IT programming books related reviews
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Core PHP Programming: Using PHP to Build Dynamic Web Sites (2nd Edition)
Publisher: Pearson Education
Authors: Leon Atkinson
Rating: 5/5
Title: Core PHP Programming: Using PHP to Build Dynamic Web Sites (2nd Edition)
Publisher: Pearson Education
Authors: Leon Atkinson
Rating: 5/5
I was fairly warned by Amazon reviewers that this book issimply a print version of the PHP functions found on [the internet], but I went ahead and bought it anyway. I figured that the author must have added something to the online documentation. As it turns out, the author's additions consist mostly of typos and grammatical errors. I wouldn't mind it so much if Atkinson had at least added a useful topical index. Instead, the index is largely a listing a PHP's functions. Why bother? Considering PHP's power and elegance, I wouldn't be surprised if Core PHP Programming turns out to be an act of sabotage hatched by the Microsoft folks. Fortunately, the language not only survived this attack, but has flourished.
Product: Book Hardcover
Title: Inside Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (With CD-ROM)
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Authors: Kalen Delaney
Rating: 2/5
Title: Inside Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (With CD-ROM)
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Authors: Kalen Delaney
Rating: 2/5
There's nothing terribly wrong with the book, it's just not what I was expecting. I have some of the other Inside books and this one just doesn't live up to them. It's not the comprehensive reference I was expecting. It doesn't cover about half the topics I was interested in, so now I have to go buy another book. That doesn't make it a bad book, it's just that it really doesn't meet my needs.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Microsoft SQL Server(TM) 2000 Reporting Services Step by Step
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Authors: Hitachi Consulting, Stacia Misner
Rating: 4/5
Title: Microsoft SQL Server(TM) 2000 Reporting Services Step by Step
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Authors: Hitachi Consulting, Stacia Misner
Rating: 4/5
Initially, I was disappointed by the fact that key files for the book's examples were not available on the accompanying CD.
Within a week, Microsoft posted a download link for the outstanding files. Most pleasant.
In keeping with SQL Server Analysis Services Step-by-Step and DTS Step-by-Step, this book is a fantastic way to pick up the necessary skills to work with Reporting Services. Like the other Step-by-Steps, this book takes a very practical approach to teaching the subject matter. For those of us with a backgound in .NET development, the CD contains 3 additional bonus chapters neat topics on (among other things) extending and customizing Reporting Services for our appplications.
Like I said in an earlier review for DTS Step-by-Step, I hope Microsoft keeps up this great trend going forward with publications covering SQL Server 2005.
ACD (MCDBA)
Product: Book Paperback
Title: PHP and MySQL Web Development
Publisher: Sams
Authors: Luke Welling, Laura Thomson
Rating: 5/5
Title: PHP and MySQL Web Development
Publisher: Sams
Authors: Luke Welling, Laura Thomson
Rating: 5/5
I am a complete programming novice (but experienced web designer) and this book is getting me up to speed on dynamic web development with PHP/MySQL. It gives you enough of the programming basics without any fluff! It also gives real world examples and not just lists of functions and reference material. This should be your first book if you want to learn this great open source way to database driven scripted sites. A full-on recommendation!
Product: Book Paperback
Title: SQL Server 7 Essential Reference
Publisher: Sams
Authors: Sharon Dooley
Rating: 5/5
Title: SQL Server 7 Essential Reference
Publisher: Sams
Authors: Sharon Dooley
Rating: 5/5
Sharon Dooley does a fantastic job in the reference book. This book is the expert sitting in the chair next to you when you have a DBA task to do and you need help. If you're new to SQL Server, this guide isn't for you YET. Sharon Dooley covers the how, the why, and the when. She assumes you already know the what, so learn the "what", and then you'll LOVE this book for many crises to come.-MCSD from the NW
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Apache: the Definitive Guide (With CD-ROM)
Publisher: O'Reilly
Authors: Ben Laurie, Peter Laurie
Rating: 4/5
Title: Apache: the Definitive Guide (With CD-ROM)
Publisher: O'Reilly
Authors: Ben Laurie, Peter Laurie
Rating: 4/5
This book serves as a good introduction to the Apache server, detailing in the first chapter what Apache is and how it works with UNIX/Linux, etc. Further chapters explain setting up Apache, working with such topics as CGI, Authentication, Redirection, Proxy Servers, Server-Side Includes, Security and Writing Apache Modules.Most chapters also have specific reference information for each topic included. The tutorial approach makes it easier for sys admins and programmers to learn how to install and maintain an Apache server. The examples of the butterhlies company make the concepts a little easier to follow. I acquired this book to familiarize myself with Apache and after reading this book I have a better understanding of it. The book is geared more towards Unix/Linux than Windows however.This book is a nice training and reference source.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: The Guru's Guide to Transact-SQL
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Authors: Ken Henderson
Rating: 5/5
Title: The Guru's Guide to Transact-SQL
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Authors: Ken Henderson
Rating: 5/5
Rather than five stars I wish I could give this book 50 stars!!! It has literally changed the way I work. I had no clue that T-SQL was this powerful. Until I read this book I was under the impression that Oracle's PL/SQL was far more powerful than T-SQL. Not anymore. Mr. Henderson has convinced me that T-SQL is vastly more powerful and that there's very little I can't do with SQL Server. Thank you for writing such a readable, comprehensive tome. You've made a real DBA of me.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Microsoft SQL Server 2000 DBA Survival Guide, Second Edition
Publisher: Sams
Authors: Mark Spenik, Orryn Sledge
Rating: 4/5
Title: Microsoft SQL Server 2000 DBA Survival Guide, Second Edition
Publisher: Sams
Authors: Mark Spenik, Orryn Sledge
Rating: 4/5
This is a huge book with lots of information. I liked the presentation and the author knows what he is talking about on a very large subject.My only complaint is that I wish the author had written more from a tips and tricks style, or added a section like that.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: SQL Queries for Mere Mortals: A Hands-On Guide to Data Manipulation in SQL
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Authors: Michael J. Hernandez, John L. Viescas
Rating: 2/5
Title: SQL Queries for Mere Mortals: A Hands-On Guide to Data Manipulation in SQL
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Authors: Michael J. Hernandez, John L. Viescas
Rating: 2/5
This books is about to change my life. Call me dumb, but after buying 3 other books, I was still at loss how to just sit down and find the things I was looking for in the database. This is the book that opened my eyes. If you're a beginner, start with this book and you'll save yourself money, time, and your boss asking every 5 minutes, why are you taking so long???
Product: Book Paperback
Title: The Practical SQL Handbook: Using Structured Query Language (3rd Edition)
Publisher: Pearson Education
Authors: Judith S. Bowman, Sandra L. Emerson, Marcy Darnovsky
Rating: 5/5
Title: The Practical SQL Handbook: Using Structured Query Language (3rd Edition)
Publisher: Pearson Education
Authors: Judith S. Bowman, Sandra L. Emerson, Marcy Darnovsky
Rating: 5/5
So many authors of technical books know the material, but don't know how to convey it clearly and concisely to others. These authors do. I highly recommend this book.
