Customizing Scripts

Once you know the basics of PHP, you can start tinkering with code you didn't necessarily write. There are lots of sites on the internet that offer free php scripts that you can download and use on your website. Although you may not find exactly what you want, sometimes you can use a script as a base and customize it to fit your needs.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Make sure that the license allows you to edit the software for your needs. General Public License does that but not all free scripts are GPL.
• Always keep a backup of the original working code... or at least the last working version. This way if you mess things up beyond repair (it happens!) it can easily be reverted back.
• Read the readme file and the authors comments in the code. These can be a BIG help if your aren't 100% sure what is going on in parts of the code.
• If you plan to redistribute your changes, make sure that the license allows it, and be sure to leave credit for the original author as well as yourself.