The First Lesson - Essential Softwares

So today we begin with the first official lesson for PHP. Today I will be telling you the softwares we will use to study.

Following is the list of softwares you will need if you like using windows:

1. Windows XP Professional or higher
2. Adobe Dreamweaver CS1 or higher (preferably CS4 or CS5)
3. XAMPP 1.7 or higher download here 
4. Some of the browsers for browser testing: Opera, Firefox, Internet Explorer (preferably the troublesome IE6), Safari and my personal favourite Google Chrome 

Above given is the list of essential softwares needed to start learning PHP. Though Adobe Dreamweaver is not really something without which you cannot learn PHP but it greatly helps in the learning process. Though there are many other open source alternatives for Dreamweaver like Eclipse, Quanta+ etc. but Dreamweaver is my favourite. You can also go for Zend Studio if you would like to have a really professional developing environment from the very beginning. We shall emphasize in this blog on learning PHP and not on the developing environment. You are free to use any environment you are comfortable in.

The other supporting softwares that may be needed are:

1. Adobe Photoshop 7.0 or higher
2. Microsoft Office Picture manager - a very good tool to crop, resize and rename images in bulk.
3. Pegtop Pixel Meter download here
4. Skype - in case you need to clarify something, I am available on Skype with the Skype name: davneet92
5. Teamviewer - if you wish me to see the problem you are facing on your desktop and want me to help you solve it.

Once you install the above softwares you are ready to roll on.........

Have a good day:

“If you would behold the spirit of death,
open your heart wide unto the body of life.
For life and death are one,
even as the river and sea are one.”

~ Kahlil Gibran