IT programming books related reviews
Product: Book Paperback
Title: PHP 5 Objects, Patterns, and Practice
Publisher: Apress
Authors: Matt Zandstra
Rating: 5/5
Title: PHP 5 Objects, Patterns, and Practice
Publisher: Apress
Authors: Matt Zandstra
Rating: 5/5
The author of this book assumes a basic understanding of the PHP language and focuses on how to take advantage of the new features of PHP5. The book includes best practices, tools, and principles on how best to write, document and implement a project.
The three primary divisions of the book follow along with the title and are sequenced as Objects, Patterns, and Practice. The Objects section covers the history of PHP and how it evolved to include a focus on object-oriented programming. This section contains some of the more basic information in the book including the principles behind objects, classes and inheritance. The section on Patterns examines problems of software design and ways to approach and resolve these problems. In this section the reader learns basic design principles that should be implemented on all projects to make them easier to troubleshoot or expand on later. The last section covers the practices and tools that can be used to correctly manage a project. The focus is on managing your code, managing your project, tracking bugs, collaboration between programmers, and making the project easy to install. It includes a section on Concurrent Versions System (CVS) which allows multiple programmers to work on the same code without overwriting each other's work.
Although it assumes some knowledge of PHP programming it does not assume any knowledge of object-oriented programming and that appears to be one of the primary purposes of the book - to take PHP4 programmers and teach them to take advantage of the abilities of PHP5. This is not to say that you can't get a lot of value from the book without prior knowledge of PHP. If you have programmed before and have a basic PHP syntax reference guide available then this book will still be a valuable read. PHP 5 Objects, Patterns, and Practice is highly recommended for PHP programmers making the move to PHP5 and PHP5 programmers that need a handle on best practices.
Product: Book
Title: PHP and MySQL For Dummies, 2nd Edition
Publisher:
Authors: Janet Valade
Rating: 1/5
Title: PHP and MySQL For Dummies, 2nd Edition
Publisher:
Authors: Janet Valade
Rating: 1/5
I had about 6 months of experience with PHP when I decided to get this book. I decided it couldn't hurt, but it did.
Give me a break. She explains If statements on page 166, after explaining multidemensional arrays, MySQL connections, and after using if statements for 165 pages! I knew a lot of PHP before, so I obviously had no problems, but come on... What is this?
First of all, this is not a reference book at all. To actually understand what's going on, you have to read every page of it, instead of looking up something specific. The whole book is completely disorganized. It goes into MySQL in one chapter, lets it go, and comes back where it left off 3 chapters later. The index is extremely messy, and not useful at all. The author puts random code everywhere that you can barely understand, because she uses functions that she doesn't explain for 6 chapters. For example. I have always wondered what putting "@" in front of variable meant. Instead of making a nice section called "Basic PHP syntax" and including this in there, she randomly stuck it in a page where you would never even look.
The MySQL section is worse. Right away, she gives you code examples. About 25 examples of her using SELECT to pull information aout of the server, a few of her editing the data, and a few deleting the data. But.. She forgot one thing. How do we actually create a new table? How do we create a new column? I don't even think the cell types are listed in here, which is one of the most important things to know about MySQL. Nothing is explained, and everything is rushed through.
I bought this book mainly to learn more about:
-MySQL (Failed compeltely. I hate MySQL now. The book told me how to set create a database, and that's it. Now, you're stuck with a database, no table, no columns, and the ability to add values to the table once you figure out how to add columns).
-Patterns (Decent tutorial on patterns, which is a nightmare to find in the book. Not too good, not too bad)
Not only that, but the author gives you a lot of bad advice. She often tells you to use "AND" in complex if statements, when "&&" executes a lot faster, and is what you should use at all times.
A complete waste.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: SQL-99 Complete, Really
Publisher: CMP Books
Authors: Peter Gulutzan, Trudy Pelzer
Rating: 5/5
Title: SQL-99 Complete, Really
Publisher: CMP Books
Authors: Peter Gulutzan, Trudy Pelzer
Rating: 5/5
SQL-99 Complete, Really is a suburb reference for all things standard about relational databases. It should be a required reference for any developer serious about relational databases.Even for those who have just begun to delve into the complexities of database implementation, the clear language of this book explains the vocabulary and structure "under the hood" of database development. It's claim to completeness seems well justified and will not disappoint the technical veteran. It clearly explains the SQL standard, its history, context and usage. There are complete explanations of basic database concepts, the use of SQL and the call-level interface (CLI) that is the basis for ODBC and any number of middleware applications and database engines.In our current forrest of database technologies, Gulutzan and Pelzer have given us the rosetta stone for unraveling and understanding it all. Every developer in SQL, ODBC, or any database claiming to be relational, will find clarity and understanding here. It is a welcome addition to my library and has already improved the quality of database work coming from my company.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Oracle PL/SQL 101
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
Authors: Christopher Allen
Rating: 5/5
Title: Oracle PL/SQL 101
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
Authors: Christopher Allen
Rating: 5/5
The tone is just right [does not waste my time when I am studying to pass an exam by making jokes] and the author even says why I should do something before 'do this' ... just brilliant...
Having the text (scripts upon which the examples are based) I need to type at the beginning of each chapter is great too as you have no idea how many times I have reloaded my operating system and oracle software and then want to go over one or two chapters towards the end of the book.Anyway, its a great book and even relatively bug free too which is awesome and unusual for new Oracle textbooks.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Microsoft SQL Server 2000: A Guide to Enhancements and New Features
Publisher: Pearson Education
Authors: Rahul Sharma
Rating: 5/5
Title: Microsoft SQL Server 2000: A Guide to Enhancements and New Features
Publisher: Pearson Education
Authors: Rahul Sharma
Rating: 5/5
I found this book to be extermely useful for my work. Excellent code snippets in the Advanced DBA section and the T-SQL section. The comparison between Oracle and SS2K was very good as well. We run both Oracle and SQL Server databases in-house and I can now relate to the lingo that our Oracle DBA's talk about.It expects some knowledge of SQL Server so is not for novice users. Overall, a 5 star rating book.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Oracle PL/SQL Programming, Third Edition
Publisher: O'Reilly
Authors: Steven Feuerstein
Rating: 5/5
Title: Oracle PL/SQL Programming, Third Edition
Publisher: O'Reilly
Authors: Steven Feuerstein
Rating: 5/5
If you are serious about PL/SQL, this is the book.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: SQL Server 2000 Stored Procedure Programming
Publisher: Osborne/McGraw-Hill
Authors: Dejan Sunderic, Tom Woodhead
Rating: 5/5
Title: SQL Server 2000 Stored Procedure Programming
Publisher: Osborne/McGraw-Hill
Authors: Dejan Sunderic, Tom Woodhead
Rating: 5/5
I am beginner in SQL and XML. This book as very well written and organized. The code is ease to follow. The Explanation is short and right on target!
Product: Book Paperback
Title: MCDBA SQL Server 7 Test Yourself Practice Exams (Exams 70-028 & 70-029)
Publisher: Osborne Publishing Rating: 2/5
Title: MCDBA SQL Server 7 Test Yourself Practice Exams (Exams 70-028 & 70-029)
Publisher: Osborne Publishing Rating: 2/5
Book is not detail enough to guide both beginner or experience professional to pass the exam. ALL books from Syngress Media for MCSD OR MCSE are bad for the exam... do not get it!!!!
Product: Book Textbook Binding
Title: MCSE : SQL Server 7 Administration: Training Guide : Exam : 70-028 (MCSE
Publisher: New Riders Publishing
Authors: Christoph Wille, Damir Bersinic, Tim Crothers, Brad McGehee, Rob Scrimger
Rating: 3/5
Title: MCSE : SQL Server 7 Administration: Training Guide : Exam : 70-028 (MCSE
Publisher: New Riders Publishing
Authors: Christoph Wille, Damir Bersinic, Tim Crothers, Brad McGehee, Rob Scrimger
Rating: 3/5
As previous reviewers noted, this book concentrates on the Enterprise Manager interface. Some of the instructions are *very* detailed, right down to the "Click OK" level, which makes me worry; nobody who has any business administering a database server should need to be told "Click Next to proceed with the Wizard."This kind of detail wouldn't be so bad, except that other, more useful information, is left out. There's very little attention given to T-SQL, even when using a simple T-SQL statement is much more efficient than working through the Enterprise Manager GUI.And there's an assumption that you're familiar with previous versions of SQL Server (especially 6.5) and with basic database concepts.There are a few too many assumptions for the rank novice, and a bit too much emphasis on the GUI for seasoned pros. However, it's set up in about the same format as the exam, and the questions are worthwhile.When I studied for the exam, I found this book useful as *one* aspect of my study strategy -- but, like other reviewers, I can't imagine passing the exam with this book alone.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Professional SQL Server 2000 Programming
Publisher: Wrox
Authors: Robert Vieira
Rating: 5/5
Title: Professional SQL Server 2000 Programming
Publisher: Wrox
Authors: Robert Vieira
Rating: 5/5
This is a very good book for sql server programmers. Not like the other books where you find lots of cut and paste from BOL. I feel every sql server programmer should reed this book. Lots of insight and very good information on sql server. Only a person who loves sql server can write a book like this. A must read!!
