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OpenLampTech issue #19
MySQL INSERT; WordPress development pricing; Using functions in PHP; What is Apache; Common SQL errors for Laravel developers; PHP array pro tips
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Read this week’s post, Limit Rows With The WHERE Clause - MySQL Beginner Series.
I have curated some fantastic reads for you this week. Let’s get to them!
This Week’s Picks
✔️ A pro tip when using arrays in PHP🐘
By: Houssem Zitoun
#php
Good information and comparisons of the array_merge()
function and using it with the PHP spread operator including some quick tests. I've used array_merge()
before but not the spread operator yet in any of the PHP code I've worked on so far so this article is definitely interesting to me.
✔️ How to Take a Database Dump in MySQL Workbench
By: Madeleine Smith
#mysql
Using MySQL Workbench for tasks like this is so easy and painless. This article has a nice step-by-step walkthrough on how to export a database backup as well as how to restore it using MySQL Workbench.
As much as I like and don't really mind using command-line interfaces, tasks such as this sure are easy in a GUI like MySQL Workbench.
✔️ How to hash passwords in PHP
By: Alex Web Develop
#php
I always look at it like this, you really only have one shot at getting the password securely stored.
The author covers many key points in this post such as:
Do not use MD5 or SHA hashing algorithms
Do use the PHP in-built
password_hash()
functionUse the PHP in-built
password_verify()
function to verify an existing hashed passwordUse the PHP
password_needs_rehash()
function to update existing hashes in case you have or want to update the Bcrypt cost.
Security is very important and storing user passwords securely is a critical first step.
✔️ What is Apache?
By: Ronald Caldwell via Liquid Web
#apache
One of the most important components of the LAMP stack is the Apache web server. And, in my honest opinion, one of the most overlooked (at least by me - shame on me).
This post is a great opportunity for me (and you) to learn more about the Apache web server by covering,
What is the Apache web server?
What does a web server do?
What other web servers are available?
What are some use cases for the Apache web server?
I really am going to make it a point to find and share more articles like this one about the Apache webserver.
✔️ Pricing Your Services: A Guide for WordPress Developers
By: Aileen Javier via WPMUDEV blog
#wordpress
This article could actually be a mini eBook in my opinion. While most of my experience has been working as an employee, I'll definitely keep this guide close at hand for when I do make the jump someday, to working as a freelance (whatever I'll be when I grow up 🙂).
There are several free tools out there to help you decide on a good rate for your work and many of them are covered, along with different pricing approaches and models.
I'll say this, the author sure knows how to structure, layout, and hook the reader along throughout the article and I'm definitely taking notes for my future writing/content creation self.
Bookmark this one, folks. 🔖
✔️ Common SQL errors for Laravel Developers
By: Tray2 (discovered shared via PHP Weekly)
#php #laravel #sql
Here is the tome of enlightenment for Laravel Developers (of which I'm not currently) in understanding and mitigating returned MySQL errors.
There is a lot of ground covered in this lengthy post with plenty to learn because the more you interact with the MySQL database, you're going to encounter some of these errors.
What I like the most about this post is that Laravel specific corrective actions are covered for many of the returned error codes.
This is a good one to keep close at hand for when needed.
✔️ How To Use Functions in PHP
By: alenaholligan (via Digital Ocean)
#php
The author states, "The three main parts to think about when interacting with a function are the input, the relationship, and the output."
I don't know that I've ever seen it put any better than that.
This is one epic article on PHP functions, covering examples of how to create them, along with parameter structure and rules.
These are just a few of the nuggets I gleaned from this piece:
Mandatory function parameters should be listed in the function call before any optional parameters.
Use parameter type declaration to ensure those function parameters match those types.
Default function parameters can be set to null instead of a value.
Want a great foundational understanding of PHP functions?
You have found it here then.
✔️ Ultimate Guide to MySQL INSERT Command
By: Bravezombie
#mysql
The INSERT
statement is one of the most important DML commands since it is used to introduce new rows of data into a table.
This high-level overview of the INSERT
statement in MySQL covers some of the ground rules for its use such as:
INSERT
withSELECT
Explicit column references
Multiple rows
INSERT
sINSERT IGNORE
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Joshua Otwell
Visit my blog Digital Owl’s Prose, where I write regularly on CodeIgniter, PHP, and SQL. I’m also active on Medium, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
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