CS 3305-01 Web Programming 2 - AY2025-T4 - Unit 4 (LJ)

In Unit 4 of the CS 3305-01 Web Programming course, advanced PHP programming was explored, focusing on database interaction and dynamic content generation like PDFs and images. The student, Lawrence Kawalya, reflected on the challenges and rewards of integrating PHP with MySQL, gaining insights into backend logic and the importance of secure database interactions. Moving forward, he aims to build a web app to reinforce his skills in CRUD operations and PDF generation.

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CS 3305-01 Web Programming 2 - AY2025-T4 - Unit 4 (LJ)

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Lawrence Kawalya

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Reflective Journal – Unit 4: Advanced PHP Programming

Student Name: Lawrence Kawalya

Course: CS 3305-01 Web Programming 2 – AY2025-T4

Instructor: Naeem Ahmed

Submission Date: 4th May 4, 2025

Summary of Unit Content:

In Unit 4, we explored advanced PHP programming, focusing on how PHP

interacts with databases and how it can be used to generate dynamic outputs like images
and PDF files. The primary topics included: connecting PHP to a MySQL database using
functions like mysql_connect() and mysql_select_db(), issuing queries using
mysql_query(), and manipulating database records. The unit also introduced how PHP
can be used to generate content-rich resources, such as PDF reports or dynamically
created images, which are p...

Reflection:

This unit was both challenging and rewarding. I had previously worked with
databases in other contexts, but integrating PHP with MySQL made me realize how much
more interactive and efficient dynamic websites can be. Writing PHP code to connect to a
database, run a query, and retrieve results gave me a sense of how backend logic powers
the front-end experiences we often take for granted. For instance, displaying user data
from a database using $row['FirstName'] was a simple but powerful revelation.

One thing that stood out to me was how PHP can generate personalized content,
like PDFs and images, depending on user data. This really surprised me and changed my
perception of PHP, from just a web scripting language to a tool that can manage full-scale
document automation and reporting systems. I realized this could be especially useful in
sectors like healthcare, finance, or education, where systems need to output user-specific
information dynamically.

I found the reading from the PHP Manual (Cowburn, 2018) quite informative,
especially the sections that explained the internal workings of the PHP core and function
references. While these readings were technical, they helped me connect the dots between
what I was coding and what was happening behind the scenes. I also reviewed examples
on W3Schools and Tutorialspoint, which clarified function usage and common syntax
pitfalls.

Insights and Growth:

This week taught me to think more holistically about how a web application
handles data, from database retrieval to dynamic content delivery. I gained deeper
confidence in writing functions that interact with databases securely and efficiently. I also
learned the importance of sanitizing inputs and writing efficient SQL queries to avoid
performance issues.

A challenging part was understanding how to format and style dynamically

generated PDFs using PHP. Initially, I thought it would involve exporting HTML
directly, but I learned that libraries like FPDF or TCPDF are necessary. I plan to explore
these libraries further as they seem essential for advanced backend development.

Moving Forward:

As a learner, I’ve realized that I’m becoming more comfortable working on

backend logic, something I used to find intimidating. I’ve also grown in my ability to
debug PHP scripts and understand error messages more clearly, especially those related
to database access. Moving forward, I aim to build a simple web app that includes a
registration form and dynamically displays stored data in a table, just to cement the
CRUD operations and PDF generation skills I've started to acquire.
Reference:
Cowburn, P. (Ed.). (2018). PHP Manual. PHP Documentation Group. Retrieved from
http://php.net/manual/en/index.php