macOS General programming question

[skygremlin]

I have the following goal and was wondering if another, experienced programmer can lend some advice. Basically I'm wondering if this is the best approach. This is going to be local in-house with limited use. Will not be on the web, really have no concern (right now) for security or anything much beyond "functionality".

Goal:
Maintain and update a MySQL database with customer information (for current job). Then use this to create other applications and hopefully demo for another job.. I currently work in as a field engineer's support contact for front-end / back-end application that uses Apache and Linux as the back-end. So I would like to stick to Linux as my back-end OS. As far as databases for the current app I support we use everything from Oracle, MSSQL, MySQL, Hypersonic databases. So Kind of a variety. I choose MySQL cause of the price.

Current Plan:
- Use Linux (for testing purposes my Snow Leopard OS) for:
- Apache Server
- MySQL Server
- PHP Server
- Create front-end html page using javascript for validation
- Submit information to PHP and update MySQL, or retrieve data from MySQL


Progress so far:
- Created a html form using javascript for all the validation. Have the validation currently set up in a .js file, was originally in the html page itself.
- Downloaded MAMP and have that set up on my MBP


I originally used Eclipse to make the html form, but purchased Dreamweaver CS5.5. To learn that a little. I have taken beginning programing in VB, java, javascript, and use VBS and bash scripting at work. I know a little about a lot of things, but an "expert" at nothing.

So all that being said if I want to utilize and manipulate a MySQL database, is my current plan appropriate. IE. HTML with javascript -> passing that to PHP -> using PHP to update and query MySQL?

thanx

 

[jiminaus]

HTML -> PHP -> Mysql is a common approach, hence why the likes of MAMP and LAMP exist.

 

[lee1210]

So all that being said if I want to utilize and manipulate a MySQL database, is my current plan appropriate. IE. HTML with javascript -> passing that to PHP -> using PHP to update and query MySQL?

thanx

This is one of, if not the, most common setups for small and even some very large browser apps. Some considerations:
Be weary of writing this with company resources on company time then treating it as yours. It's fine to say you did it, but may not be OK to show the code to someone else. If you do it totally on your own that's a different story.

I like PostgreSQL more than mysql, and the cost is the same.

There's a big difference between making something like this work with twine and bubblegum and writing code you want to show someone in an interview.

I'd learn HTML rather than WYSIWYGing the HTML. It's a skill worth having. If you show the code people can tell if the markup is generated by a WYSIWYG.

Otherwise it seems like a good project.

-Lee

 

[xStep]

Be weary of writing this with company resources on company time then treating it as yours. It's fine to say you did it, but may not be OK to show the code to someone else. If you do it totally on your own that's a different story.

In the U.S. of A. that is apparently dependent on the state.

 

[skygremlin]

thanx..

all the time working on this has been done on personal time, but seeing as this is one of my tasks that shouldn't be an issue. I don't plan on (as of now) using this to prove what I can do I do need this to work though. I do want to use as a template for future projects.

What I have so far was written in Eclipse and is strictly data entry. I don't have or need anything fancy, just functional. Also this is all being done on my personal laptop. I don't want any of what I'm doing have anything to do with corp. until I complete it. Even the Linux box I will be using is a personal pc I have in my office I use for other testing. I'm trying to get a VM setup with my work laptop, but am coming across "some issues" with the mouse not working properly..


thanx