PHP Academy
An interactive PHP learning platform built around a Windows XP-inspired desktop. Structured lessons, hands-on PHP practice with an in-browser editor, automated test-case evaluation, progressive hints, saved progress, and a built-in PHP reference — covering the language from basics through sessions, cookies, the filesystem, and MySQL.
Challenges
Presenting 13 structured lessons and 18 practice programs through a desktop metaphor without making the learning path harder to navigate.
Evaluating learner-submitted PHP against test cases in a way that returns progressive hints instead of a bare pass or fail.
Persisting learning progress and resume state across sessions while keeping the browser, sessions and cookies, and filesystem exercises self-contained.
Solutions
Built a Windows XP-inspired shell with a start menu, My Computer view, and windows for the learning home, practice, and reference.
Added an interactive PHP editor with automated test-case evaluation that runs the submitted code and reports expected output next to the result.
Organised the material into a 13-lesson track, 18 hands-on programs, and an 80-entry PHP reference searchable by category, plus MySQL / mysqli exercises and a PHP MySQL login system.
