New Mac Developer: looking for help

[newmacdev]

Thanks in advance for any help here...

I've been searching for instructions on how to configure my macbook pro (intel), os x 10.4.10 for about a week now, as well as an all around crash course in programming. I've found numerous sources but nothing that really breaks down from the beginning: nearly everyone seems to assume that their audience is adept w/unix, terminal/shell usage, and at least one or more other facets.

Well, I'm not. I have some experience with (coughs) HTML/Dreamweaver, enough experience w/Subversion to get by updating my company's website (mostly cosmetic stuff, some very rudimentary php changes), and a basic overview of what apps/tools are needed in a developers environment.

I have several developer friends but no one that has the patience or interest in helping me build my foundation in all of this, which is what I really need, a strong foundation and in turn, a competent tutor/coach/mentor.

I don't have much money to throw around at the moment, maybe a $100-200 a month for $ compensation and an insatiable desire to learn! If anyone's interested in helping me out, no matter to what capacity, please let me know. I've been working with web/internet based tools/apps since 2000 to varying degrees and am extremely serious/focused on all of this, it's no fluke/passing interest (just hadn't had the right system/time previously to dive in like I have now).

So here's what I'm trying to accomplish:

1. Install latest version of Apache (as needed). I'm currently running v1.3 and have already downloaded v 2.2.4.tar.
2. Install latest version of PHP (as needed). I've already downloaded php-5.2.3.tar.
3. Same w/mysql-5.0.37.tar
4. Same w/rubygems-0.9.1/0.9.4tar
5. Same w/ajax (ajax starter kit by phil ballard)
5. Same w/subversion1.4.4-2.Universal.dmg
6. Same w/xampp-macosx-0.6.2.tar
7. Anything else critical or worth integrating

Once the dev tools are all in place, I'll start wading through these languages in earnest (and will probably have some
questions than too ).

I've already got these apps installed:

1. TelnetLauncher
2. Fugu
3. Transmit
4. TextMate
5. BBEdit
6. LocoMotive
7. Xcode
8. CSSEdit
9. X11
10. Terminal (obviously, in dock w/others)
11. SVNx

I have several books relative to this all:

1. PHP5 & MySQL Bible - Tim Converse, Joyce Park, Clark Morgan -Wiley pub.
2. Beginning PHP5, Apache, MySQL Web Development - Wrox pub.
3. Creating Web Pages (9 in 1 for Dummies)
4. Ruby on Rails (for Dummies) - Barry Burd
5. Ajax Starter Kit - Phil Ballard

I have several sites I can work w/to toy around w/database driven apps/tutorials, I just don't know how to integrate everything I have and get started. I could go on about all the failed attempts at trying to get the ball rolling here but have probably already exhausted the post length here.

So, please contact me if you're interested in lending a hand. If you would like some sort of validation as to my sincerity in all this, please ask for a name with which to google me.

Many thanks!

[hayne]

I'd recommend against installing "the latest version" of Apache or anything else that already exists in a perfectly workable and already working version as part of your normal OS X install.

You might want to look at the O'Reilly articles on Apache with OS X:
http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/ma...ebserving.html
They cover beginning PHP as well.

[roncross@cox.net]

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors. You might want to register on Apple as an ADC developer to get some advice from them. Your task looks tedious to say the least.

http://developer.apple.com/

[newmacdev]

Quote: Originally Posted by hayne You might want to look at the O'Reilly articles on Apache with OS X: http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/ma...ebserving.html They cover beginning PHP as well.

Great starting point and exactly the kind of help I'm after! I encountered an issue they didn't address however and one that has been stumping me all along w/the php activation process. Here's what happened:

-I tried to enable PHP (after uncommenting the php lines in the httpd.conf file), but the command failed to work:
--
(username)-MacBook-Pro:~ (username)$ apachect1 configtest;
-bash: apachect1: command not found
(username)-MacBook-Pro:~ (username)$ sudo apachect1 restart
Password:
sudo: apachect1: command not found
(username)-MacBook-Pro:~ (username)$
--
Any ideas on why this command isn't being recognized/found? Thanks.

[cwtnospam]

It isn't 1, it's lower case L:
apachectl

[newmacdev]

Quote: Originally Posted by cwtnospam It isn't 1, it's lower case L: apachectl

Thanks for clarifying the typo, it worked.

[hayne]

You also might find it helpful to read through this Unix FAQ and the further references it gives.

[newmacdev]

Tried to follow the instructions from "Web Apps with Tiger: Security and MySQL", but this code:

--
morbus@:~/Desktop > tar xzf php-4.4.0.tar.gz
morbus@:~/Desktop > sudo mv php-4.4.0/php.ini-recommended /etc/php.ini
morbus@:~/Desktop > ls -l /etc/php.ini
-rw-r--r-- 1 morbus staff 39480 Apr 28 09:14 /etc/php.ini
--

-failed to run. I tried both with morbus and my user name, neither worked:

--
(user)-MacBook-Pro:~ (user)$ (user)@:~/Desktop > tar xzf php-4.4.0.tar.gz
-bash: (user)@:~/Desktop: No such file or directory
--
So I referred to the UNIX FAQ section "Setting PATH in the bash shell", thinking that might have something do with it, to no avail...

[hayne]

Quote: Originally Posted by newmacdev morbus@:~/Desktop > tar xzf php-4.4.0.tar.gz

In the above, the part I have coloured green is the prompt - it is not part of the command. Read the first section ("basics") of the FAQ I referred you to above.

[newmacdev]

OK, now what? The file is clearly visible on my desktop but something's still holding it up:
--
(user)-MacBook-Pro:~ (user)$ tar xzf php-4.4.0.tar.gz
tar (child): php-4.4.0.tar.gz: Cannot open: No such file or directory
tar (child): Error is not recoverable: exiting now
tar: Child returned status 2
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors

[hayne]

Quote: Originally Posted by newmacdev OK, now what? The file is clearly visible on my desktop but something's still holding it up: -- (user)-MacBook-Pro:~ (user)$ tar xzf php-4.4.0.tar.gz tar (child): php-4.4.0.tar.gz: Cannot open: No such file or directory

By default, the shell starts off in your home folder, not in your Desktop folder. So you need to either navigate to the Desktop folder or supply the path to that folder as part of the command.
See the "navigation" and "basics" sections of this Unix FAQ

[newmacdev]

-for the help. Still have some kinks to work out but have been and will continue to pore over the basics you provided along w/some others I've found.