IT programming books related reviews
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Professional Apache (Professional)
Publisher: Wrox Press
Authors: Peter Wainwright
Rating: 5/5
Title: Professional Apache (Professional)
Publisher: Wrox Press
Authors: Peter Wainwright
Rating: 5/5
This book is the best book covering Apache that I have seen, and this is after comparing this to Apache: The Definitive Guide by O'Reilly Press. To be honest, most of the books out there on Apache give a thorough and adequate run-through of the features and use of the Apache Server. What set this book apart for me was its careful attention to the configuration/installation process- one of the most frustrating aspects of running Apache, especially for Linux users. In particular, it explains in-depth the options and methods for adding modules to the Apache server, including fleshing out the different ways of implementing the modules. For example, the author shows how to compile Apache with statically linked modules, to do the same dynamically, and to do a combination of the two. This really hits home when you are trying to run Apache with third-party modules such as mod_perl, PHP, mySQL, and Jakarta, for example. Online documentation and even documentation from other books may describe how to implement these individually, but seldom take into account the scenario where one wants to run many or all of them. I strongly recommend this book, especially if you are a serious linux user who is tired of searching the internet for out-of-context messages on Apache configuration problems.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: MySQL/PHP Database Applications
Publisher: Wiley
Authors: Jay Greenspan, Brad Bulger
Rating: 2/5
Title: MySQL/PHP Database Applications
Publisher: Wiley
Authors: Jay Greenspan, Brad Bulger
Rating: 2/5
If you want to take some code off of a CD and get something up and running in a short period of time, this book is ok, but if that's your purpose you'll find more useful code on the web. If you're looking to learn PHP and MySQL by doing something useful and writing code and such, this isn't the book for you. 85% of the code is written for you in this book, and included on the CD. While you would think this would leave room in the book for thorough coverage of other things, that just isn't the case. The first 7 chapters do little more than introduce a user to MySQL and PHP, and the NINE APPENDICES in back do little more than that. The projects in between are worthy projects for novice PHP programmers I suppose, but I don't imagine you learn much when you're not really writing any of the code! It's all done for you, leaving you to write a few menial blocks that do nothing but call the files that are already written to use those functions - which is nearly useless if you want to learn PHP.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Joe Celko's SQL for Smarties: Advanced SQL Programming (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Data Management Systems)
Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann
Authors: Joe Celko
Rating: 5/5
Title: Joe Celko's SQL for Smarties: Advanced SQL Programming (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Data Management Systems)
Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann
Authors: Joe Celko
Rating: 5/5
Joe Celko is a very interesting author. His approach to teaching by using puzzles gets the mind thinking. He does not keep you guessing too long. I like his sense of humor as well. I consider this book a must-have for all Database Administrators and developers...
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Beginning E-Commerce with Visual Basic, ASP, SQL Server 7.0 and MTS
Publisher: Peer Information
Authors: Matthew Reynolds
Rating: 5/5
Title: Beginning E-Commerce with Visual Basic, ASP, SQL Server 7.0 and MTS
Publisher: Peer Information
Authors: Matthew Reynolds
Rating: 5/5
This is the book for anyone looking for the correct way to develop using the evolving MS DNA model. Certainly you need to take percaution on the "homegrown" VB COM components. Meaning, either host your own site or find an ISP before you hope to deploy. There are ISP's out there who will work with you. The author lays it out step by step on the core components for a solid site. If you are a little confused along the way, just keep going. By the time you are done, you will see the complete project. Once your there, you will understand why this is the best way to develop web applicatons.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: SQL Server 2000 XML Distilled
Publisher: Curlingstone
Authors: Kevin Williams, Bryant Likes, Andrew Novick, Daryl Barnes, Paul Morris, Simon Sabin, Steve Mohr, Andrew Polshaw, Jeni Tennison
Rating: 1/5
Title: SQL Server 2000 XML Distilled
Publisher: Curlingstone
Authors: Kevin Williams, Bryant Likes, Andrew Novick, Daryl Barnes, Paul Morris, Simon Sabin, Steve Mohr, Andrew Polshaw, Jeni Tennison
Rating: 1/5
This book is technically competent, but goes right past the two most important factors; if you are developing XML, then you will probably be using Java, and that if you are developing applications (even with XML) on SQL server, then you are probably using COM+. Sorry.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Secure PHP Development: Building 50 Practical Applications
Publisher: Wiley
Authors: Mohammed J. Kabir, Mohammed J. Kabir
Rating: 1/5
Title: Secure PHP Development: Building 50 Practical Applications
Publisher: Wiley
Authors: Mohammed J. Kabir, Mohammed J. Kabir
Rating: 1/5
Like other reviewers, I bought this book with high hopes, only to end up feeling victimized. At least 2/3 of the book is simply a print-out of the source code contained in the accompanying CD--no elaboration, no value-added. I might be fine with that, if the source were of any value, but it's riddled with errors: I counted 47 show-stoppers in the first 100 pages of printouts, then quit counting. It is literally impossible that the author ever tested this source as it is--not only are entire files missing from the CD, but there are misnamed variables and other bugs that prevent even the most basic parts of his 'framework' from ever running. The author's website (Evoknow) claims to have updated source, but the link to it is broken.The source also contains plenty of hints that nobody copy-edited before printing (my favorite: a comment in a main application class--faithfully reprinted in the book's text--that asks "Asif, what is this function doing here?" For the record, I don't know what it's doing there either, Asif.). Some listings are printed twice, one instance running right into the next; other bad/good coding-practice comparisons make it difficult to tell whether you're looking at the bad or the good. Possibly the worst job of copy editing I've ever seen in any book--and regrettably, I read a lot of badly edited books. I'll never buy another book by this author, and my trust in Wiley has been seriously damaged as well.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Advanced Transact-SQL for SQL Server 2000
Publisher: Apress
Authors: Itzik Ben-Gan, Tom Moreau
Rating: 5/5
Title: Advanced Transact-SQL for SQL Server 2000
Publisher: Apress
Authors: Itzik Ben-Gan, Tom Moreau
Rating: 5/5
This is the most reliable and advanced source of information about TSQL for me. I love this book. It's examples are crisp, clear and very practical. Great job!
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Microsoft SQL Server 7 for Dummies
Publisher: For Dummies
Authors: Anthony T. Mann
Rating: 5/5
Title: Microsoft SQL Server 7 for Dummies
Publisher: For Dummies
Authors: Anthony T. Mann
Rating: 5/5
I had to get the basics down for SQL Server fast, in order to prepare for a roundtable of the 3 different major databases (DB2, Oracle, and SQL Server). I found this book to be an excellent introduction to this product. The book provided quick and understandable examples to some very complex database concepts and objects. I recommend this book for anyone that is interested in learning the basics of SQL Server.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: How to Do Everything with Google
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
Authors: Fritz Schneider, Nancy Blachman, Eric Fredricksen, Fritz Schneider, Nancy Blachman, Eric Fredricksen
Rating: 5/5
Title: How to Do Everything with Google
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
Authors: Fritz Schneider, Nancy Blachman, Eric Fredricksen, Fritz Schneider, Nancy Blachman, Eric Fredricksen
Rating: 5/5
Much more than a guide to a user interface, this book increases your internet savvy. Just a few examples: (1) Learn how to browse newsgroups to find the one best suited to your interest; (2) Learn about phonebook and financial information searches; (3) Do unit conversions instantly with Google's calculator. More than anything, this book will make you a more comfortable web searcher. One reading of it is worth hours of experimentation. Go directly to the internet fast lane!
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Instant SQL Server 2000 Applications
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
Authors: Greg Buczek
Rating: 5/5
Title: Instant SQL Server 2000 Applications
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
Authors: Greg Buczek
Rating: 5/5
I now posess five (5) of Mr. Buczek's books. In this book, as in all the rest, it remains evident that Greg has a genuine concern that the reader learn from his printed material and urges further learning by manipulating solutions that he has presented. Chapter 1 does a great job of reviewing the basics of working with SQL Server and the SQL Server Enterprise Manager. As a programmer, I have designed an application using VB as the front end to SQL Server. Chapter 3 provided invaluable information.I found the Solutions provided by Mr. Buczek as real-world, and code examples were easily transposed to meet my programming needs. The Visual Basic Quick Reference in Appendix A and the T-SQL Language Reference in Appendix B are more than worth the price of this book. I will be eagerly waiting for the next release from Mr. Buczek.
