PHP - Learn The Language vs Learn The Framework
I've read tens, perhaps hundreds of blog posts and forum postings extolling the virtues of this or that PHP framework, when to use a framework, and also whether to use a framework at all. All of which leaves me slightly dazed and confused.

I have an OO background and an improving PHP toolset, so I'm keen to get up to speed with PHP's OO concepts and all that Web-flavoured-app goodness. However, I'm also somewhat spoiled with the existence and sheer availablity of the plethora of PHP frameworks, which allows one to dive straight into the deep end without fully learning to swim.

I'm itching to jump in, but I'm also aware of my [current] knowledge gap so I'm holding back until I think I'm 'ready'. Perversely I 'almost' regret that there exists all of these fantastic tempting free/open projects just waiting to be downloaded and consumed ('code porn' almost!) which do not necessarily demand that I understand how everything works.

This may then be too broad a question, but which key aspects of PHP should one know and understand before even considering looking at a framework?
PHP - Learn The Language vs Learn The Framework
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I've read tens, perhaps hundreds of blog posts and forum postings extolling the virtues of this or that PHP framework, when to use a framework, and also whether to use a framework at all. All of which leaves me slightly dazed and confused.

I have an OO background and an improving PHP toolset, so I'm keen to get up to speed with PHP's OO concepts and all that Web-flavoured-app goodness. However, I'm also somewhat spoiled with the existence and sheer availablity of the plethora of PHP frameworks, which allows one to dive straight into the deep end without fully learning to swim.

I'm itching to jump in, but I'm also aware of my [current] knowledge gap so I'm holding back until I think I'm 'ready'. Perversely I 'almost' regret that there exists all of these fantastic tempting free/open projects just waiting to be downloaded and consumed ('code porn' almost!) which do not necessarily demand that I understand how everything works.

This may then be too broad a question, but which key aspects of PHP should one know and understand before even considering looking at a framework?