Learning PHP / MySQL

If I need a script that has to work with X application, I see no reason why I should not be billed for the time the programmer must take to familiarize himself with that specific application. I can't expect him to know all about the hundreds of applications out there, or do this kind of research on his own time. Now, if I'm lucky enough, or make this a requirement, I might find a programmer who's already done that research as part of other jobs he had, but I can at the same time expect this to lead to a very long search for the "right" programmer.

Just my personal take on this of course.
When I read "learning on the client's time," I thought it meant learning PHP/MySQL itself, not the intricacies of the project/script/software/site/customer. If this were the case--a "developer" who didn't know that much about PHP/MySQL and used the client's time to brush up on the fundamentals--then I don't see how anyone could disagree that this would be quite bad.

But on your point, Dan, I agree.
 
If I need a script that has to work with X application, I see no reason why I should not be billed for the time the programmer must take to familiarize himself with that specific application. I can't expect him to know all about the hundreds of applications out there, or do this kind of research on his own time. Now, if I'm lucky enough, or make this a requirement, I might find a programmer who's already done that research as part of other jobs he had, but I can at the same time expect this to lead to a very long search for the "right" programmer.

Just my personal take on this of course.

Agreed. I mite spend 10-20 minutes reviewing the documentation, and if at that point I feel comfortable I'll let them know I can do it, though there will be some research involved, billed at a reduced learning rate, or what I like to call "hmm, let me see" time.
 
Different people learn differently. Some people are visual, some auditory. Some learn from reading, others do better with images -- a LOT of people fall into that last category...

A good series of books for learning something totally new is O'Reilly's Head First Series... and they have a PHP/MYSQL title. It has a lot of the features many need to really learn with diagrams, activities, etc. And since their from ORA, they tend to be pretty good. Check it out: http://www.amazon.com/Head-First-MySQL-Lynn-Beighley/dp/0596006306
 
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