IT programming books related reviews
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: 5/5
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: 5/5
Over the years I have turned to this book often, either for help with creating a query, or for help troubleshooting one. The book is well organized and clearly written. The standard diagram in the appendix has even proved to be useful on many occasions. The only thing I would have liked to see added to the book, would be the authors presentation of further SQL commands, such as INSERT, UPDATE, etc. But then, the title does make it clear this book is specifically for SQL queries.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: MCSE Fast Track: SQL Server 7 Database Design (Covers Exam: 70-029)
Publisher: New Riders Publishing
Authors: Thomas Moore
Rating: 4/5
Title: MCSE Fast Track: SQL Server 7 Database Design (Covers Exam: 70-029)
Publisher: New Riders Publishing
Authors: Thomas Moore
Rating: 4/5
I bought the Readiness Review, thinking it would help me, but the book is worthless. This Fast Track book is basically the same price and a lot better. It is broken down exactly for the exam and is easy reading. Only thing is lacks is a test similator like the Readiness Review has.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Sams Teach Yourself SQL Server 7 in 24 Hours (Teach Yourself -- Hours)
Publisher: Sams
Authors: Matthew Shepker
Rating: 3/5
Title: Sams Teach Yourself SQL Server 7 in 24 Hours (Teach Yourself -- Hours)
Publisher: Sams
Authors: Matthew Shepker
Rating: 3/5
I have a mixed feeling about this book. It does cover the basic operations of getting SQL server up and running. However, it's written in a dry style that's enough to make you fall asleep at times (most of my C++ books don't). Regardless, after reading this book in a few days, you should be able to set up a fully functional SQL server. The author does not cover some essential elements such as good datebase fundamental knowledge (i.e. normalization). It doesn't go over much of the TSQL syntax (you just have to learn by trial and error). The goal of the "learn xyz in 24 hours" book series is distorted. Especially on a large topic such as SQL database software. The problem is that while you can technically learn the material in 24 hours but the way they organized the material is gear toward a short 1 day course. Unfortunately, since the reader would have to realistically spend a few days go through the book and practice anyway, why leave out all the necessary details?It's one of those books you buy and read once and never use again because of its depth (or lack of). If you are new to database design - this is NOT the book to buy. However, if you have some fundamental knowledge of good database design and some experience with database like Access, C++, VB, this book does it job.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Web Application Development with PHP 4.0 (with CD-ROM)
Publisher: Sams
Authors: Tobias Ratschiller, Till Gerken
Rating: 2/5
Title: Web Application Development with PHP 4.0 (with CD-ROM)
Publisher: Sams
Authors: Tobias Ratschiller, Till Gerken
Rating: 2/5
I think the authors totally miss the mark as far as their audience. Studies have shown that most web developers have taught themselves and do not have a computer science background.This book, however, assumes you have that background, and so doesn't explain such concepts that are pervasive throughout the book. Furthermore, for being about PHP4, it doesn't use a lot of its most convenient, new features. For instance, you can now use a Perl-style "foreach" to loop through all elements of an array....instead though, the authors insist on always using C-style for loops. These type of loops still work, and were the only type available in PHP3, but the authors don't seem to have been able to adapt to this but instead fell back on their old computer scientist habits.This might also be evidence of this being a "rush job". It certainly seems to have been edited poorly, perhaps in an effort to rush to market to be one of the first PHP books. For instance, in chapter 2, it is mentioned on THREE seperate pages, that PHP lacks garbage collection. It seems that a lot of "boilerplate" text was not removed before going to production.The book, however, is quite blunt about features of PHP4 that it feels don't measure up (such as objects), and I am impressed by the authors' honesty on this point.In my opinion this book still leaves a gap as far as an intermediate book on PHP 4....perhaps the upcoming "Bible" will be the answer.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Advanced PHP for Flash
Publisher: Wrox Press
Authors: Steve Webster, Matt Rice, Havard Eide, Jacob Hanson, Todd Marks, James Palmer, Kev Sutherland
Rating: 3/5
Title: Advanced PHP for Flash
Publisher: Wrox Press
Authors: Steve Webster, Matt Rice, Havard Eide, Jacob Hanson, Todd Marks, James Palmer, Kev Sutherland
Rating: 3/5
The book is good, but I think it is a little limited because it is a succession of cases, which do not correlate. Yoyr skills may be improved but not your knowledge. It is like learning a formula with the numbers already filled in , but not the formula with its symbols.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Weekend Crash Course
Publisher: Wiley
Authors: Alex Kriegel
Rating: 5/5
Title: Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Weekend Crash Course
Publisher: Wiley
Authors: Alex Kriegel
Rating: 5/5
useful ground-zero stuff for dummies junkies and housewives you could jump-start from here to IT steering committee
Product: Book Paperback
Title: The Guru's Guide to SQL Server Stored Procedures, XML, and HTML (With CD-ROM)
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Authors: Ken Henderson
Rating: 5/5
Title: The Guru's Guide to SQL Server Stored Procedures, XML, and HTML (With CD-ROM)
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Authors: Ken Henderson
Rating: 5/5
With over 700 code samples, this book is literally loaded with good stuff. The SQL XML example code (especially sp_run_xml_proc) alone is worth the cost of the book. The code is top notch and explained by a master. I'm an old programmer at heart, so I love this stuff. I've never seen someone pull off being so code-centric but so in-depth with the explanations and advice. You can definitely tell the author "has been there." That's why he writes stuff like sp_run_xml_proc, ingenious in its simplicity, infinitely useful -- like most of the code in the book. If you want a coder's take on SQL XML, .NET, xprocs, OLE Automation, and, above all, Tsql Stored Procedure programming, this is the book for you.TJDP.S. I just bought his other book, The Guru's Guide to Tsql, and it looks just as good!
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Dreamweaver MX: PHP Web Development
Publisher: Peer Information
Authors: Bruno Mairlot, Gareth Downes-Powell, Tim Green
Rating: 1/5
Title: Dreamweaver MX: PHP Web Development
Publisher: Peer Information
Authors: Bruno Mairlot, Gareth Downes-Powell, Tim Green
Rating: 1/5
This book is a must-have for anyone who wants to use the PHP_MySQL server model in Dreamweaver MX. The authors, who are very helpful members of the Dreamweaver user community, have given us something that is useful for new as well as experienced web developers.Those who are new to dynamic web site development and do not have prior PHP knowledge can also easily get up to speed with how best to use PHP and MySQL with Dreamweaver MX.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: The Rational Guide to: SQL Server Reporting Services (Rational Guides)
Publisher: Rational Press
Authors: Anthony T. Mann
Rating: 5/5
Title: The Rational Guide to: SQL Server Reporting Services (Rational Guides)
Publisher: Rational Press
Authors: Anthony T. Mann
Rating: 5/5
The book dispenses with fluff and explains the architecture and important point of reporting services in a concise format. As with most developers you will be able to figure out deeper techical issues via msdn newsgroups and google. After reading the book you will have learnt enough to be productive. Not a page is wasted- Excellent Work that is available at the same time with the product release not 1 year after you need it.-Paritosh Pathak
Product: Book Paperback
Title: SQL/400 by Example
Publisher: 29th Street Press
Authors: James Coolbaugh
Rating: 5/5
Title: SQL/400 by Example
Publisher: 29th Street Press
Authors: James Coolbaugh
Rating: 5/5
This is an excellent book , compact yet brillant with very cleverly illustrated examples
