Title: Learning environment for PHP Functions and Loop
Last modified: August 21, 2016

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# Learning environment for PHP Functions and Loop

 *  Resolved [paulbbird](https://wordpress.org/support/users/paulbbird/)
 * (@paulbbird)
 * [13 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/learning-environment-for-php-functions-and-loop/)
 * Hi
 * I am a bit past the newbie stage, and have got my first site up and running and
   generally making progress with WP.
 * I have also set up WAMP server and can access my test site OK, and can get to
   my MySql console fine.
 * I am now learning about the Loop and basic functions, (using the codex and web
   articles) When I want to test out a bit of code I am doing the following:
 * 1: I have copied a theme template in my test theme folder to experiment on
    2:
   I am typing the code snippets into the template using my Text editor (sublime
   2) 3: I save the theme and then preview the post or page in my test WP site to
   see what effect the code changes have made.
 * Is this the best way to develop / test (and learn)?
    Or should I be using something
   else – say console based approach or other tools? How do developers set things
   up?
 * Thanks P

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [13 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/learning-environment-for-php-functions-and-loop/#post-3693548)
 * Generally speaking, yes – that’s exactly the best way to proceed. Is this theme
   your own custom theme or one you downloaded from elsewhere?
 *  Moderator [keesiemeijer](https://wordpress.org/support/users/keesiemeijer/)
 * (@keesiemeijer)
 * [13 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/learning-environment-for-php-functions-and-loop/#post-3693558)
 * Always develop on your local server. If you’re just testing code this is the 
   way to do it (develop / test (and learn)).
    Maybe creating a [child theme](http://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes)
   instead of editing your theme directly would be better.
 * If you are developing a plugin or theme (or something else) I would use some 
   kind of version control:
    [http://betterexplained.com/articles/a-visual-guide-to-version-control/](http://betterexplained.com/articles/a-visual-guide-to-version-control/)
   A popular one is github: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GitHub](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GitHub)
   [https://github.com/](https://github.com/)
 * Here is a good tutorial for setting up sublime 2 for php:
    [http://blog.stuartherbert.com/php/2012/02/28/setting-up-sublime-text-2-for-php-development/](http://blog.stuartherbert.com/php/2012/02/28/setting-up-sublime-text-2-for-php-development/)
 * Another tip is just to look into the code of WordPress and see how everything
   is working (never edit it).
 *  Thread Starter [paulbbird](https://wordpress.org/support/users/paulbbird/)
 * (@paulbbird)
 * [13 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/learning-environment-for-php-functions-and-loop/#post-3693608)
 * Hello guys
 * Thanks for the feedback which I really appreciate.
 * The theme I am using for my learning experience is a premium theme (the same 
   I am using on my live site)
 * I am mainly trying to learn how to display my content in different ways and so
   loop and functions are my current focus (rather than theme development itself)
 * One example of the stuff that confuses me is this. One book I am reading (Professional
   WP Plugin development by Brad Williams) says stuff like this:
 * Check out which custom plugins are registered in your WP site by running this:
   CODE SNIPPET
 * I understand the code snippet fine – but where do I run it in order to get the
   output? Should I be in some sort of console mode?
 * Thanks P
 *  Moderator [keesiemeijer](https://wordpress.org/support/users/keesiemeijer/)
 * (@keesiemeijer)
 * [13 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/learning-environment-for-php-functions-and-loop/#post-3693663)
 * Can you post the code snippet?
    Without having access to the book it’s difficult
   to know where the snippet should go. Probably somewhere in your plugin (as it’s
   about plugin development) or maybe in your theme’s functions.php file. [http://codex.wordpress.org/Functions_File_Explained](http://codex.wordpress.org/Functions_File_Explained)
 * If you want to see what’s stored inside a variable you can just echo it:
 *     ```
       <?php
       $var = some_function();
       echo $var;
       ?>
       ```
   
 * If $var is an array it will echo:
 *     ```
       Array
       ```
   
 * To see what is in an array you can use:
 *     ```
       <?php
       $var = some_function();
       echo '<pre>';
       print_r($var);
       echo '</pre>';
       ?>
       ```
   
 * Be aware that printing out a variable can sometimes break your site (but your
   developing on a local host so you’re okay).
 *  Thread Starter [paulbbird](https://wordpress.org/support/users/paulbbird/)
 * (@paulbbird)
 * [13 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/learning-environment-for-php-functions-and-loop/#post-3693694)
 * Hi Keesiemeijer
 * Really appreciate your help and links so far.
 * Here is an example of the things that are confusing me. I can understand the 
   code OK, but where to run it?
 * Heres the example from the book:
    To return a list of all registered post types
   in WordPress, you’ll use the get_post_types() function. <? php get_post_types(
   $ args, $ output, $ operator ); ?>
 * Williams, Brad; Damstra, David; Stern, Hal (2012-12-17). Professional WordPress:
   Design and Development (Kindle Locations 3437-3439). Wrox. Kindle Edition.
 * Paul
 *  Moderator [keesiemeijer](https://wordpress.org/support/users/keesiemeijer/)
 * (@keesiemeijer)
 * [13 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/learning-environment-for-php-functions-and-loop/#post-3693700)
 * Look at the codex page for that function:
    [http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/get_post_types](http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/get_post_types)
 * Look at the parameters section. It tells you what parameters are optional or 
   required. None of the parameters are required for this function. This means you
   can use the function without any of the parameters (it will use the default values):
 *     ```
       $var = get_post_types();
       ```
   
 * If you do provide parameters (other than the default) the returned results will
   change. Try and use the examples from the codex page (or from your book) in the
   copied theme template and see the difference.
 * Let’s take a look at another function:
    [http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/get_category](http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/get_category)
   If you look at the parameters you see that that $category is a required parameter.
   This means it doesn’t return a value (or some functions throw an error) if you
   use it without the required parameter:
 *     ```
       // without the ID parameter
       $var = get_category();
       ```
   
 * By reading the codex you now now it needs a category ID:
 *     ```
       $var = get_category(22);
       ```
   
 * Most codex functions pages in the codex also provide the return values of a function.
 * > OK, but where to run it?
 * That depends on the function but generally you can use the functions on all your
   theme template files or plugin files. Be aware that returned results may differ
   on what template file you are using it. (e.g. [is_category()](http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/is_category)
   will only return true on a category request (page))
 * Just try and test functions that return something with the examples to print 
   out a variable above.
 *  Thread Starter [paulbbird](https://wordpress.org/support/users/paulbbird/)
 * (@paulbbird)
 * [13 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/learning-environment-for-php-functions-and-loop/#post-3693748)
 * Keesiemeijer
 * Thanks for all your help. You have really tried to point me in the right direction
   which is appreciated
 * Thanks
    Paul

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

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 * In: [Everything else WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/miscellaneous/)
 * 7 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [paulbbird](https://wordpress.org/support/users/paulbbird/)
 * Last activity: [13 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/learning-environment-for-php-functions-and-loop/#post-3693748)
 * Status: resolved

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