Anyone use SmartPlanet for online courses?

I'm trying to evaluate SmartPlanet.com for online courses but trying to get information about them from the site is like pulling teeth. It's like you have to whip out your credit card before you can get the information you need to evaluate them. Kind of bass-ackwards!

Has anyone had any experiences with them lately?

Unfortunately I've never heard of them

I'm always dubious of paying for online courses as there is so much free learning material out there. If you trying to learn php for example you just need to do a PHP tutorial google, download phptriad to install a local webserver, php and database, and then come to devshed and ask a bunch of questions

Yeah, I hear ya! And I've found that the tutors, administrators, and "customer service" (assuming they have any) are extremely disorganized!

And the material is almost always for absolute newbies no matter what the course.

I'm currently trying to learn Java. The good thing about courses is that they're structured and kind of force you into a routine of study. The alternative to is reading books - without a defined regimen of exercise, that can get too theoretical. And the lack of structure makes it harder to stick to.

PHP is on my list but ASP seems to be more "popular" in the job classifieds. But I would prefer PHP to ASP personally. I'm also learning Javascript.

I went to your phptriad link but I don't see too much about what it is exactly. I've already installed PWS and Apache in Win98SE and they both appear to be working. But I haven't run any ASP or PHP yet.

It's a bit aggravating - I'm going to be laid off soon and am wary about dropping $500 on courses but book learning can be impractical. I know about Sun's tutorial and the Javaranch so I am finding some resources.

Any direction appreciated.

I've decided not to go with smartplanet. They're pricey and trying to get good info before you cough up the bucks is very hard. I spoke to someone in a chat window and got an e-mail response also and their level of customer service just doesn't cut it.

From your recommendation, I keyed "learn Java" and "Java tutorial" into google and got alot of "stuff". Before, I was just keying "java online course" - which led me to much pricier offerings. I've also decided to avoid instructor-led courses - I feel that they just go too slow. I found a newbie java course that's interactive using flash with audio for $25 at www.joegrip.com. Using Flash seems like a fun way to learn - compared to dry books. I told them to develop some more advanced courses in Java.

:-) Go back to phptriad and download the module (get the latest version). Once you have downloaded it, simply double click the file and watch as apache, mysql and php are installed onto your computer. Then go to your start menu and start apache and mysql, then type in http://localhost and you are ready to rock. You just need to copy php files into c:\apache\htdocs. Cool

I know that it is scary when you get laid off, and looking at the job columns for jobs is understandable. However if you don't currently know a server-side language or any SQL (structured query language, used by all databases), then you need to start somewhere. I think that starting with MySQL and PHP is a really good point, because there is more tutorials and support available for you (among other reasons). I don't use MySQL anymore because Postgre is just so much better, however it was a really good starting point. I developed a web service as a community project using MYSQL/PHP (www.mrc.org.nz) and it was a great learning experience. Once you have the basics down, learning ASP is no problem (although I personally would never choose ASP ) or MS SQL etc..

The Java tutorials are generally at java.sun.com, but it is so much easier to get started with open source. You'll spend a week reading about classes and objects with Java, without getting any actual development done WIth PHP you can start doing stuff right away, and then read up on classes when you're ready.

Definately don't pay anybody for tutorials and courses because there are heaps out there. Just check out www.devshed.com, see all the tutorials. It is harder without a study program, but if you want that then you should really consider uni. Otherwise take the plunge and have fun, you certainly will enjoy PHP.

Good luck

Thanks for the direction. Yeah, PHP/MySQL sounds like fun (geek fun that is ). And personally, I prefer to go that route over the M$ route. But I'm trying to focus on Java and Javascript and adding more may be counterproductive (to my brain!)


You got that right! The books/classes always start off with so much theory - most of which any programmer is already familiar with- classes, objects, encapsulation, instantiation, yada, yada, yada. The flash class I mentioned above is fun, throwing theory and coding at me at the same time. You can't just read theory - you need something that gets your hands dirty quickly or you lose all the theory.

OT, studying both Java and Javascript at the same time, I've found that their syntax and underlying theory seem stunningly identical (except Java implements things a scripting language wouldn't). Why do I always hear they're unrelated except for in name?

BTW, I may give phptriad a try. Anything that can get those enviroments going for me on Win98SE without intervention on my part would be great!

Well it is up to you, but keep PHP in mind It is isn't just geek fun, IMHO, it is a much better development tool than Java for a variety of reasons, check out my comments in this thread.

Also if you want to be a web developer it is important to work within the n-tier architecture. This means working with a database. There are some good php/mysql or php/postgres tutorials, and this will get you into the idea of working with a database, rather than learning jdbc, after your month of being brain-washed about classes. LL

Either way, good luck. Z.