PHP Lug?

[Tony Hammitt]

I think that in general what is needed is something like 'Open Source
Programmers Groups' where people could get together and talk about
stuff in person and exchange ideas and code.

I've found several times that, as a programmer, we're drowning in a
sea of options.  Choosing the right language/platform/protocol is the
most important aspect of starting a new project, but no one could
possibly have all of the information that they need to make the right
decision.

Add in the universal need to fit the new project in with some preexisting
parameters and the choice becomes more important.  But it doesn't really
limit the number of options.  Say you want to set up a website, do you
use PHP? Perl? Python? Apache modules? Zope? ASP?...  Who knows?  The
only thing that's guaranteed is that you will find it difficult to switch
later.

So, what we need is to have people to talk to that know more than the
marketing hype around a toolset.  Preferrably ones who know what not
to use because they found out too late that it stinks.  Pretty much 
everything has some task that it is the best fit for, but is your task
similar enough?

So, back to the point.  There probably isn't yet a PHP group.  Are you
interested in starting one?  I'd be interested in learning about it by
attending meetings as long as they aren't too frequent.  But I'd be a
lot more interested in attending a general purpose 'web programming'
group.  My expertise lies elsewhere but I will eventually need to know
more about web stuff, like all of the other programmers in the world...

So, good idea!  Let us know if anything turns up.

Regards,

Tony Hammitt

Bradley Miller wrote:
> 
> Does anyone know of a local lug for PHP?   Maybe we could start a Midwest
> PHP group -- the nearest one I've found is in Illinois I think. . . .
> here's the page listing them:
> 
> http://www.moewes.com/phpug.php3
> 
> --- Bradley Miller
>