11 Sweet Sites To Help You Learn CakePHP
I tried picking up the CakePHP framework a couple years ago, but to be honest I only wound up confused and frustrated – and yes, a little pissed off. But when I attempted learning it again a few months ago, I totally fell in love with it! This post will hopefully help you to avoid the confusion and frustration that I originally encountered.
The CakePHP Site
Start with the docs, a.k.a. The Cookbook, and read them all the way through. Maybe even twice, since they're kind of incomplete in places and oddly organized. Despite that fact, they'll be very helpful to you... just go ahead and bookmark it for reference, because you'll be back. (Do note that they are constantly improving these docs, including via user submissions.)
The API is another reference part of the Cake site that you'll want to bookmark. Here you'll find more detailed documentation about the methods/classes/files within Cake's core. (Like I said, the Cake docs are a little vague at times... but the API usually can fill in the missing pieces for you.)
The CakePHP Bakery
This is also part of the CakePHP site, but I consider it to be seperate from the main site. It's basically a community hub where ideas and knowlege about Cake are shared with each other.
You'll find tons of useful stuff here... but most of it won't help much until after you wrap your brain around the basics. Check it out now, and come back to it when you're ready to expand.
PHPVideoTutorials.com
LeighMac, the guy behind these video tutorials, is a seriously funny and intelligent dude! While these video tutorials aren't free, they are super cheap... like $15 for over 8 hours of hardcore CakePHP knowledge, along with some good laughs.
Besides the videos, he also includes study guides and cheat sheets for each lesson... so if you really want to get a firm grasp of this framework, I can't recommend these tutorials enough. (He also has several other PHP tutorials up on his site, it's not just CakePHP stuff.)
James Fairhurst.co.uk
James' blog is packed full of great CakePHP articles and tutorials, and he's actively posting new stuff all the time. One of the bright spots in his articles is the 'Full Cake 1.2 App' tutorial series.
Jonathan Snook's Blog
Pretty much everyone in the web industry knows Jonathan Snook, I think. Although he hasn't posted much on it lately, he still has some great CakePHP articles and tutorials on his site.
Visit Jonathan's CakePHP Articles
Wilton Software
Lots of smaller (but useful) CakePHP code snippets and how-to's can be found here.
PseudoCoder
Lots of great articles here, including a fantastic (free) e-book about advanced CakePHP tips and techniques. (I learned quite a bit from it, too!)
Teknoid's Blog
More useful CakePHP posts here, from tips n' tricks to snippets to best-practices. I've really learned a lot here as well – highly recommended.
Tristan's Blog
Another active blog with lots of CakePHP tutorials and snippets.
End Your If
I can't really say much for the design, as it's the default WP theme... but nonetheless there are some nice little tidbits about CakePHP there.
CakePHP Google Group
Last but not least, there's always the Google group for CakePHP. A disorganized mess, yes – but also a searchable one. If you don't happen to find what you've searched for, post your question... and if you're not looking to be spoon-fed, you'll probably get an answer in no time.
Comments (4 Total)
Nirav Thaker
hey man great site article. will have to check out the links
Daniel
Jumpdrive! Good to see you dropped by... you were part of the reason for my posting this. :)
Web Development
Thanks a lot dear to post wonderful tutor.
MZeid
Thanks a mil for this great collection of cakephp tuts. Hope you can keep adding new stuff to it.
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