MySQL and PHP Basics Part I

I have had some requests to write some blogs on the basics of using PHP and MySQL together.  This will not be a series for the experienced as it will start at a level where I will go into a lot of details but expect very few prerequisites from the reader.  If this is not you, please move on. If it is you and you read something you do not understand, please contact me to show me where I assumed too much.

PHP and MySQL are both in their mid twenties and both vital in the worlds of developers.  With the big improvements in PHP 7 and MySQL 8, I have found a lot of developers flocking to both but stymied by the examples they see as their are many details not explained. So let's get to the explaining!

1. Use the latest software

If you are not using PHP 7.2 or 7.3 (or maybe 7.1) then you are missing out in features and performance.  The PHP 5.x series is deprecated, no longer support, and is quickly disappearing.  

MySQL 8.0 is likewise a big advancement but many sites are using earlier versions.  If you are not on 5.6 with plans to upgrade to 5.7 then you are about to be left behind.  If you are running an earlier version then you are using antique code. Also get your MySQL from MySQL as your Linux distro may not be current, especially for the smaller ones.  The APT and DEB repos can be  found here and there are Docket containers available too. 

In many cases it is a fight to keep your software core tools up to date, or fairly up to to date.  The time and heartache in fighting problems resolved in a later version of software or creating a work around for a feature not in your older version will eventually bite you hard and should be viewed as a CRM (Career Limiting Move).  BTW hiring managers look for folks with current skills not skill for a decade old version of the skills.

2. Do not pick one connector over another (yet!)

PHP is a very rich environment for developers and it has three viable options for connecting to MySQL databases.  Please note that the older mysql connector is deprecated, no longer support, and is to be avoided.  It was replaced by the mysqli or mysqlnd (native driver) and is officially supported by Oracle's MySQL Engineers.  Next is the PDO (public data objects) connector that is designed to be database agnostic but there is no overall maintainer who watches out for the code but Oracle MySQL Engineers do try to fix MySQL related issues if they do not impinge on other PDO code. And the newest, using the new MySQL X DevAPI and X protocol is the X DevAPI connector which supports both SQL and NoSQL interfaces.

The good news for developers is that you can install all three, side by side, with no problem.  For those staring out the ability to transpose from connector can be a little confusing as they work just a bit differently from each other but the ability to use two or more is a good skill to have.  Such much like being able to drive a car with an automatic or manual transmission, it does give you more professional skills.

Next time we will install PHP, MySQL, the three connectors, and some other cool stuff so you can start using PHP to access your MySQL servers.