[miz]

6. all you need is good php editor (if you want free 1 ill recommand crismon editor , paid 1 - defently Zend) and phpmyadmin prolly thr best tool to handle mysql (www.phpmyadmin.net)
and you can start there

5. you can buy some books if you, or if you want for start, download some mini hacks, read them any function you see, search it on php.net learn how its works, also you have free tutrials on net you can do search on google for start

php code is readable and easy and if you allready a coder on other apps its wont problem for you to learn php

wish you luck

MiZ.