In order to start development with php you need three components

1. Database (I prefer Mysql)
2. Web server (I prefer Apache)
3. PHP interpreter

I assume you are using MS Windows for your development.

First download and install MySql from MySql 5.0 downloads

Next download and install Apache from Apache 2.2 downloads

Next download and unzip php to say c: from PHP 5.2 download

Some additional steps

1. Copy php.ini-recommended as php.ini in your PHP installation directory
2. In new php.ini file update the properties extension_dir = “c:\php\ext\” (I assume that you extracted php to c:\php folder – if it is different update your correct path)
3. In new php.ini file enable extension=php_pdo.dll extension=php_sqlite.dll extension=php_mysql.dll extension=php_pdo_mysql.dll
4. Edit httpd.conf file under conf folder of Apache installation, add the following lines at the end of the file

AddType application/x-httpd-php .php
LoadModule php5_module “c:\php\php5apache2_2.dll”
SetEnv PHPRC C:\php\

Thats it your dev environment is ready. Start the Apache server.

Write a simple file called as test.php with the following content

<?php echo ‘Welcome to php’; ?>

and save it as test.php under the folder htdocs of your apache installation folder.

From you web browser access the file as http://localhost/test.php

You should see the result as Welcome to php

Continue with next lesson Variables & operators