I think it’s a pretty well-rounded collection and it’s only $99 for a couple of weeks, so get the PHP Learning Path here and let me know what you think?
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New in PHP 7: null coalesce operator
In PHP 5, we already have a ternary operator, which tests a value, and then returns the second element if that returns true and the third if it doesn’t:
echo $count ? $count : 10; // outputs 10
Joind.in at the PHPNW Hackathon

Joind.in is one of the featured projects and I’m one of the maintainers, so I’ll be at the hackathon and I’m hoping that we’ll get quite a few things done during the evening. Joind.in is an ideal project for events like this since it’s easy to get started with it, and we have a development platform virtual machine (that we’ll have already downloaded onto USB sticks so no conference wifi delay) so you can be up and running in no time. We also have a specific label on our bug tracker for items that we think are manageable for people who don’t already know the system, so chances are that if you want to, you’ll be able to contribute to an open source project with something finished by the end of the night. Continue reading
Git Pull Causes a Merge
git pull
and expect a fast-forward update, but get a merge instead, don’t panic! This usually happens when we’re collaborating on a branch with other people, and we’ve made changes on our local version of a branch, and someone else (or the other you, if you use git to sync between multiple dev platforms) has made changes to the remote version of a branch in the meantime. It also happens really frequently in teams where all commits are to the master
branch … yet another reason to have a decent branching strategy.
All that’s happened is something like this:
$ git log --oneline --all --graph --decorate * 054f163 (HEAD, branch1) Installation instructions for the application | * 0ce808c (origin/branch1) Fixing template layout |/ * 927aad9 A random change of 731 to ideas2.txt
Since the last common commit, there are commits on your local branch, and the remote one. You could just let the merge go ahead but there are other options. You could also check out a new branch at this point, reset your tracking branch to the right place and then reapply your changes using cherry-pick or by rebasing and then fast-forward merging your branch. Continue reading
SOAPFault When Switching PHP Versions
Debugging rst2pdf and pygments
The Microphone Is Your Friend
The microphone is your friend, honestly :) Even if you think you can be heard, there are some definite benefits to using a mic if it’s available:
- you actually can be heard
- even people with less-than-excellent hearing can hear you
- the video recording can hear you as well
- you now have the option to employ some vocal variety: exclaiming, pausing, stage whisper … it all adds interest and colour to what you are saying
There are a few different types of mic and each one has its own quirks! Continue reading
Test Your PHP Application on PHP 7
New Screencast Series: Git Fundamentals

Edit: If you’re reading this before July 25th 2015, use code CFSCON5 to get a massive 50% off!
Continue reading
So You’re Thinking Of Submitting A Talk
- Think about what’s interesting that you could share with other developers. The key here is that the people listening should go away with something useful, rather than just the impression that you’re awesome
- Write it down. You don’t need to write the talk before you submit – just a title and an abstract will do. The abstract should be one paragraph, maximum 200-250 words
- A great abstract says why this topic is vital, what cool things will be covered, who should come and what they will learn. I’m paraphrasing but those are the basics!
- Submit your abstract to http://helpmeabstract.com/ to get feedback from some lovely volunteers who will help you (bookmark the gist and keep revisiting it, the system doesn’t notify you or anything … yet. Pretty sure you can submit patches while procrastinating on a slide deck though)
- Did you get this far without submitting? That’s normal :) Remember that your community needs new voices. Each of us is ahead of *someone* on the path, you absolutely don’t need to be the expert to have something to offer to the rest of us. So please, submit :)