Create a PHP Application | PHP MVC Project Tutorial

The transcript outlines a comprehensive tutorial on building an assignment tracker using PHP, MySQL, and the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture. The application allows users to categorize assignments by course, view assignments per course, and manage courses and assignments through a mobile-first design. The tutorial covers setting up the database with tables for assignments and courses, implementing PHP logic for CRUD operations, and creating a responsive front-end using HTML, CSS, and Sass. It emphasizes error handling, user interaction, and styling for a seamless user experience. The tutorial is detailed, providing step-by-step guidance for developers.

• The assignment tracker application categorizes assignments by course name, allowing users to filter assignments by specific courses or view all assignments simultaneously.
• Users can add assignments by selecting a course name from a dropdown menu and typing in the assignment details.
• The application is designed for both desktop and mobile views, with a mobile-first approach ensuring usability on smaller screens.
• The main focus of the session is on the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture and PHP logic behind the application.

"Today we're going to build an assignments tracker and the assignments have categories. They're categorized by the course name."

• The assignment tracker is structured to organize tasks based on course categories, enhancing organization and searchability.

"This assignment tracker is also available in a mobile view and actually design for mobile first."

• The design prioritizes mobile usability, ensuring the application functions effectively on smaller screens.

• The database setup involves creating a new database named assignment_tracker, with two tables: assignments and courses.
• The assignments table includes columns for id, description, and course_id, with course_id serving as a foreign key linked to the courses table.
• The courses table includes columns for course_id and course_name.

"Let's add the database name. We'll call this assignment_tracker and I'll click create."

• The database is established with a focus on tracking assignments, indicating the application's primary function.

"In the assignments table, course id will be a foreign key."

• The use of a foreign key establishes a relationship between assignments and courses, allowing for relational data management.

• The application employs the MVC architecture, with separate folders for the model, view, and controller components.
• The index.php file serves as the controller, coordinating interactions between the model and view.
• The database.php file in the model folder establishes a connection to the database using PHP Data Objects (PDO).

"Let's start with Visual Studio Code and start building the MVC project for our assignment tracker."

• The MVC architecture is chosen to separate concerns and enhance maintainability and scalability.

"In the model folder, the first file I'm going to create is the database.php file, and it's going to create a connection to the database."

• Establishing a database connection is crucial for enabling data manipulation and retrieval within the application.

• Error handling is implemented using a try-catch block to manage database connection errors.
• The error handling mechanism includes an error.php file that displays error messages and provides a link to return to the main list.
• The user interface is structured with a header and footer, and a main content area styled with CSS.

"We'll catch a PDO exception and we'll just call that e. You could call it error the full word if you wanted to."

• The application incorporates error handling to ensure robust performance and user feedback in case of issues.

"Between the header and footer, we'll have the rest of our template for our error page."

• The user interface is designed to provide a consistent and structured layout, improving user experience.

• Functions are created in the assignments_db.php file to interact with the assignments table, including fetching, adding, and deleting assignments.
• The get_assignments_by_course function retrieves assignments based on a specified course ID or all assignments if no ID is provided.
• The delete_assignment and add_assignment functions manage the removal and addition of assignments in the database.

"The first function is the one that we will use the most. It will be the default for loading all of the assignments that we view."

• The function for retrieving assignments is central to the application's functionality, enabling data display based on user queries.

"We'll create a delete function and eventually an add function which will create an assignment."

• Functions for adding and deleting assignments facilitate dynamic data management, allowing users to update their assignment lists.

• Functions are also created for interacting with the courses table, such as retrieving all courses.
• The get_courses function retrieves all courses from the database, ordered by course ID.

"We'll start this file with PHP and then we'll say function get_courses. No parameter, we just want to get all the courses."

• Retrieving course data is essential for populating dropdown menus and facilitating assignment categorization.

• Get Courses Function:

  • Prepares a query to fetch all courses.

  • Executes the query and fetches all results.

  • Returns the list of courses after closing the cursor.

  "We fetch all but we want this to say courses, we close the cursor and we return the courses."

  • Highlights the process of fetching all courses and returning the results.

• Get Course Name Function:

  • Checks if the course ID is valid; returns "all courses" if not.

  • Modifies the query to select the course name based on the course ID.

  • Binds the course ID parameter and executes the query.

  • Fetches and returns the course name.

  "If the course id doesn't exist, if it's false or null, we're going to return the string all courses."

  • Explains the condition for returning all courses when no valid course ID is provided.

  "Course underscore name is going to equal course and then course name and we'll return the course name."

  • Describes how the course name is fetched and returned.

• Delete Course Function:

  • Requires a course ID to delete a course.

  • Prepares and executes a delete query using the course ID.

  • No return value as the function is purely for deletion.

  "We're just deleting that one course so that is the end of that function."

  • Indicates the purpose of the function as deleting a course.

• Add Course Function:

  • Takes a course name parameter to add a new course.

  • Prepares an insert query with the course name.

  • Binds and executes the query to add the course.

  "Insert into courses and then we need just a little bit different, we'll say course name which is the value."

  • Details the insertion process for adding a new course.

• Controller Initialization:

  • Requires necessary files from the model folder.

  • Sets up data handling for assignment IDs, descriptions, and course names.

  • Handles both POST and GET requests for course IDs.

  "We have to start out by requiring what we need from the model so we'll look to the model folder."

  • Describes the initial setup of the controller by requiring necessary files.

  "The action variable and the action is what's actually going to help us pick the different routes."

  • Explains the role of the action variable in routing requests.

• Handling Actions and Routing:

  • Defines default action to list assignments.

  • Uses a switch statement to handle different routes based on the action variable.

  • Prepares data for views, including course names and assignments.

  "The default action is going to be to list the assignments on the page."

  • Clarifies the default action for the controller.

  "As we take different routes throughout our controller, we're going to need different data to send to our templates."

  • Highlights the need for preparing data for different views.

• Assignment List Template:

  • Starts with including header and footer files.

  • Sets up a section with a header and form for selecting courses.

  • Uses a dropdown menu for course selection and a "Go" button for submission.

  "We'll start out with a section element, let's give this an id equal to list and a class equal to list."

  • Describes the initial setup of the assignment list section.

  "We also want a form at the top of this application where users can select from a drop menu."

  • Explains the purpose of the dropdown menu for course selection.

• Displaying Assignments:

  • Checks for assignments and loops through them to display.

  • Includes options to delete assignments via a form.

  • Provides messages when no assignments are available.

  "If there are assignments, we want to loop through those so I'll say assignments as assignment."

  • Details the process of looping through and displaying assignments.

  "No assignments exist for this course yet."

  • Provides the message displayed when no assignments are found for a course.

• Form and Button Setup:

  • Uses hidden inputs to control routing through the controller.

  • Includes a button with a delete symbol for removing assignments.

  "This class will be equal to a remove dash button and I'm going to paste in a little emojipedia cancel delete sign."

  • Describes the setup of the delete button in the assignment list.

• The application begins with a setup that checks for existing course IDs and assignments.
• A message is displayed if no assignments exist, indicating readiness for future additions.

"We've got the reply no assignments exist yet, and that is because we don't have any course ids."

• Explanation: This quote highlights the initial state of the application where no assignments are present due to a lack of course IDs.

• Introduction of an "Add Assignment" form with specific HTML structure.
• The form includes elements like a select menu for courses and input fields for assignment details.
• The form ensures required fields are filled before submission.

"We'll start a form and this action is once again going to just go to the root for the controller, the method will be equal to post."

• Explanation: This quote explains the form structure and the HTTP method used for submitting assignment data.

• Creation of a course list page to display and manage courses.
• The page includes PHP logic to handle the presence or absence of courses.
• Features for adding and removing courses are implemented.

"If we don't have courses, we're just going to say no courses exist yet."

• Explanation: This quote describes the conditional logic to handle scenarios where no courses are available.

• The controller handles various actions like listing courses, adding courses, and deleting assignments.
• It includes error handling for operations like deleting courses with existing assignments.

"The first route we'll add is a case, and then we'll say list_courses."

• Explanation: This quote outlines the addition of routing logic for handling different actions within the application.

• Implementation of error messages for invalid operations, such as missing data during assignment addition.
• Use of try-catch blocks to manage exceptions, especially for database-related errors.

"If we tried to delete a course that had assignments attached to it, we would get an error."

• Explanation: This quote highlights the use of error handling to prevent issues arising from database constraints.

• Introduction of basic styling using SASS for a more aesthetic application interface.
• Use of partials for organizing SASS files and a live SASS compiler for real-time updates.

"We're going to first look at the extensions if you don't have live SAS compiler that is what I recommend to use."

• Explanation: This quote suggests tools and techniques for enhancing the visual presentation of the application through SASS.

• SASS files should begin with an underscore to indicate they are partials, which is necessary for SASS to recognize and import them correctly.
• The files created include _colors.scss, _mixins.scss, _base.scss, _list.scss, and _ad.scss.

"You don't have to use the underscore in the import, but you need to name the file with an underscore to indicate to SASS it's a partial."

• Explanation: The underscore is a naming convention in SASS that signals the file is a partial, meaning it should be included in other SASS files rather than compiled on its own.

• Configure the Live SASS Compiler in Visual Studio Code by adjusting settings for the save path and the format of the compiled CSS.
• The CSS is minified and saved in a specified directory, typically view/css.

"When Live SASS Compiler generates or compiles my CSS, it minifies it and then it saves it in the view folder and then in the CSS folder."

• Explanation: The Live SASS Compiler automatically compiles SASS into minified CSS, which is a compressed format that reduces file size.

• SASS allows for the creation of color variables, which can be reused throughout the application to maintain consistency.
• Examples include fontColor, inverseFontColor, and borderColor.

"I've created these different variables to use as I create the styles throughout the application."

• Explanation: Using variables in SASS helps manage and apply consistent styling across an application, making it easier to update colors in one place.

• Mixins in SASS help avoid repetitive code by allowing you to define styles that can be reused with a single line.
• Examples include flexCenter and flexStart, which manage flexbox properties.

"Mixins are unique to SASS and they definitely help out because then you can avoid typing things that are repetitive over and over again."

• Explanation: Mixins encapsulate styles that are used frequently, improving code efficiency and readability.

• The base file sets foundational styles such as CSS resets, font settings, and basic layout properties.
• A CSS reset typically includes setting margin and padding to zero and using box-sizing: border-box.

"The base file is where you really set out the foundation for your page."

• Explanation: The base file establishes the default styles and layout parameters that other styles will build upon.

• Media queries are used to apply styles conditionally based on screen size, allowing for responsive design.
• SASS mixins can simplify media queries for easier reuse throughout the stylesheet.

"It's also very handy to use mixins on your media queries."

• Explanation: Media queries enable responsive design by applying styles based on the device's characteristics, such as width.

• Styles for lists include managing width, height, overflow, and layout, often using flexbox properties.
• Media queries adjust styles for different screen sizes, ensuring usability and aesthetics across devices.

"By defining these list definitions, we should see a lot of changes and both these changes will happen on both the course list and the view and add assignments page."

• Explanation: List styles are crucial for maintaining a consistent look and feel across various components that utilize lists or similar structures.

• Button styles include properties for size, color, and interaction states like hover and focus.
• SASS variables and mixins are used to maintain consistency and simplify the styling process.

"We have a green go button; the rest doesn't look like it changed too much yet."

• Explanation: Consistent button styling enhances user experience by providing visual feedback and maintaining a cohesive design.

• Testing the application is crucial to identify and fix errors, such as typos that may cause functionality issues.
• The process involves checking interactions and ensuring the application behaves as expected across different views and devices.

"It's always good to test the applications out."

• Explanation: Regular testing and debugging help ensure the application functions correctly and provides a smooth user experience.

• The tutorial concludes with a demonstration of the application's functionality and a reminder to focus on daily progress.
• Viewers are encouraged to subscribe for more tutorials and continue learning.

"Remember to keep striving for daily progress instead of perfection."

• Explanation: The conclusion emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and learning in development.