I can't learn PHP

Very well put, Jake! I agree with choosing a project and learning that way. A lot of the things make more sense in the context of a project than it does standing alone, abstract.

The idea behind learning any programming language is to ensure you know what you want to do with it once know your way around it( notice i did not say done). Patience is key to getting somewhere and ensure you have at least one book that you will use as your guide, i would recommend programmer's introduction to php by W. J. Gilmore. You can also use video tutorials from youtube or online learning sites like linda.com among others. Keep in mind that you can not grasp the whole programming language in one day

Learning new languages is hard and requires patience. If you're felling down at the moment, make a pause and don't touch PHP for a few days. Believe me, you'll be like new after that.

You don't need to know php to do the wordpress thing. You gotta start thinking like a programmer. Think about how scripts work. I don't know php either, just saying...

For wordpress you can just code it in xhtml/css then look in the default skin and find codes like this

And be like ohh thats the post part, I probably put that in between my p tag.

Originally Posted by Jake B I had the hardest time learning PHP as well. I soon found out that you don't learn everything all at once.

This is so true. This is what I soon realize once I get to learn new technology myself more often.

I have a different scenario. I'm a back-end programmer. I know PHP very well. However, I don't know that much about front-end development. I have to take my time to learn it. Never give up mate!

It's a relief to know that there are people out there that face the same situation as me. We just have to keep learning

Keep trying bro. Dont try to take on too much at once> if your brain starts to hurt take a break and come back to it later,

I often had this problem, trying to learn too much too fast. You end up not retaining very much of it.

Just take it at a slow pace and you'll catch on.

Originally Posted by sebech Hey guys, No matter what, i just can't learn php, which sucks because I can't develop for Wordpress. No matter what tutorials I go through, I just can't learn it. Its like a foreign language for me. Its ridicolous. Should I just stop trying and just pay a freelancer to convert all my PSD files into wordpress themes. Only reason I want to learn php is because I want to get into Wordpress Themes, Wordpress Admin Backend Theme options and Wordpress Plugins. I <3 wordpress

The only reason to learn PHP is to work for your boss as a php programmer, there are not other reasons for you to learn PHP because you just want to fix a bug for WordPress.

Well, if I jumped right into WordPress when I started to learn php, I'd be dead by now.

I'd focus on something easier first. Generate some easy php/html sites or try to modify simple scripts. If you don't understand something, look it up on php.net.

Originally Posted by icome The only reason to learn PHP is to work for your boss as a php programmer, there are not other reasons for you to learn PHP because you just want to fix a bug for WordPress.

Oh please. There are many, many more people using PHP than those employed as PHP developers. Do you have some meaningful point to make (I can't imagine what that might be), or were you just fancying a quick troll?

Originally Posted by Impetuous If you don't understand something, look it up on php.net.

And/or ask people! There are hundreds of busy little PHP forums (or sub-forums), chat channels, user groups, etc. all of which will be happy to help you learn. You don't have to face the task alone. The manual on php.net is treasure, but can be overwhelming.