Re: New to PHP, need pointers to best practices for the design of an atypical web app

Alan Mead <amead@xxxxxxxxxxxx> · Tue, 2 Jul 2019 13:41:04 -0500

    Thanks. I have a Perl simulation of the CAT working (which has all
    the technical algorithms). What I need to do is build the user
    interface and I/O (and translate the Perl algorithms to PHP) to
    allow real people to take a CAT online for a research project. I
    agree that nailing down the data structures, and understanding how a
    PHP app is constructed, have been the two main issues.

    I'm working on a v1 that will store a hidden/cookie session ID that
    will be tied to a serialized object stored in a database to maintain
    state, possibly like this: https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_sessions.asp
    , although it's not immediately apparent how I extend this model to
    store sessions in a database.

    If I use PHP sessions to maintain state in MySQL (as suggested on
    the w3schools page above) does PHP delete old state? That might be a
    good security measure and necessary for some applications, but (as
    you say) I'll have all the data I want in that structure. 

    -Alan

    On 7/2/2019 6:18 AM, Stephen wrote:

    I see
      storing data between page views as your big challenge. Maintaining
      a "state" for the user session.

      I am guessing that you have many questions, and that means lots of
      data. Using a database makes sense. PHP has fine interfaces to
      databases.

      And since the application will be used by others, they need a
      place to install their questions.

      If I was tasked with this project, I would start by documenting
      data structures and the algorithms. (Nicholas Worth)

      If I understand correctly, the user navigation through the test is
      the tricky part.

      Only when this is done, would I consider the PHP programming.

    -- 

Alan D. Mead, Ph.D.
President, Talent Algorithms Inc.

science + technology = better workers

http://www.alanmead.org

"You're an interesting species. An interesting mix. 
You're capable of such beautiful dreams, and such 
horrible nightmares. You feel so lost, so cut off, 
so alone, only you're not. See, in all our 
searching, the only thing we've found that makes 
the emptiness bearable, is each other."

-- Carl Sagan, Contact