Check it out.
I've been trying to accelerate my knowledge of PHP. I've spent more time in classic ASP coding than I probably should have. Now I want to get somewhat proficient in an even more universally accepted and saturated language like PHP.
My first project actually addresses a peeve of mine regarding the Craigslist service. While CL is great and steadfastly traditional in its online presentation and philosophy, it bothered me when I relied on it to help find me a job and apartment that it didn't have the capacity to attach comments directly to each ad. From my point of view if people could exclaim on their experience with a particular ad, I wouldn't have to waste my time responding to and interacting with someone before realizing they were a scam myself. This was a simplistic gripe which I quickly forgot after I got myself somewhat in order in NYC. However, during some web surfing I came across Why Craigslist is Such a Mess and reading it jostled me in recalling my weary time spent avoiding ripoffs and weirdos on Craigslist. I remember that at the time I vowed to tackle the problem (in addition to many other online problems that only an unemployed borderline derlict sitting in a library would take the time to plot against), as soon as I could.
I mentally outlined a system that simply allowed people to somehow check up on the integrity of a Craigslist post before they responded to it. Nothing complicated. The simple database and user interface design needed for something as trivial as a graffiti reporting system seemed like a good candidate for a beginner PHP project, and so, I'm now building CheckThatID.com.
Yay!, fun times.
