On PHPBuilder.com today there's a new article posted for those just getting into the world of PHP - and one of (in my opinion, the best) ways to do it - Learning PHP Using the DIY Method.

So, you know HTML, you installed an open source CMS application and you need to customize the source code. You need to learn PHP basics and quickly. This is a non-technical, informational article to assist the newbie programmer on their quest for greater programming skills.

First of all, the good news is that it is possible. The bad news is that it could take some time depending upon existing skills and your specific situation. I am willing to bet that many hobbyist programmers (and a few professional ones too) began this way and then proceeded through complexity to greater tasks.

Don't run off just yet - sure, there's some work involved, but if you want to learn how to do something the right way, there's going to be. He gives tips such as "Read. Read. Read." and "Forums are for Help - not so You Can Look Like an Idiot" to those just getting into the community. He even points out (in an effort to get to you read more - see how that works?) an online copy of the "Practical PHP Porgramming" book, a great starters resource. There are too many developers that I see each day that just don't want to take the time to read. Why do you think the expression "RTFM" is so popular? If you're going to code PHP, learn how to code PHP and not just slop something together - the community will thank you for it.