quickly, and the user will then have to switch to something more suitable. In any case, one of the primary skills of any coder is debugging code - how is the beginner supposed to learn this without a proper PHP debugger?

Anyway, in the end it doesn't matter that much, I guess. But I would personally never suggest DW as a PHP coding platform to a serious beginner.

[B i r n o u]

I agree with your point,

I will add that an other problem with DW's IDE is that beside the debugger tool, one haven't any other server side tool... like SQL environment, connexion test, and other binding items

and now in DW purely code editor speaking ... the last DW builds lost their mind in code format, code coloring, function search, variables panels, datas bindings and so on...

[osgood_]

rayek.elfin  wrote

Anyway, in the end it doesn't matter that much, I guess. But I would personally never suggest DW as a PHP coding platform to a serious beginner.

Entry level I said. You don't need a specialised IDE to echo 'Hello World', to connect and pull info from a database, to use it to randomnise images/components, pull info from a form, do some useful mathematical equatons etc, - 99% of what all websites compose of on the net.

However if youre long term objectives are to become a php centric developer who wants to write using php classes and building complex php applications an  IDE would certainly be the way to go, but not for entry level php, any editor can do that without the need for debugging, because there's really is nothing to debug.

I use php storm but its way overkill for 99% of what you need to produce if youre just wanting to bring in some simple dynamic solutions.

Maybe the OP needs to clarify their position a litte better and what objectives they have to provide a comprehensive answer.

[B i r n o u]

<joke>... you like 99% number ... as a reference don't you ???... </joke>

[osgood_]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/B+i+r+n+o+u  wrote

<joke>... you like 99% number ... as a reference don't you ???... </joke>

The majority, does that appease you??