So what’s all the hubbub surrounding LAMP? What is this “LAMP” and how do I get one? These questions will be answered within the pages of this book. In this case, LAMP stands for Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP, and has proven to be one of the fastest growing ways to develop enterprise-level web applications. All these packages are open source, so you are basically free to use them as you wish; the only limit is your own imagination. In addition, with Open Source technologies you not only have the best minds in the industry working together to provide great packages, you also have the immense support of the rest of the open source community if you come across any troubles. After reading this book, you will have an expanded knowledge of LAMP and can put it to work for you as you develop your dynamic websites. Because this is currently the only advanced level LAMP book available, and a part of Wrox’s Professional Series, you can be assured that the information contained within its pages will help make you a better coder and a step ahead of the rest.

It should be noted that although the term “LAMP” can also include Perl and Python in its broader definition, we have chosen to focus on PHP in this book.

The goal of this book is to take the beginning to intermediate level web developer one step further, equipping him or her with a more advanced-level knowledge of each of these modules. We give you the tools in this book to allow you to think “out of the box” and find new solutions to old problems.

Whom Is This Book For?

This book is for web developers with some experience who want to take their websites to the next level.

If you’re interested in using Open Source tools to run a dynamic, exciting web site, you’ll find what you need here. We assume that anyone reading this book has some basic experience in the following areas:

- Web server technology
- OO coding
- Database structure, set up, and interaction (retrieving, modifying, and adding data)
- Setting up users and permissions
- Installing new software
- Using the command line