LIBR 246-02,
246-11
|
Robert
Sutton
|
MySQL and PHP
|
E-Mail:
rsutton -a-t- iii dot com
|
Fall 2004
|
Phone:
(510) 655-6200 x4223 (office)
(530) 662-1660 (home)
|
Course
Description
Learn to develop simple database-driven web applications using MySQL
and PHP.
Goals For
This Course
Extend your existing knowledge of HTML, style sheets, Javascript,
and any other web technologies you're currently familiar with so that
you will be
able to independently create your own
database-driven web applications using MySQL and PHP. This
course is not intended to be a
thorough survey of MySQL, PHP, or database theory. It is intended
to help
you learn enough about both of these software packages
quickly enough so you can begin to use these free, open-source software
technologies and develop practical web applications.
The course supports the following objectives from the School's
Teaching goal:
Upon completion of the program the student will know
and be able to identify the major theories and important principles as
well as demonstrate current practice in:
• Information transfer;
• The application of diverse technology to information management.
Why Is
This Course Relevant To Your Studies?
It has been said that necessity is the mother of invention. This
is especially true in library and information science. For
several decades, creative and innovative librarians have used computers
to automate library processes and develop customized solutions to
special problems that they have. It has only been within the last
10 years or so that all librarians have had the ability to produce
software to solve their problems thanks to the availability of free,
high-quality software and cheap, powerful computers to run it on.
MySQL and PHP are two such pieces of software and they will allow you
to develop complex and sophisticated web server-based applications.
Required
Text
PHP
and MySQL web development: Second edition
Luke Welling and Laura Thomson
Sams Publishing
ISBN: 0-7357-1212-3
Recommended
Text
MySQL:
The definitive guide to using, programming, and administering MySQL 4
databases: Second edition
Paul DuBois
Sams Publishing
ISBN: 0-672-32525-x
If you're very serious about learning how to use MySQL I highly
recommend
this book. This is the reference book I and most of my colleagues
at work use on a regular basis.
Use Of
Blackboard
This course will not
use the Blackboard distance learning software. Instead, web pages
have been developed that can be considered as a form of lecture
notes. These may be found at www.microscopic-blah.com.
Contacting
You, The Student
In order to keep all students enrolled in this course informed of news
such of changes to the course notes or modifications to course
requirements, every student enrolled in this course should send an
e-mail to the instructor in order to inform him of student's e-mail
address.
Course
Requirements
Because this is an online course, closed-book exams and quizzes are not
practical so the entire course grade will be based upon the successful
completion of two assignments:
- A 20-page research paper on applications of open-source web and
database technology in libraries, developed either by librarians for
their libraries, by groups of libraries, or developed by library
software vendors.
- A web application that demonstrates competence in MySQL and PHP.
Grading
Research paper: 40%
Web application: 60%
Disabilities
If you have any disabilities that need to be accommodated, contact me
as
soon as possible.
Plagiarism
All assignments submitted for credit must be your own work. All
sources must be properly cited in papers. All HTML and PHP code
submitted must be your original work unless properly cited in the files
submitted. The San Jose State University regulations governing
plagiarism will be enforced. Those regulations may be found at:
Note that it is common in the software industry to use existing
software code from open-source applications and libraries whose authors
allow such use or from proprietary commercial libraries produced
explicitly for this purpose. If you wish to do this, e-mail your
request to me explaining what you want to use and why you want to use
it. I will allow
or disallow it on a case-by-case basis.
Office
Hours
Because this is an online course, traditional office hours are not
practical. I will be available to you on the phone between
8 pm (traffic willing) and 9 pm most Mondays at home. You may
also send me e-mail with your questions and I will respond as soon as
possible.
Last updated: 08/24/04