Can you recommend a good book on zend framework.

Question

Can anyone recommend a good book on zend framework. I got ZF up and running but I want a more complete reference with maybe something that talks about each module more in depth.

Is there such a book. There seems to be real slim pickings on ZF books

Answer 1

I recommend you Zend Framework in Action by Rob Allen (Manning Publications)

Answer 2

+1 for Zend Framework in Action. It's not out yet, so I haven't read it, but on a very big French programming site that does book reviews, the review for this book (early access program) is very positive. We're just beginning with ZF 1.5 at work, and that's the version covered by the book, so we'll probably get it.

I saw on Amazon.com that a "Definitive Guide to Zend Framework" will be released soon, too.

Answer 3

I agree that sometimes it's good to have a book, but the Zend Framework is a) not a programming language, but a framework and b) very young. It's just at 1.6.x and changes are made with every version. What I am getting at, all those books will be obsolete soon.

Which is why recommend:

• the mailinglists (on nabble (archived, searchable, etc.))
• the manual
• the wiki
• #zftalk@freenode (IRC)

Answer 4

I recommend reading "Practical Web 2.0 Applications with PHP".

This is a very good first stop for someone new to Zend and wants to see a full cycle approach to setting up a dev envoronment. And then how to use all those tools to create many of the web 2.0'ish features common in modern web applications.

Answer 5

Zend Framework in Action seems to be the only decent Zend Framework book in market right now.

The final version of e-book has been released few days ago

http://www.zendframeworkinaction.com/2008/12/09/zend-framework-in-action-e-book-is-released/

Answer 6

I don't think I could recommend the php|architect's Guide to Programming with Zend Framework. If you're looking for an extended, overly wordy, version of the quickstart tutorial that's based on an older version of the framework & barely managed to fit Zend_Layout into an appendix.

It's not a bad book. If somebody else is paying for it, I wouldn't say -not- to get it but there's too little content to justify paying $35 out of pocket for it.

Answer 7

try to read manual first!

Answer 8

so many errors in Practical web 2 application with php. Especially class not found.

Answer 9

Once you get past the basics of MVC in the web world. The Zend Framework programmer's reference and documentation becomes the book. Zend framework is different from other frameworks like CakePHP or CodeIgniter in that no one recommended way of doing things.

To prove my point, you can look at various open-source ZF applications and see that they can have very different directory structures and domain/data models. Some create their own domain model while others simply use extensions of Zend_Db_Table & Zend_Db_Table_Row as their models.

Understanding advanced OO design and various design patterns will probably be more useful than a "Build an app with the Zend Framework!" book. With ZF, chances are that you need to leverage the flexibility of ZF (through OO techniques) to do things it is not designed to do.

If this is your first experience with MVC web frameworks, then I highly recommend first using a full stack framework like CakePHP, Code Igniter, Kohana etc to grasp the basics of how MVC works and good practices (ie. skinny controllers, fat models) before diving into a monster like ZF.

Answer 10

I've learned Zend Framework via the following resources (on only books):

• Zend Framework official programmer's reference guide. I know it's not a perfect tutorial, it's more a reference than a guide how do a certain function, but most of it is in there (although sometimes with little expanation). But please ensure your read the Zend_Controller and Zend_View pages completely.
• Excellent VODCASTs (or screencasts).
• Some interesting web blogs about building your CMS system and get you started, such as:
  • andreinikolov.com , and
  • Robert Basic's
• Zend Framework in Action (early released version)
• Practical Web 2.0 Applications with PHP, partly useful but less useful for Zend Framework itself.

There are also some upcoming books, but not yet released according to amazon:

• The Official Programmer’s Reference Guide
• Pro Zend Framework CMS: Building a Full CMS Using Advanced Aspects of the Zend Framework

It's important to note that the new Zend Framework 1.8 has some significant changes (see the above mentioned screencasts), not always covered in the above resources, such as extra helpers and a more object-oriented Bootstrap.php file.

Answer 11

I recommend Easy PHP Websites with the Zend Framework by W.Jason Gilmore - http://www.easyphpwebsites.com/. It's a great book especially if you are new to PHP and MVC structure. Plus it has a series of videos for each chapter. It's a great resource. And Zend Framework in action is a very good book also. Good luck!

Answer 12

While the books mentioned by everyone else is great and all, they're outdated by the time they're published. It's the way of an active community and hard copies. I suggest you check out Survive the Deepend: It's a free, online book; ever-evolving alongside Zend Framework.

Answer 13

I've learned a lot with John Lebensold's free video tutotrials http://www.zendcasts.com/ He posts videos about the Zend Framework once a month, so you'll be up to date with some of the latest features. Of course, John shows his way of working with ZF , so it's no bible, just a very good perspective on some important features

Answer 14

John Lebensold's video casts are very recommendable. http://www.zendcasts.com/

Answer 15

The best (better than all the books mentioned above) is Zend Framework 1.8 Web Application Development by Keith Pope.

This is a complete example how to build a simple store application, covering good practices (e.g. deployment, unit testing etc.).

And is up to date (Zend Tool), works with 1.10 too.

(BTW, the question was about book, not online resources)

Answer 16

the only online book that ever helped me with the zend framework was survivingthedeepend. i would start there before spending money on a book that might be outdated by the time you finish it.