IT programming books related reviews
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
By reading this book I went from not knowing how to spell xml to being able to build complex sqlxml applications. The introductory chapter on xml is the best I've seen. I went from not knowing anything about xml to being able to code xml documents, style sheets, and schemas. I was using style sheets to transform xml into html in no time. The other chapters on the sqlxml features in SQL Server build on this and teach you how to build sophisticated sqlxml-based applications. I especially liked the inclusion of the sp_xml_concat and sp_run_xml_proc stored procedures that work around limitations in the product. By the time I was done with these chapters, I had a good understanding of what was possible with sqlxml and how to use it. I owe that to this book.
Product: Book Hardcover
Title: Microsoft SQL Server 2000(TM) Performance Tuning Technical Reference
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Authors: Edward Whalen, Marcilina Garcia
Rating: 2/5
Title: Microsoft SQL Server 2000(TM) Performance Tuning Technical Reference
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Authors: Edward Whalen, Marcilina Garcia
Rating: 2/5
The `SQL Server 2000 Performance Tuning' provides the reader with an extensive overview of the functionality that MSS2000 has for performance tuning. This book has been written by the manufacturer of MS2000, and has therefore some specific properties a reader has to taken into account. One of them is that every single tuning-feature is mentioned, although their relative impact (hence importance) on performance is not discussed. Another one is the white-book nature of the information presented; very general advice for the entrylevel DBA. For example: in the chapter `Hi-performance Backup and recovery' (it has only 18 pages) is says: "plan full backups for off hours", " use differential backups", "use multiple data files" etc.
This book has the title `Technical Reference' and should be regarded as such. The DBA, working in a company which doesn't consider performance-tuning important enough to dedicate a policy to, who is confronted with a sudden structural diminishing of performance and is to find out where this bottleneck stems from will not benefit from this book. For example, the book dedicates a mere two pages on "interpreting Graphical Execution Plans" and gives only 1 example. For a useful checklist on where to look first when confronted with the so-called `query from hell' one should read other books. But for the novice in tuning, the one who is unfamiliar to concepts like locks, RAID, system monitor, I/O,page vs rowlevel, differential backups, how to log in on queryanalyzer, index tuning wizard, etc this book can serve as an introduction. But once past this introduction, this book has served it's purpose.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Oracle Database 10g PL/SQL Programming
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
Authors: Scott Urman, Michael McLaughlin
Rating: 5/5
Title: Oracle Database 10g PL/SQL Programming
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
Authors: Scott Urman, Michael McLaughlin
Rating: 5/5
SQL developers experienced with non-Oracle databases or Oracle developers who are looking for a good reference manual should definitely pick up a copy of this book. Inexperienced SQL developers will probably get more out of Oracle Press' other excellent book PL/SQL 101.
This book begins exactly the way experienced developers would expect-it starts out at a running pace. The book takes the next hundred-or-so pages just discussing PL/SQL basics. Where this book excels is in its examples. Each and every PL/SQL principle is clearly illustrated with many clear and relevant examples. The author then begins into a discussion of advanced PL/SQL techniques, which includes a discussion of cursors, built-in functions, and records.
The middle section of the book covers management and syntax of Oracle packages and functions. This excellent discussion covers such issues as package scope and permissions. This discussion naturally leads into advanced PL/SQL techniques including transactions, pipes, and various built-in DBMS packages. Finally, the book rounds out its PL/SQL discussions by reviewing use of Large Objects (LOB). In this section, the author discusses use and retrieval of data in this format.
I would highly recommend this book to experienced Oracle or even non-Oracle developers who want to sharpen their PL/SQL skills or who are looking for a really good PL/SQL reference. This is a must-have book for anyone serious about their PL/SQL development work.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: A Guide to SQL, Seventh Edition
Publisher: Course Technology
Authors: Philip J. Pratt
Rating: 2/5
Title: A Guide to SQL, Seventh Edition
Publisher: Course Technology
Authors: Philip J. Pratt
Rating: 2/5
I didn't choose this book, it is required for an SQL class I am taking. In our class we are using Microsoft SQL Server 7, and the book tells you that the code will work on any flavors of SQL (or maybe I misread) but it actually focuses on Oracle. Some commands are really different for MSSQL,which uses Transact-SQL, and I have to do a lot of searching to find the equivalents in Microsoft's version.The book is made for beginners, real beginners. It tells you a little bit about the history of SQL and stuff. Then it starts talking about databases in general, but it never gets really far, it just briefly explains what databases are, and I think people would want more than what is said here.Then it starts with SQL scripting and all the normal chapters.One thing I didn't like, is that in the first chapter it jumps you to the code, before explaining what it does. And it never really explains the code thoroughly. It could use more examples with different situations.One more thing, this is the kind of book that you have to follow the little game. "We are building this database...", it's all been done for you, you never get to design or understand the concepts of designing a database, and doesn't explain a lot about foreign keys and relationships. It tells you "it's a real world database"...but you never really learn anything until you do it on your own.I wouldn't recommend it...
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Apache: the Definitive Guide (With CD-ROM)
Publisher: O'Reilly
Authors: Ben Laurie, Peter Laurie
Rating: 5/5
Title: Apache: the Definitive Guide (With CD-ROM)
Publisher: O'Reilly
Authors: Ben Laurie, Peter Laurie
Rating: 5/5
I could have written this book by struggling through with installing and understanding Apache myself. In fact, by installing Apache and looking through the documentation, I knew most of what was in the book already. There was no unique information here, or unique solutions to real-world problems. I think this book may save you time in an emergency or in general, but beyond that it's a bit dissappointing. I think the publisher said, "O'K', let's get two guys, have them install Apache, and write a book about it." That's just my opinion, though.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: The Guru's Guide to SQL Server Architecture and Internals
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Authors: Ken Henderson
Rating: 5/5
Title: The Guru's Guide to SQL Server Architecture and Internals
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Authors: Ken Henderson
Rating: 5/5
I have collected several SQL server books through the years. The three SQL server books that Ken wrote are the only ones I keep at work.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Lan Times Guide to SQL
Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill Osborne Media
Authors: James R. Groff, Paul N. Weinberg
Rating: 4/5
Title: Lan Times Guide to SQL
Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill Osborne Media
Authors: James R. Groff, Paul N. Weinberg
Rating: 4/5
As an in-depth SQL reference is excellent. I have been studying SQL using this book as the only reference and it's perfect. It's well written, and easy to understand and digest. It even talks about the diferences among Vendors and standards. The only problem is its age: it's a 5-year-old book, and in the evolving computer market, it's a lot. But as an SQL reference: I really recommend it!
Product: Book Paperback
Title: SQL Server 2000 Developer's Guide
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
Authors: Michael Otey, Paul Conte
Rating: 3/5
Title: SQL Server 2000 Developer's Guide
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
Authors: Michael Otey, Paul Conte
Rating: 3/5
First of all, let me say that this book is not meant for End-Users, Administrators or Analysts. It is strictly for Developers and Programmers and does not cover the SQL Server 2000's interface, nor its various tools.This book does contains an in-depth look at SQL Server programming, including Stored Procedures, Cursors, Triggers and ADO. It covers plenty of programming topics and issues, but does not dive into much detail about certain topics that deserve more attention. Also it lacks examples (specifically data output examples) and screen-shots. Other than that, it is a good book to have, but I would not recommend it to novice programmers. I do however, recommend SQL Server 2000 Programming by Example, which covers a narrower range of topics, but in a lot more detail.
Product: Book CD-ROM
Title: Oracle PL/SQL: The Complete Video Course
Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR
Authors: Elena Silvestrova, Benjamin Rosenzweig, Ben Rosenzweig
Rating: 5/5
Title: Oracle PL/SQL: The Complete Video Course
Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR
Authors: Elena Silvestrova, Benjamin Rosenzweig, Ben Rosenzweig
Rating: 5/5
With over twenty years in large scale IT development using Java/C++/C/Assembly languages on HP-UX/Solaris/AIX/Windows 2000/NT platforms, but a neophyte with PL/SQL, I needed a PL/SQL package that would assume no background knowledge in PL/SQL, get me up to speed fast, and at the same time be comprehensive. In other words, I wanted everything. This package no only satisfied this need, but opened up new avenues of thought concerning approaches to database programming. The book is simply matchless (it should get 6 stars--an extra star for the terrific exercises that incorporate hidden pearls of IT wisdom), and yes I have perused others on the market. Ms. Silvestrova demonstrates that she is a consummate professional. The flow of the book, depth of the hands-on exercises, and scope of material is an inimitable combination. This so far may sound over-glowing, but a workman is worthy of her hire. I would recommend this package to any introductory or middle level PL/SQL student. If you desire to be a competent PL/SQL professional, look no further. If you desire to have a guide that provides you with a solid answer to specific types of PL/SQL problems, look no further. However, if you seek a slick product that spoon feeds you programming palaver (under the guise of teaching), fly you fool: you have many under-performing options available. The video is as effective as any video can be on a Sequential Non-Event Oriented and Non-GUI programming language. It provides a visual venue that reinforces and compliments what the student should have accomplished in the workbook. Let's avoid any petulance or semantic superciliousness: Yes, Ms. Silvestrova has a slight accent, but no more than how someone from Alabama would sound to a New Yorker or vice-versa. She is easy to listen to, and more importantly, easy to learn from.
Buy it, try it, apply it!!!
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Professional PHP Programming
Publisher:
Authors: Jesus Castagnetto, Sascha Schumann, Harish Rawat, Chris Scollo, Deepak T. Veliath
Rating: 3/5
Title: Professional PHP Programming
Publisher:
Authors: Jesus Castagnetto, Sascha Schumann, Harish Rawat, Chris Scollo, Deepak T. Veliath
Rating: 3/5
Worth every penny (Baht). I think it's very good to introduce you to learn how to write php programming. The examples is very good too,easy to understand,give you many ideas.What a great book is!
