While I still consider myself a code monkey, my primary work these days is writing technical documentation. Recently I was asked by a client to create a visual map for their REST-based API. The map, we decided, would have fly-out boxes that showed the API method at a glance – its name, URI endpoint, query [...]
Using The Slim PHP Framework for Developing REST APIs
October 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment
There’s a neat little framework for Ruby called Sinatra that makes it simple to configure REST-style API endpoints with just a smidgen of glue code. But why, asked PHP developer Josh Lockhart, should Ruby devs have all the fun? Josh has been busy these past few months creating his own PHP-based REST DSL (Domain-Specific Language) [...]
Examine All HTTP/HTTPS Traffic on Windows with Fiddler2
September 28, 2010 By 4 Comments
I’m an HTTP geek. RFC 2616 is my best friend. This means two things. First, I need more friends. And second, I need a tool that’ll show me what my HTTP and HTTPS requests are doing under the covers. (After all, best friends shouldn’t have any secrets.) I can dig up this information in PHP [...]
When OAuth Goes Wrong: Debugging Signature Mismatch Issues in PHP
September 22, 2010 By 1 Comment
OAuth is all the rage. Unfortunately, OAuth also produces a lot of rage. Even when you understand the basics of OAuth, getting it to work is a whole other matter. I recently tackled OAuth while writing API documentation for a client (can you see the scars?), and stumbled across some great tools and tricks that can make the ordeal a little less painful.
Is PHP Going to Remain the Preferred Web Development Tool?
August 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment
PHP technology has been around for at least a dozen of years. Since its inception, PHP has been steadily gaining momentum as a “defacto” platform for open-source web development. Lately, however, a host of new web development tools like Ruby on Rails came on the market, which raised questions whether PHP will remain viable as a web development tool. I believe PHP will not only remain, but continue evolving as the preferred platform for years to come.
PHP Contact Form Basics
August 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
If you own a website or are planning to make one, then you will most likely need a way for people to contact you, especially if you are running an online business. PHP makes that efficient and easy, and only takes a short time to learn how.
Computer Programming | Retrieve URL Data With the PHP GET Function
August 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Learn how to use $_GET effectively to collect data on any PHP page. When a request is made to a PHP script, take advantage of the built in PHP Super Global Array $_GET which automatically stores any Request data. Learn the difference between the Request and Response cycle of the web.
How to Use the PHP 5 Autoloading Classes Feature to Automatically Include PHP Files
May 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Autoload is a new feature introduced in PHP5 that you don’t have to explicitly require or include a PHP script file that contains the class being used any more but it will be automatically loaded or included when needed. For example, with PHP4 you would have to write something like this: require_once(“foo.php”); // foo.