I'm kinda new to programming but I've got an idea for a simple project that I'd like to try. I'm looking at creating a webpage that can read & write to a database-- not too unusual.

I'm just wondering what you fine folks would suggest I use to build such a project. I'm thinking of using PHP/mySQL, but I've also thought about trying to use MS Access. I've been looking around on google too, but any other information/suggestions/link to tutorials would be awesome.

thanks
-Kyle

i would stick with your first suggestion PHP/MySQL.

there is plenty of docs- to be found here
www.phpbuilder.com, www.php.net, www.mysql.com

i would only touch ms access if forced at gunpoint, but thats just me :)

You could use Perl instead of PHP for better manipulation/security, although PHP would be easier (apparently).
You also don't necessarily have to use mySQL for a Database if say you only have one or two inputs to store, your better off using DB files.

Whatever you choose you should probably have a hardcopy book for the language and one for the database. (I have a Perl and SQL book I use, the SQL one covers most SQL types like mSQL or mySQL or pure SQL)

PHP/Mysql all the way. PHP is such a great language to learn (it's expanding so rapidly lately) and it's so easy. PLUS...if you were to buy a book almost all PHP books contain mysql instructions on how to linup to the database. PLUS...the online documentation for php is crazy! Check http://www.php.net click documentation at the top, click English, have fun.

Oh, and you'll also need apache (or IIS) and mysql...but they aren't as exciting.

Yeah. PHP/MySQL is probably a better skill to have anyway.

My personal favorite is JSCRIPT and personally I don’t care which database is used. JSCRIPT allows the client and server side scripting to be in the same language. Not that it would make much difference.
I don’t know which is faster PHP or JSCRIPT. If PHP were significantly faster I would change to PHP but if I really needed speed it would be back to C++. Interpreted languages will always be slow.

JSCRIPT is only of use if your running it on a Microsoft System though, since it's their concoction of what they felt "Javascript" should be like.

But why use JSCRIPT when VBScript can do the same things?

VBScript will do the same things. It comes down to a matter of syntax and which one people prefer to use. Right click on this page and have a look at the source. Even though they are using PHP the client pages are littered with JSCRIPT. The server pages must look like a mess. It must burn them up to have to use JSCRIPT.

since it's their concoction of what they felt "Javascript" should be like. This is why I like Microsoft. Change is good and the faster the change the better. ECMA standards just don’t cut it and Microsoft is forced to add non-complient standards because of these inadequacies. ECMA standards have no error handling, no conditional compilation, and not even an Identity operator, plus many more. These thing are hard to live without.