# How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Code

**TL;DR:** I gave a brief lightning talk at April's WordPress DC Meetup on the basics of HTML and PHP ("coding for dummies"). The goal: learn how to avoid breaking your website if you edit it. Below are the slides and recording.

Published 2011-04-12 · [View on Ben Balter's site](https://ben.balter.com/2011/04/12/love-the-code/)

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I gave a brief [lightning talk at April's WordPress DC Meetup](https://www.meetup.com/wordpressdc/events/16887732/) on the basics of HTML and PHP ("coding for dummies"). The goal: learn how to avoid breaking your site if you edit it. Below are the [slides](http://www.slideshare.net/benbalter/how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-code).

## The Cliff's Notes are

- The process

  - The server executes PHP and outputs HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and so on<img src="https://ben.balter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/infographic-300x138.png" alt="Screenshot of the presentation showing the relationship between server, browser, and user" title="infographic" class="float-right ml-3" />
  - The user's browser takes that output and renders a visual representation of the page

- Client-side Languages

  - HTML – Static (unchanging) content; provides structure
  - CSS – Provides style and form
  - JavaScript – Provides interactivity

- PHP – Wrapped with "`php`" and "`?>`"

  - Variable - Text, a number, true/false, or a group of variable; identified by "`$`"
  - `If` Statement – performs an action *if* a statement is true
  - `While` Loop – performs an action *while* a statement is true
  - `For` / `Foreach` – combines elements of `while` and `if`
  - Functions – predefined set of actions; always followed by "`( )`"
  - Don't forget semicolons

## Links to Resources Mentioned

- HTML

  - [Google: HTML, CSS, & JavaScript from the Ground Up](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL697D36B35F92E9E4)
  - [HTML Dog](https://htmldog.com)
  - [W3 Learning Wiki](http://www.w3.org/wiki/HTML/Training)
  - [W3 Element Wiki](http://www.w3.org/wiki/HTML/Elements)

- Text Editor

  - [Notepad++](https://notepad-plus-plus.org/) (Windows)
  - ~~TextWrangler~~ [Atom](https://atom.io)
  - [Coda](https://www.panic.com/coda/) (Mac)

- FTP Client (to connect to server)

  - [WinSCP](https://winscp.net/eng/index.php), Notepad++ (Windows)
  - [CyberDuck](http://cyberduck.ch/), Coda (Mac)

- WordPress

  - [Define( WP_DEBUG, true);](http://codex.wordpress.org/Editing_wp-config.php#Debug) in wp-config.php
  - [Debug bar](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/debug-bar/) plugin
  - [WordPress Codex](http://codex.wordpress.org/)

*Thanks to all who came out or tuned into the live stream. Comments? Questions? I'd love to hear your thoughts below or feel free to [contact me](https://ben.balter.com/contact/).*