Basic documentation to get started with modules for a former seasoned coder

[Sergio L]

Hello,

I might need some help to get off to a great start learning how to code PrestaShop modules.

My goals are:

1. To create a test module where I can interact with the database and display properly formatted output on a page.
2. To build a module that can synchronize products with an external API.

A bit of my background: I started coding in HTML in 1999, moved on to PHP in 2002, and built my first full e-commerce software with a shopping cart, back office, shipping, and credit card payments. By 2010, I had to give it up because the code became too messy and full of potential security issues, so I switched to other e-commerce platforms.

Where should I start to refresh the basics? There’s so much out there, and it’s a bit overwhelming. Should I begin with the official guide, or is there something simpler and more structured? YouTube, perhaps?

Would it be okay to ask for clarification here if I run into any doubts?

Regards.

[Sergio L]

I started from here at the moment : 

 

[Paul C]

To be honest I would go for the official developer documentation (it's come a long way in recent times) and also check out the example modules. A lot of content out there is pretty dated and doesn't always adhere to good coding practice (or PrestaShop coding standards).

For the best experience brush up on composer, symfony (4!), twig, smarty and docker.

Also look out for deprecated functions - there are loads that WILL come back to bite you if you use them. A decent IDE should help identify those as you go. I'm currently using VSCode + PHP Intelephense because life's too short.

Best idea is to come up with a learning project - say a module to add a new Admin tab in the back office to manage some arbitrary custom data in your own custom database table and then display that data in the front office. Once you've worked through something like that, then you're 80% of the way there.