In this one week certificate program you will learn how to develop sophisticated web applications using the open-source LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP) technologies as well as the essentials of web security and server management. These skills will enable you to create professional websites with advanced features.

Program Description

Our web application development program is designed to get you up to speed building feature-rich database-connected web applications using the powerful open-source LAMP platform. If you're already building websites this is a fanstastic way to take your skills to the next level. You'll learn how to setup a testing environment on your computer, design and manage MySQL databases, write clean PHP code and best practices in application security by creating a sample blog application that represents the core functionality in many web applications. You'll be learning from a working professional in the industry with years of experience and deep technical knowledge who will cut through the clutter to teach you the critical skills you need to be profecient with these in-demand tools and technologies.

Click here to read more about what makes our Transitions Certificate Programs unique.

Prerequisites

Students should have a solid understanding and experience creating static websites with HTML and CSS. We highly recommend our Web Design Transitions Certificate Program if you are just getting started in web design/development.

Equipment

BDA provides a computer workstation when necessary; however, some people prefer to bring their own computer in order to use it during our mentoring hours or practice what they've learned in the evenings. If you are planning on bringing your own computer our staff person will provide you a list of all the necessary software and/or hardware requirements in advance of the program.

Schedule

Monday

• 9am - Noon : Introduction to Server Side Programming with PHP
  Introduction to is server side programming is, why and how its used. We'll also discuss why this program focuses on PHP over other server side technologies and how to setup an environment for working with these tools (hosting account and/or MAMP/WAMP/XAMP).
• 1pm - 5pm : PHP Fundamentals
  Introduction to the PHP language, syntax and best practices.

Tuesday

• 9am - 3pm : Writing PHP Code
  During this session you'll apply your new knowledge of PHP to write code for common tasks such as processing a form, validating user input, sending email, etc. You will follow along on your own computer with a MAMP testing server and see the language and it's constructs come to life.
• 3pm - 5pm : Practice Time
  During this practice time you'll re-create some of the tasks covered earlier in the day by yourself in order to ensure that you understand the code and process. The instructor will be available to answer questions, help you troubleshoot and offer guidance.

Wednesday

• 9am - Noon : Database Design
  Discussion about the different types of databases, how they are they are used with an emphasis on MySQL. We'll also cover best practices fo designing databases including normalization, naming conventions and relationships.
• 1pm - 3pm : Working with MySQL Databases
  In this session you'll learn how to create and manage a MySQL database using PHPMyAdmin and the desktop tool Navicat taking into consideration what you learned earlier in the day. By the end of the session you'll have a database and all the tables necessary for the blog system you'll be building later in the program. You'll also be introduced to basic SQL queries and database manipulation.
• 3pm - 5pm : Practice Time
  You'll have the rest of the day to practice writing common SQL queries including "inserts", "updates" and "selects". During this time you'll populate and run reports against your blog project MySQL database. The instructor will be available to answer any questions and offer guidance.

Thursday

• 9am - 3pm : Creating a Simple Blog Application
  During this session you'll be guided through the process of applying all your new knowledge to build a simple blogging application including managing the blog posts, displaying them on the website and more!
• 3pm - 5pm : Practice Time
  This practice time will give you an opportunity to experiment with adding a few new features to your blog on your own so that you're confident in your skills. The instructor will be available to answer any questions, help you troubleshoot and offer any necessary guidance.

Friday

• 9am - Noon : Troubleshooting and Getting Help
  Troubleshooting and problem solving is a critical skill for web developers. During this session you'll learn effective troubleshooting tools and strategies and be introduced to a range of fantastic resources to get help when you need it!
• 3pm - 5pm : Search Engine Optimization and Analytics
  During this session we'll expand on on Search Engine Optimization concepts and strategies and introduce you to Google Analytics and how to use it effectively.
• 1pm - 4pm : Best Practices in Web Security
  Discussion on web security best practices to avoid common security problems such as cross site scripting attacks, SQL injection attacks, etc. You'll see these principals demonstrated by incorporating new code into your blog application.
• 4pm - 5pm : Wrap-Up and Q&A
  You've leaned a lot in a short period of time. This a change for you to review your knowledge and get questions answered!

Instructors

Richard Jones began programming with Basic at age 10, and was highly active in the pre-internet social networking systems during the early 90s. He then moved on to Visual Studio while serving with the US Army during the late 1990s. In 2003 he finished his degree in Digital Media, specializing in Internet and Web Technologies. Having taught himself PHP and Javascript, he founded a development outsourcing company, Tenth Street Studios, which he ran successfully until moving to Boulder in late 2007. Formerly a Web Developer with Slice of Lime, a leading web design and development firm located in downtown Boulder, Richard is now the Chief Technology Officer and Senior Developer for Callisto.fm. Richard is also fluent in HTML,CSS, SQL and JavaScript, and has taught college courses at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Florida. In his spare time he enjoys woodworking, photography, and snowboarding. You can contact Richard at the@talentedmrjones.com.

Steve Fox has been active in website development since 1994, serving as designer, coder, programmer, and systems administrator. Past clients include eBay and Dell, along with some of the most creative small businesses online. His technology practice, Fox Web Technology, LLC, offers network and web application security assessments, computer forensics and security training services. Steve's academic background includes a Master of Science degree in Information Systems Technology from George Washington University (Washington, DC), Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from University of Missouri (Columbia, MO), and a Certificate in Computer Programming from Montgomery College (Rockville, MD). Steve holds the CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) and Security+ certifications, is a GIAC Certified Penetration Tester (GPEN) and has served as an event facilitator for the SANS security training institute.

Evening Mentoring

BDA is committed to providing the best learning experience possible. One of the distinctive benefits of our Transitions Certificate Programs is evening mentoring from 6pm to 8pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Our evening mentors are different than the class instructors who are also working professionals in the industry offering you a broader perspective and a great opportunity to practice the skills you've learned, get particular questions answered or simply hang-out with peers and exchange ideas and conversation.

Location

This certificate program will be held in the Boulder Digital Arts Arapahoe Studio classroom.