To PHP specialists: how to master PHP?

Question

How many years of experience (on average) is for someone who will “master” PHP? What specific projects should he complete in PHP so that he / she can consider himself a good PHP programmer?

Answer 1

You cannot say it at all. Of course, there is time needed to understand the concepts, but you cannot “master” the language, you can be very good at that. There will always be something that you did not know about, you always need to expand your knowledge. Even how long it takes for someone to write code quickly and well, is not set in stone, because everyone learns differently, and some people do not have the ability to understand the code or think in the way that it offers them to write good code quickly.

In general, the programmer himself must know his weaknesses and improve them. Only you can know where you are good and where you are bad, outside of oppinion can help, but there is no definite list of projects that you have to do to be considered “good”.

Answer 2

Oddly enough, the best way to “master” php is to learn a different programming language, just to get a different perspective. Try to make a project or two in python, ruby ​​or groovy. If after that you can return to php, you will become a much better programmer than before.

Answer 3

I affirm that when you are a good programmer, you will find out in which areas you are excellent, in which are good, and in which ones you are just average or not like that.

This ability (and some humility) comes from experience, understanding, learning new methods that from time to time go beyond the limits of one language or platform.

Last but not least, one of the most fruitful ways to teach someone who is standing is actively involved in communities such as SO, where general trading tools and techniques are discussed.

Answer 4

10,000 hours or 10 years. A source:
http://www.norvig.com/21-days.html