IT programming books related reviews
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Real-World SQL-DMO for SQL Server
Publisher: Apress
Authors: Mark Allison, Allan Mitchell
Rating: 5/5
Title: Real-World SQL-DMO for SQL Server
Publisher: Apress
Authors: Mark Allison, Allan Mitchell
Rating: 5/5
I had to do some SQL DMO scripting and could not figure out how to do it using MDSN, so I purchased Wrox's book and found it to be merely a re-write of online docs. Then I discovered this book and was so overjoyed to find some authors who had actually taken the time to write useful code samples and to go well beyond where MSDN leaves off.Their code is very well laid out and designed. They have taken the time and care to turn out a quality product.
Product: Book Hardcover
Title: McSe SQL Server 2000 Administration: Study Guide
Publisher: Sybex Inc
Authors: Lance Mortensen, Rick Sawtell, Joseph L. Jorden
Rating: 1/5
Title: McSe SQL Server 2000 Administration: Study Guide
Publisher: Sybex Inc
Authors: Lance Mortensen, Rick Sawtell, Joseph L. Jorden
Rating: 1/5
I am using this book as a text in a college class. I rated it at one star because there was no lower rating. The T-SQL syntax is wrong more often than not, and this makes utilizing this book more difficult than it should be; the T-SQL examples are so poor as to be considered useless.In addition to T-SQL syntax errors, there are plain English errors as well. I am nearing the end of the class where this book was used as a text, and in retrospect it appears that it has not been edited at all.I would expect the editing quality from a company with Sybex's reputation to be more thorough than it is.If you pass this exam and have writing skills, perhaps you should apply to Sybex as a technical editor; it appears as though they could use the help.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: SQL: Visual QuickStart Guide
Publisher: Peachpit Press
Authors: Chris Fehily
Rating: 5/5
Title: SQL: Visual QuickStart Guide
Publisher: Peachpit Press
Authors: Chris Fehily
Rating: 5/5
Anyone who uses SQL regularly knows that it's absolutely critical to understand nulls - you can't write SQL programs or interpret results without mastering them. In most of the SQL books that I've read, nulls are mentioned once near the beginning and not given much screen time afterwards - perhaps popping up in an example here and there. This book takes the different (and welcome) approach of weaving the implications of nulls throughout the entire text. In addition to null rudiments, this book addresses crucial issues such as detecting and counting nulls, how nulls give rise to three-value logic (true/false/unknown), when nulls are considered to be duplicates and when they aren't, substituting actual values for nulls and vice versa, how nulls sort, how nulls propagate through computations, which functions ignore nulls and which don't, how nulls affect joins, and how nulls cause problems in subqueries. The book also contains specific tips for Oracle, which (for some reason) considers empty strings to be nulls.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: PHP for the World Wide Web : Visual QuickStart Guide (2nd Edition) (Visual Quickstart Guides)
Publisher: Peachpit Press
Authors: Larry Ullman
Rating: 5/5
Title: PHP for the World Wide Web : Visual QuickStart Guide (2nd Edition) (Visual Quickstart Guides)
Publisher: Peachpit Press
Authors: Larry Ullman
Rating: 5/5
This book was written to the developer new to scripting and it adheres to that premise to the end. Larry Ullman gives a great exposition of each of the programming examples he uses, so the reader not only understands the syntax of the recipe, but the processes taking place as well. A little thin, weighing in at 278 pages, but I feel that makes it undaunting to the new scripter.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: The Practical SQL Handbook: Using SQL Variants (4th Edition)
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Authors: Judith S. Bowman, Sandra L. Emerson, Marcy Darnovsky
Rating: 5/5
Title: The Practical SQL Handbook: Using SQL Variants (4th Edition)
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Authors: Judith S. Bowman, Sandra L. Emerson, Marcy Darnovsky
Rating: 5/5
What makes this Fourth Edition to the Practical SQL series special is the approach to teaching SQL shared by all the editions in this series. The same statements and queries are covered by many SQL texts, but not with the same clarity or teaching philosophy.Beginning programmers are often unaware that much of programming goes according to what I like to call "programmer lore." The accumulated tradition of practices that are not written down in any book of algorithms but handed down from programmer to programmer in back rooms and online discussion groups. This largely "oral tradition" that exists within the culture of programming is essential to developing real world applications. This handed down knowledge is essential because most authors follow their own academic interests in the more theoretical while most programmers are too busy to write down daily practice. As the foreword says, the idea for this edition is to reclaim this knowledge and present it as if folk wisdom handed down from a master chef.I will not delve into the specifics of each chapter or repeat here the SQL concepts taught within, because all SQL books purport to teach the same elements. What makes this book different is the way it follows a set of principles designed to make learning easier.The explanations are clearly presented in plain language without any unexplained buzzwords or digressions into mathematical theory. With each topic, the author starts with basics then follows through with more advanced concepts in a seamless manner without condescension.The chapters concentrate on teaching how to do the things everyone needs to do, answering the frequently asked questions beginners have without cutting corners on relational principles. Practicality is the watchword where another author might be tempted to explain only idealized forms.This books fits perfectly with my philosophy of learning. The explanations take the reader from beginning to advanced level seamlessly. They do not forego advanced concepts, "dumbing down" to the perceived level of the beginner. They do not try to "protect" the beginner from advanced concepts, but explain them with the same clarity as the novice ones, using language that anyone reading a newspaper could understand. In Practical SQL, both beginning and advanced concepts get the same plain language treatment. Even advanced programmers benefit from simple, clear explanations shorn of arcane jargon and obtuse concepts.Another thing I believe in is providing copious example code for the learner. They first run to the code to see what it does, then later they can modify the code in order to expand upon it, using it as a prototype (an important concept in learning, making things your own; another is modeling, using the prototype to create your own useful tools). Practical SQL is filled with examples presented in a clear style with improved presentation. Examples are flagged by side heads and use larger type. In addition, tips appear occasionally. A lot of thought went into making the text readable and accessible.I am a heavy user of MySQL and found the previous Third Edition of Practical SQL extremely helpful in understanding complex queries as well as understanding the limits and advantages of MySQL in comparison to the features of other enterprise servers. Like the consultant who wrote the forward, I find myself picking up Practical SQL when I have trouble with a complicated query, despite having worked with SQL for several years. I expect the Fourth Edition to be no less helpful.You will not learn the details of web programming from this edition, but you will be left with a better understanding of the relational model and the language that drives your web applications. All without being required to wade through a lot of mathematical jargon. However, the author never compromises relational principles for simplification.There is no doubt that you should have this book if you work with SQL in any way.
Product: Book Textbook Binding
Title: McSe: SQL Server 7 Database Design (The Training Guide Series)
Publisher: New Riders Publishing
Authors: David Besch, Sean Baird, Chris Miller, Denis Darveau, Wayne Smith, Deanna Townsend
Rating: 4/5
Title: McSe: SQL Server 7 Database Design (The Training Guide Series)
Publisher: New Riders Publishing
Authors: David Besch, Sean Baird, Chris Miller, Denis Darveau, Wayne Smith, Deanna Townsend
Rating: 4/5
I definitely agree with the previous reviewer on at least two counts -- #70-029 is possibly the hardest MS exam yet AND this book - and probably any single other book - will not totally prepare you to pass the exam. I passed using this book, the MS training kit, a fair amount of studying (hands on with the product + books online) and only a few months of SQL Server 6.5/7 experience.However, this book does do a very good job of covering the topics from the MS exam prep guideline in as much detail as can be expected in a test prep book. The book also then cites other resources such as Books Online where additional information may be found. Don't take that advice lightly - you will need additional information on all subjects.Like studying for most exams, it is best to use this book in combination with at least one more. This one was the first exam 70-029 prep guide out, but I dare say that there may not be a better one even when they are all out. The sample exams and other study aids are good at helping you learn the concepts, even if they are far more simple than the actual exam questions. The book/CD definitely is worth the $.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: MCSE Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Administration Readiness Review Exam 70-228 (With CD-ROM)
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Authors: Irfan Chaudhry, Dean Bartholomew
Rating: 2/5
Title: MCSE Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Administration Readiness Review Exam 70-228 (With CD-ROM)
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Authors: Irfan Chaudhry, Dean Bartholomew
Rating: 2/5
You can't learn much from this book. This book contains only questions and answers(with explaination). That's about all. Nothing much. Don't expect this book will teach you how to install SQL. It will only ask you to refer to book online.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: MCSE SQL 2000 Administration Exam Cram (Exam: 70-228)
Publisher: Coriolis Group Books
Authors: Kalani Kirk Hausman
Rating: 5/5
Title: MCSE SQL 2000 Administration Exam Cram (Exam: 70-228)
Publisher: Coriolis Group Books
Authors: Kalani Kirk Hausman
Rating: 5/5
This book gave me the extra pieces of information I needed to pass the exam. SQL 2000 ROCKS!
Product: Book Textbook Binding
Title: SQL Server System Administration (The Landmark Series)
Publisher: Sams
Authors: Chris Miller, Sean Baird, John Lynn, Michael Hotek, Denis Darveau
Rating: 1/5
Title: SQL Server System Administration (The Landmark Series)
Publisher: Sams
Authors: Chris Miller, Sean Baird, John Lynn, Michael Hotek, Denis Darveau
Rating: 1/5
this book was supposed to be helpful for database administrators. however, i am not quite sure who could use it. it would probably be better for a dba in the long run if he would not buy this book. it will only waste his / her time. i personally had to take this book right back to the retailer.
Product: Book Hardcover
Title: Inside Microsoft SQL Server 7.0
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Authors: Ron Soukup, Kalen Delaney
Rating: 5/5
Title: Inside Microsoft SQL Server 7.0
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Authors: Ron Soukup, Kalen Delaney
Rating: 5/5
Like the book I reviewed before this one (Inside SQL Server 6.5) this book along with it's older counterpart have earned it's spot in front of my computer. This book has been used a lot for reference on the many pieces of SQL Server. This book gives good examples on Triggers and Stored Procedures in particular. In short, anyone with some database experience and just getting into Enterprise level databases, particularly SQL Server 7, must get this book!
