Title: How to learn php coding?
Last modified: August 19, 2016

---

# How to learn php coding?

 *  [jkgourmet](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jkgourmet/)
 * (@jkgourmet)
 * [16 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-to-learn-php-coding/)
 * In reading some of these posts and TRYING to use the volumes of information in
   CODEX, I’m beginning to suspect that I need to learn some coding (php, not html,
   right?) to fully utilize my WP sites. Can anyone sugget some help on this, please?
 * I have available domain names to set up a testing (or playing) site to learn 
   stuff without screwing up my current sites. But just don’t know where to start.
   No, I don’t know html or any other coding (though I took BASIC and COBOL in college
   decades ago. Not exactly helpful since about 1992.) And no, I don’t want to do
   fancy things – just change headers, colors, fonts and just understand all this
   better. I don’t mind paying for books, if that is a solution.
 * You guys may think “Code is Poetry”, but to me the Poetry is written in Chinese!
   Thanks for any suggestions that can be provided.

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

 *  [figaro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/figaro/)
 * (@figaro)
 * [16 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-to-learn-php-coding/#post-1160580)
 * > I’m beginning to suspect that I need to learn some coding (php, not html, right?)
 * Not really. There are plenty of themes out there that will allow you to change
   just about anything you want without needing to do any php or css coding. This
   is the first one that comes to mind:
 * [http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/atahualpa](http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/atahualpa)
 * If you do want to start learning some coding, I would suggest starting with a
   good intro to css book. Remember, php basically controls (or should control) 
   the functioning of a site…css controls the “look and feel” of the site. So, css
   may be more directly related to what you want to do…at least in the beginning.
 *  Thread Starter [jkgourmet](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jkgourmet/)
 * (@jkgourmet)
 * [16 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-to-learn-php-coding/#post-1160594)
 * That’s VERY helpful. Thank you. Is is also css that conrols the placement of 
   adsense ads and insertion of affiliate links?
 * The Atahualpa theme looks and sounds terrific BUT is is the best theme for a 
   total newbie to use? It looks bloody complicated. Would it make more sense to
   start with a simpler theme and maybe later change it to one of these nicer themes?(
   sorry if I sound dumb, but I’m getting analysis paralysis and bogged down in 
   the muck of details and ignorance of the product).
 *  [figaro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/figaro/)
 * (@figaro)
 * [16 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-to-learn-php-coding/#post-1160595)
 * Yes, in my opinion it would be better to start with a simple theme. I just pointed
   out Atahualpa because it allows you a great deal of control and customization
   without needing to be a coder.
 *  [S.K](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kichu/)
 * (@kichu)
 * [16 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-to-learn-php-coding/#post-1160599)
 * You can think of soiling your hands with some excellent but simple theme frameworks
   available viz:
 * 1. [Sandbox](http://www.plaintxt.org/themes/sandbox/)
    2. [Thematic](http://themeshaper.com/thematic/)
   3. [Theme Hybrid](http://themehybrid.com/)
 * .. to quote a few.
 * They provide the basic framework with valid and tested design with ample elbowroom
   for customization, and you can try and make “Child themes”.
 * S.K
 *  Thread Starter [jkgourmet](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jkgourmet/)
 * (@jkgourmet)
 * [16 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-to-learn-php-coding/#post-1160602)
 * what is a child theme? I’ve seen the term, but it’s that foreign language that
   I keep referring to. . .
 *  [S.K](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kichu/)
 * (@kichu)
 * [16 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-to-learn-php-coding/#post-1160603)
 * Perhaps you may try to do some legwork and visit the links I gave just now..!
 * S.K
 *  Thread Starter [jkgourmet](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jkgourmet/)
 * (@jkgourmet)
 * [16 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-to-learn-php-coding/#post-1160605)
 * _You’re right _– **thank you **for the gentle reminder that I’VE got to ‘do the
   work.’

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

The topic ‘How to learn php coding?’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 7 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [jkgourmet](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jkgourmet/)
 * Last activity: [16 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-to-learn-php-coding/#post-1160605)
 * Status: not resolved

## Topics

### Topics with no replies

### Non-support topics

### Resolved topics

### Unresolved topics

### All topics