top 5 php coders

You can't really say anyone is the best programmers, its all baised. I do all my coding, but if I need help, ill do a quick login to irc.freenode.net and join #php.

Originally Posted by Wildhoney I can code fluently in PHP5. True OOP with Interface and Abstract classes. Basically the lot. A little sample here -> http://www.adam.tiaghosting.com/sample/

It's a shame that your showcase piece of work will raise errors. You don't implement the display abstract method and importantly, the closing brace for the class is missing. Finally, probably not of importance to you but it is to me, where is your documentation? Even for a simple interface and class, a couple of PHPDoc comment blocks would be lovely (and almost a requirement if anyone is to look back at the code in a few months/years time). That said, nice and tidy.

As for the topic, I haven't really seen much in the way of code from members here -- and I've had no need to hire someone for PHP -- so it would be difficult to list 'the best' here.

On that note, I'd like to see more chat from the freelance coders around here (not just the template slicers). There are often questions about PHP floating around but little (if any?) chat between developers on interesting topics.

I can answer that all by saying that the comment above the code sums it up. "The abstract class does not match the class because I have removed core functions." All I did was whip out all the bottom of the script, as it's got key functions in the full one. As a side-note, I always drop PHPdoc blocks in separate files. Really just the way I organise it all.

The best coder ive knowen is my friend Kurt (deadman on techtuts).
This guy is ownage.

Salathe, the reason why we don't have those discussions is because we don't have much PHP developers here. If you go over to sitepoint, they have several going on at one time. :\

paris holley is a great coder :P

Originally Posted by Zane paris holley is a great coder :P

yeh agreed he is top class.
Alex.

Originally Posted by Wildhoney I can code fluently in PHP5. True OOP with Interface and Abstract classes. Basically the lot. A little sample here -> http://www.adam.tiaghosting.com/sample/

well, good sample but i have some comments for your code:
1. it's too many type castings for private properties. if you know how ZE handles object properties, you'll find the reason why. don't add the overhead if it's not necessary.
2. considering logic separation, it's not good practice to put DB properties in class constant. when the class is put together with another package, configuration should be done directly to the class file and not config file, which will make the application less versatile and user (read: developer) friendly.

so far, my most favorite php programmer is rasmus (lerdorf). if you don't know him (which i am sure most of you do), please take a look how rasmus uses php as a toy here: http://talks.php.net/show/oscon06

Originally Posted by Andrew R Salathe, the reason why we don't have those discussions is because we don't have much PHP developers here. If you go over to sitepoint, they have several going on at one time. :\

well yes, it's probably true. i came here some time ago and found basic questions which is averagely the same with ones i read in programming talk. sitepoint is pretty good, but if you want the hardcore, join official php mailing list (especially internals).