NYCPHP Meetup

[David Krings]

Peter Sawczynec wrote:
> d) we have a handful of large free PHP user groups and these groups, say
> the top 10, should be formally recognized, and one should be expected to
> belong to one of these groups.

I understand the motivation, but I don't think mandating a membership in a 
club is helpful. And why just limit it to the top 10? And who says/knows who 
the top 10 are?

> So what would be wrong if we just agreed as a professional group to use
> these above entities as our bedrock standards. We use the Zend cert, the
> Zend IDE/framework and officially sanction Php.net and
> Sourceforge.net/PEAR as the defacto outlets of help/reference and code. 

Hmmm, I am not likely what one would consider "enterprise PHP", but I have no 
idea on how to outlet code on Sourceforge and I think the Zend IDE rapidly 
inhales big time. And while I do like a good IDE, I don't know if tying 
anything to a specific vendor is beneficial.

> We would not deny the use of, learning of, or the amicable co-existence
> of any and all other outlets/entities, but the above noted entities
> would be the generalized initial standards.

I think it is not good to have tool X define your standard and outright say 
that tool X is the standard. A standard should name specific requirements and 
rules as to what needs to be adhered to. If tool X can do that, fine, but if 
tool Y can do that as well and I happen to like it better, what's wrong with 
that. I know you are getting at that, but "amicable co-existance" is a no go 
when you clearly prefer one over all others.

> So as a new programmer in books/classes/tutorials you are always pointed
> to Php.net for reference, you are behooved to use from and contribute to
> Sourceforge.net/PEAR, you are prompted/guided/expected to join a listed
> user group, and you are advised to get Zend cert and learn that
> IDE/framework.

Nah, have them look at the IDEs and frameworks that are available. For 
example, I think NuSphere rivals Zend (and I think it wipes the floor with it, 
but that is purely subjective), but both are not free. I find that a suitable 
classification of a free environment such as is the case with PHP ought not 
mandate and benefit for profit organizations as is the case with Zend.


> And that a programmer who has Zend cert. and is a recognized user group
> member can use the status of PHP+ user/programmer on their
> credentials/resume.

I don't know enough about the Zend cert, but is that a cash cow like the cert 
programs are for Cisco or Microsoft? Are there any other PHP certifications in 
place? Doesn't CompTIA have something like that?
Also, who would be the entity issuing the PHP+ credential? If there is no 
place one could verify the credentials anyone can just write it on their 
resume, which devalues the credential quite quickly. Also, is it to be 
internationally or only nationally recognized (such as A+)?

> 
> Just a thought. Now that could be a start.

It is a good start and a good thought.

David