Want to learn PHP? Here's an easy way to get rolling fairly quickly.
You can download many open source programs and break down their engines to learn the functionality of each line and their importance to the script. Many open source programs offer plenty of support to people who just want to learn while experimenting on a live site.
A good one to start with is PHPBB. It's free and very easy to understand. It uses simple, effective syntax with plenty of comments so you can understand the madness you're staring at.
The good thing about PHPBB is that it has many "HACKS" available that were written by people like you and me. After you play around with other people's hacks you will likely get the urget o make some of your own. By this point you'll be comfortable enough with the engine to go out on your own and write them without needing to bug the online community.
You'll find a nice satisfaction when you write a hack that is used by so many people world wide. Eventually, you'll know the engine enough to be able to write one of your own for your own sites and possibly others. You can make a decent living like this and it doesn't cost a thing. Why not give it a try?
I'd say you'll have PHP down in about 4 months. Maybe not fluently, but at that point you'll know, with a decent understanding, what you're looking at. Fluency will come with experience, obviously. But to get the hang of it will take no time at all. A couple hours a night or a few a week is all you really need.
