Product Description
There are many reasons for serving up dynamic content from aweb site:to offer an online shopping site, create customizedinformation pages for users, or just manage a large volumeof content through a database. Anyone with a modestknowledge of HTML and web site management can learn tocreate dynamic content through the PHP programming languageand the MySQL database. This book gives you the backgroundand tools to do the job safely and reliably.

Web Database Applications with PHP and MySQL, Second Editionthoroughly reflects the needs of real-world applications. It goes into detail on such practical issues as validatinginput (do you know what a proper credit card number lookslike?), logging in users, and using templatesto give your dynamic web pages a standard look.

But this book goes even further. It shows how JavaScript andPHP can be used in tandem to make a user's experience fasterand more pleasant. It shows the correct way to handle errorsin user input so that a site looks professional. Itintroduces the vast collection of powerful tools availablein the PEAR repository and shows how to use some of the mostpopular tools.

Even while it serves as an introduction to new programmers,the book does not omit critical tasks that web sitesrequire. For instance, every site that allows updates musthandle the possibility of multiple users accessing data atthe same time. This book explains how to solve the problemin detail with locking.

Through a sophisticated sample application--Hugh and Dave'sWine Store--all the important techniques of dynamic contentare introduced. Good design is emphasized, such as dividinglogic from presentation. The book introduces PHP 5 and MySQL4.1 features, while providing techniques that can be used onolder versions of the software that are still in widespreaduse.

This new edition has been redesigned around the richofferings of PEAR. Several of these, including the Templatepackage and the database-independent query API, are fullyintegrated into examples and thorougly described in thetext. Topics include:Installation and configuration of Apache, MySQL, and PHP onUnix®, Windows®, and Mac OS® X systemsIntroductions to PHP, SQL, and MySQL administrationSession management, including the use of a custom databasefor improved efficiencyUser input validation, security, and authenticationThe PEAR repository, plus details on the use of PEAR DB andTemplate classesProduction of PDF reportsAmazon.com Review
PHP and MySQL go hand in hand; the former has been carefully adapted, through the efforts of the open-source community, to the latter. For situations that require dynamic content but don't merit the complexity and development time of Java or .NET enterprise applications, the PHP language and the MySQL database server fit the bill perfectly. That's the point Hugh Williams and David Lane make in Web Database Applications with PHP & MySQL, which combines language tutorials with application design advice to yield a comprehensive picture of its subjects at a reasonable price. Williams and Lane--both Australian academics who use an online wine store in many of their examples--deserve tremendous kudos for their way of presenting recommended coding strategies. Though the code listings themselves aren't remarkably well commented, the authors do a commendable job of explaining in prose what the code is up to.

Case in point: The ever-essential task of using PHP to open a connection to a MySQL database, submit a query to that database, receive a response, and format the returned rows, if any. The book addresses this problem with a straight code listing, followed by text that explains what's happening in five numbered steps. Similar care goes to the other popular applications of the PHP/MySQL duo: session management, shopping carts, and authentication of users. --David Wall

Topics covered: How to use the PHP server-side scripting language and the MySQL database engine to underlie dynamic Web sites (those that rely on database queries) and full-on Web applications, such as those that require session management and maintenance of user rosters. Tutorials in both subjects begin with the basics and proceed through moderately complicated stuff, though there's no absolutely comprehensive reference here. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (60)

Outdated
I'm writing this on May 17th 2010 after purchasing this book a few days ago. I have made it through the first 4 chapters but on reaching chapter 5 that's when the real problems began. The book features a case study: a fictional wine store with it's own PHP code and mySQL database. One of the problems is the code was written for PHP 4, not 5, so I'm getting tons of errors. They could be fixed if I knew how, but that kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

The code page where you download examples hasn't been updated since 2005.

Another major problem and this one can't be blamed on time is that the code examples and the wine store app itself have a few programming errors. I was able to spot and fix these but it goes to show you that whoever wrote this thing didn't even bother to run and check to see if their code actually works. When you're trying to learn a programming language the last thing you want to worry about is the author's own mistakes. You could literally spend hours wondering what YOU did wrong when in reality it's THEIR fault.

I can't comment on Chapter 5 onwards because this book is now mostly useless to me, and to anyone who wants to learn PHP and mySQL in a PHP 5 environment (today's world). Unfortunately I don't have any recommendation as a substitute, though I would suggest checking what version the book is for before buying.

Somewhat Sluggish
Here is, in my opinion, the way this book should be used.

First, learn very basic PHP from [...]

Make a few sample pages for yourself using as many techniques on the site as you can. After that, make your way to the book. Up until page 134, it's just dry syntax. You can learn dry syntax much faster from the website I listed. You'll be able to skim across the first 134 pages with your knowledge, and since it will look somewhat familiar, you won't get bored out of your mind.

When you start actually getting in to mysql implementation, you can start reading the page over.

I highly suggest that you read along and make your own project that you will find interestinginstead of the project provided. I'm using this book to make an inventory application for a pretend game store website, and it's keeping me much more interested than when I was making the winestore example.

Some of the functions don't work, such as the selectDistinct, but I didn't find that too annoying. The book uses some outdated techniques such as ereg for regular expressions, but that's because the book itself is slightly outdated.

Don't try to read the book cover to cover and then try to go apply what you learned. You'll just end up having to read the book again. Digest the book in chunks and actually CREATE something with it!

One final word: Do NOT attempt to install Apache, PHP, and MySQL using the book. I lost so many hours that way. Just look up some forum posts on how to do it manually using the zip files as opposed to the MSI installer.

Outdated
This book is outdated. Get a newer version for a better understanding of PHP 5. Besides being outdated, the book is written very well. It's set up as a tutorial on how to build an e-commerce site with PHP and MySQL. Along the way the authors teach you valuable lessons about PHP, MySQL, Database design, and application design. If there's a newer version of this book then I would recommend getting that one.

A straight-forward made-easy presentation
This has been my first ever book purchase through Amazon. I was quite fortunate to select this book. Clear cut presentations, abundance of samples and professional reasoning.
I fully recommend this book, both to novice users and IT professionals!

Great book
I think this is one of the best buys you can do, the book is clear, useful and with a just price, 100% recommendable. ... Read more

Product Description
In this comprehensive guide to creating an e-commerce Web site using PHP and MySQL, renowned author Larry Ullman walks you through every step—designing the visual interface, creating the database, presenting content, generating an online catalog, managing the shopping cart, handling the order and the payment process, and fulfilling the order—always with security and best practices emphasized along the way. Even if you’re an experienced Web developer, you’re guaranteed to learn something new. The book uses two e-commerce site examples—one based on selling physical products that require shipping and delayed payment, and another that sells non-physical products to be purchased and delivered instantly—so you see the widest possible range of e-commerce scenarios. In 11 engaging, easy-to-follow chapters, Effortless E-Commerce with PHP and MySQL teaches you how to:

• Think of the customer first, in order to maximize sales
• Create a safe server environment and database
• Use secure transactions and prevent common vulnerabilities
• Incorporate different payment gateways
• Design scalable sites that are easy to maintain
• Build administrative interfaces
• Extend both examples to match the needs of your own sites

Larry Ullman is the president of Digital Media and Communications Insights, Inc., a firm specializing in information technology (www.dmcinsights.com). He is the author of several bestselling programming and Web development books, including PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide. Larry also writes articles on these subjects and teaches them in small and large group settings. Despite working with computers, programming languages, databases, and such since the early 1980s, Larry still claims he’s not a computer geek (but he admits he can speak their language). ... Read more

Product Description
"For those with a need to know, and those with a desire to learn MySQL, this volume contains nearly everything you would want and expect, not only about MySQL itself but about the software that interacts with it or web servers."— John Suda, Slashdot Contributor

"I've seen the 2nd edition (of) this book and it's good stuff."— Arjen Lentz, MySQL Community JournalMySQL 5 is slated to be the most significant release in the product’s history. The Definitive Guide to MySQL 5, Third Edition, is the newest revision of Michael Kofler’s popular book. This is the first book to offer in-depth instruction about the new features of the world’s most popular open source database server. Updated to reflect changes in MySQL version 5, this book will expose you to MySQL’s impressive array of new features: views, stored procedures, triggers, and spatial data types.Whether you’re a novice or intermediate user, you will benefit from extensive coverage of core MySQL features like user administration, basic and advanced querying, and security. You will also be introduced to several standard and third-party tools, like MySQL Administrator, Query Browser, and the popular PHPMyAdmin tool. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

New purchase - still deciding
I just got this book on Friday; purchased on Amazon. I read some of the reviews and bought this book to do a pet project using relational databases.

I find it hard to find a good SQL resource guide/book. So this looked like a good purchase.

I just thumbed through the first example in chapter 3. It looks like there is some errors in the PHP code which one reviewer has mentioned and it does not give me a good feeling. The examples should be correct and if they are not then the book should have not been published or an errata guide needs to be available from the publisher.

For example the PHP opinion poll example...

1) The use of choice is misleading... One place it looks correct but only in one place.
2) The function does not look like it is being used and I do not think it is used. Where is the function call? I do not know why he includes this on a first example anyway; there is no need for it...
3) The most striking error is the choice array which I believe should be choicetext since he creates an array with the variable but choice is just the index.

On a side note, I believe coding this in PERL is much easier than PHP. I am not as familiar with PHP, but is it apparent when something does not look correct.

I think I may contact the author if possible before considering returning this book.

Not definitive, not accurate, not proof read
The book opens with an introductory database example (Chap 3), an opinion poll. The author spends nearly a page in his attempt to justify why MySQL is more suited to his example than a text file. This justification is not only uneccessary but outright wrong. The sample SQL also contains a glaring error that is likely to confuse the newer MySQL user

"In order to generate a table with the two columns /id/ and /choice/, the following command would suffice: CREATE TABLE votelanguage (id INT, choice TINYINT, ts TIMESTAMP);". If you are new to MySQL, you may be wondering about "ts TIMESTAMP".

At every page I have turned to and begun to read, I have found at least one similarly minor/distracting error: "changes in boldface" followed by lines of code with no boldface, "the following will insert a data record with a value of 4: INSERT into t VALUES (3)", etc, etc, etc...

There are numerous sections of text that are terribly written, almost as though they have been badly translated from another language. Chapter 4, for instance, opens with "The end user should never see MySQL as a program. Instead, a convenient program or several web sites should be used to provide access to the database, assist in the input of new data and execute backups
"For such tasks, you can use the commands mysql, mysqladmin and mysqldump ...". Presumably he mean't that these commands are not the interface through which the typical user will see MySQL.

I said the book is not definitive - I say this because its focus is incredibly broad. It covers a wide spectrum of MySQL-related topics, primarily dealing with specifics of language interfaces (by sheer volume of pages). It covers nothing in true depth (with several item specific chapters containing the "Tip" that "In this chapter you will learn about /this/ only superficially. However, ... will be described elsewhere in the book ..."

Every time I open this book, I find errors or cryptic paragraphs that I have to deconstruct in order to understand the author's point. Often times, even when the author is quite clear, I find his points to be in error. For example, returning to the initial opinion poll: the author implies that if your result set were merely the vote option and number of votes for that option, it would be simplest to just store that in a single file. But if you wanted to store individual votes or comments or IP addresses, you would need MySQL!

Infact, due to concurrency issues, MySQL would be far better suited to the simple tally counter.

Great MySQL Reference
'The Definitive Guide to MySQL 5' by Michael Kofler is in its 3rd Edition for the simple reason that this is a GOOD reference book.Jam packed full of nearly 750 pages worth of excellence, this book isn't just a reference manual, but a learning TOOL as well.The glowing reviews for this book are not without a legit reason, this is a wonderful guide that belongs on the desk of any and all MySQL developers.Pick up this book to learn and excel... you won't be disappointed!!

***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This book is ok, but not for beginners
This book is indeed a valuable resource for those who wish to have a deep understanding and interoperations of MySQL.However, by no means believe this book is for a MySQL beginner.I am college educated and frequently self-teach on many topics within the technical field.I bought this book with the hopes of getting a foundational understanding of MySQL and have a database up and running in the first few chapters.The first chapter does carefully explain what a relational database is, its features, and limitations, but then gets lost into the murky realm of administrative tools, user interfaces, and database design.The book finally gets around to giving the reader the first command to creating a database on page 268 (chapter 11).By this point the author gives the impression that getting a database started just a formality rather than the start of something fun and exciting.(Am I crazy for thinking databases are fun?)

In general, I found this book a hard read.It's very dry and in my opinion, not well laid out.This book is for someone who already has foundational knowledge in MySQL and some programming.The author seems to have a thorough understanding of the topic, but is not good at teaching to underlings such as myself.I'm not going to toss the book, but keep it on my shelf as a reference.In the mean time I need to find another book on MySQL.

The Best MySQL 5 Book Out there!
This is bar-none the best MySQL (all-inclusive) book I've ever used.I've been using MySQL for about 5-6 years (maybe longer I've lost count).In projects from Personal stuff to Commercial and Corporate sites.I feel like I know a lot about MySQL simply by using and Admin'ing it for most of this time.I've learned a great deal from "The Definitive Guide to MySQL 5" and am making immediate use of several things that have made significant improvements to the current project I'm working on...and has given me ideas as to how to improve on a few sites I didn't think I could improve much on.

I would recommend this book for ANYONE interested in MySQL 5.It's well organized, and provides enough information to use virtually anything related to MySQL 5.

Thanks to Michael Kofler for such a well written and organized book!

The only things I would have preferred just a tad more detail on is the use of Cursors in Stored Procedures.Aside from that this is an EXCELLENT resource I highly recommend. ... Read more

Product Description

Sams Teach Yourself PHP, MySQL® and Apache All in One

Fourth Edition

Julie C. Meloni

Starter Kit

CD-ROM includes a complete starter kit for Windows®, Linux®, and Mac® OS X

In just a short time, you can learn how to use PHP, MySQL, and Apache together to create dynamic, interactive websites and applications using the three leading open-source web development technologies.

Using a straightforward, step-by-step approach, each lesson in this book builds on the previous ones, enabling you to learn the essentials of PHP scripting, MySQL databases, and the Apache web server from the ground up.

Regardless of whether you run Linux, Windows, or Mac OS X, the enclosed CD includes a complete starter kit that lets you install all the software you need to set up a stable environment for learning, testing, and production.

Learn how to…

• Install, configure, and set up the PHP scripting language, the MySQL database system, and the Apache Web server
• Get these technologies to work together to create a dynamic, database-backed website
• Interact with MySQL using PHP
• Work with forms and files
• Create a web-based discussion forum or mailing list
• Add a storefront and shopping cart to your site
• Optimize your MySQL databases
• Fine-tune the Apache server’s performance
• Restrict access to your applications
• Set up a secure web server

Julie C. Meloni is the technical director for i2i Interactive, a multimedia company located in Los Altos, California. She has been developing web-based applications since the early days of the web, and is the author of several books and articles on web-based programming languages and database topics, including Sams Teach Yourself MySQL in 24 Hours.

CD-ROM Includes

• A complete PHP, MySQL, and Apache starter kit for Windows®, Linux®, or Mac® OS X.

Category: Web Development

Covers: PHP 5.2, MySQL 5, Apache 2.2

User Level: Beginning

Customer Reviews (55)

Nice book! :)
I've been reading Sams Teach Yourself books for a long time now I've just haven't read this one yet although it does look like a very nice book. I haven't had the chance to read it yet due to starting college soon so there no actual way I will be able to review it until later date.

Sams Teach Yourself PHP, MySQL and Apache All in One (4th Edition)
Exactly as described, Good Quality, complete with CD, Good condition,Delivery time to the UK was a bit of a downer though it did arrive sooner than expected.

A useful introduction to the *AMP stack.
This is a results-driven review.Three years ago, looking for work and interested in web dev, I wondered what this whole LAMP thing was all about.I inhaled the 2nd edition of Meloni's book, and created a small utility website.I landed some contract web dev work on the merits of that website.Two months later I was hired by a startup, and I've been there now for nearly three years.

Two thumbs up.

Double-Shipped-SAMS Teach Yourself PHP, MySQL and Apache
SAMS publishes excellent tech subject books.This is no exception.

Shipment was prompt but I received TWO packages, one day apart of this order.No telling how this happened.Cannot tell if I was also DOUBLE-billed.Please check your records, I will check mine.Fine book, but I only wanted ONE.

First time a problem with any Amazon shipment.

Perfect Book to Get You Started.
What a wonderful and well-documented book. If you are just starting out with PHP, MySql and Apache then you have found a great starting point. The DVD covers many facets and shows you clear examples of the concepts explained.
I recommend that you start your PHP journey here.

Experienced developers can also benefit, as they will take away at least one good idea or perhaps view a project differently.

The book covers in depth many aspects of PHP, including a few that I have not used in many years. Each chapter builds on the previous and the workshops and full code examples will give you a hands on view on how the code is built.
I particularly like the paper used in the book, because it is bright. Some companies have switched to a duller paper for their own reasons.

The book starts with installation of everything software that you need to start. The book covers database design, generating images with PHP and even fine tuning Apache. The DVD lessons are short enough to remain interesting, but long enough to cover the point.





... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Kevin is no Writer
Kevin seems like a super guy on sitepoint, but please, kevin, stop writing books. Boring read and far from being well structured. I'm sure kevin is a good coder, but if he happens to code like he writes, his script would be all over the place.

Sorry, I mostly gave it 3 stars because I really like Kevin, but if anyone wants to get a book on php and mysql this is not it.

p.s.

Sitepoint books lately have been bad. I'm starting to think they have a cookie cutter method of writing. I'm still a fan of the forum, but their books are not what they use to be.

Good with Lectures - Bad at Writing! Drink lots of Coffee!
I read this book and did not make it past Chapter 2.
The book is just boring and very sporadic.

It's like getting lecture on driving and never actually getting in a car. When will these expert understand, you have to be practical, projects before epic explanations.

A variable is like a container, it can hold information, blah blah, I can get that off Google.
Strings are text. Really, wow! I did not know that. Come on!

Kevin Yank is great but on this one, it's a failure.

When a book puts me to sleep, that's the end of it!


MO

Amazingly clear and uses the best methods
I have read two books from different publishers and authors on this subject. The other is called PHPSolutions, i do not recommend that book. I believe sitepoint is one of the better publishers for beginners and their newer books are very well written. Compared to PHPSolutions I believe that this book shows much better methods of organization and gives the reader a better understanding of the subjects. His writing is very elegant and would be very good for a beginner but yet after reading another book on php and mysql i am still learning valuable techniques and strategies from this book.

While some people may find the absence of CSS in the book a drawback I find it very helpful, the authors goal is not to teach you CSS it was to instruct you in the art of mixing PHP and a MYSQL database to create functional webpages with data. What author does is creates a focus on the code and does not spend time elaborating example code, that will in all most all cases, never be used. A better approach to css is to pick up another of Sitepoint books such as The CSS Anthology where you will learn css that you can use to create your own webpage designs.

I hope this review will make you consider looking at the sitepoint website, and another great thing about sitepoint is they offer large previews of their books so you can see what you are getting into.

What I Needed!
Understanding some of the basics and having knowledge somewhat of PHP and MySQL going in, I wanted a book that broke everything down to explain to me exactly what everything did, and on a recommendation, I bought this book and was not disappointed. Kevin Yank does a good job showing the reader, and giving them access to the actual code itself, how to execute and even some security flaws that one might encounter. I think after reading that book, that having a full understanding of php and mysql, that I will be able to write my own programs (but of course still looking back for reference).

php and sql book
This is a good book in an overall point of view. If you want to learn from the ground up without any help from any web editor this is your choice. It is a little difficult for a beginner but the examples in the book are pretty clear and straightforward.
What is most interesting about this book is the use of php templates and the coding style that the book wants the reader to learn. The book shows a wide use of php templates. ... Read more

Product Description
Pro MySQL

Pro MySQL is the first book that exclusively covers intermediate and advanced features of MySQL, the world's most popular open source database server. Whether you are a seasoned MySQL user looking to take your skills to the next level, or you’re a database expert searching for a fast-paced introduction to MySQL's advanced features, this book is for you.

The first part of this book discusses topics related to design and development. Topics include transaction processing and indexing theory, benchmarking and profiling, and advanced coverage of storage engines and data types. The authors also delve deep into the MySQL source code and system architecture at a level you won't find anywhere else. Essential advanced SQL is also covered, with discussion of subqueries, derived tables, and joins. These concepts are demonstrated in a range of situation-specific examples—from dealing with hierarchical data to performing Geographic Information System (GIS) examples with just MySQL. This section also covers MySQL 5's new enterprise features like stored procedures, triggers, and views.

The latter part of this book devotes itself to administration topics. Topics include MySQL installation and upgrading, user administration, database backups, replication, and clustering. You'll also learn about the new data dictionary features available in MySQL 5. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Not too impressed
This book attempts to cover too much material instead of spending more time on specific topics. If you're interested in performance, replication, backup or recovery, skip this book and get the High Performance MySQL book. You'll quickly see the material on those topics has a lot more depth in the other book. Especially for replication, backup and recovery.

For everything else, you might as well just get a introductory/reference mysql book.

Also, the coverage of mysql 5 is based upon an early beta.

Solid in-depth coverage - not for the feint of heart
I've managed to get about halfway through this book so far.It's NOT an easy read.Coverage and detail are excellent, however, and if you're interested in plumbing the depths of how MySql works, I would recommend this book as a solid reference for improving your overall knowledge.

If you are into MySQL then GET THIS BOOK!
No, I am not associated with the authors in any way.I was looking for a book for MySQL that was beyond "this is a database, here is how you select".

I wanted something more challenging that covered topics like clustering, backups, etc.

This book dives deep into MySQL database use and design, including detailed information on indexes, optimizations, etc.

Very good read.I totally recommend this book.

cbmeeks

Great Expert Overview
This book is a great expert overview of all that is current in MySQL 5. This covers both the SQL interaction with the database and the management. There are aspects that users often don't use in any SQL platform, and it is a shame. The effort expended to learn stored procedures and custom functions is greatly rewarded in code creation and support. This is another book I rate as ROI super positive.

Best book to learn Advanced MYSQL
For people like me who have a good understanding of MYSQL, the next logical step would be this book. I already know about stored procedures, transactions and the basics of triggers, but I want to learn more about these topics in more "real-world" scenarios in how to develop larger, enterprise-wide applications. Also I want to know more about other advanced topics that I may not even know to think about. If this sounds like you as well, then read on...

The author starts in with reviewing how business requirements and the software development cycle can be part of database development. This a great chapter for people like me who would like to learn how different approaches are taken from different IT perspectives in a team environment (business analysts, application developers, and project managers) This chapter gives you a good understanding of how the other side thinks.

The next chapter focuses on the importance of proper indexing and strategies as pertaining to data storage. Because once your databases reach to the multiple gigabits of storage space, you need to very focused on how long each request takes. A few seconds here and there begin to add up and can cause serious issues if not taken into consideration early in your database design. Like me who only deals with small to an occasional medium-size database I never really had to think about this before.

The next chapter focuses on transaction processing in MYSQL which is one of the more difficult concepts for many and I am in the process now of reading it. I really like the author's explanations and examples.Each point is explained thoroughly and in an easy to read manner.

The rest of the book goes into more advanced topics (system architecture, benchmarking and profiling, security, replication and clustering) as well as giving more detail and explanation to topics that may only be briefly covered in other MYSQL books (stored procedures, functions, and views).

If you already know the basics of MYSQL and want to really advance your knowledge with "real-world" scenarios, this is the book for you. ... Read more

Product Description
Build an online catalog and a members-only site

Everything you need to know to create a dynamic PHP and MySQL Web site!

Been thinking of creating a high-quality interactive Web site? This book is just what you need to get started! Here's the fun and easy way(r) to develop a Web application in PHP 4, 5, or 6 and MySQL 5, test your software, enable your Web pages to display, change, and move database information, and much more.

Discover how to
* Plan and implement a Web database application
* Design and build a MySQL 5 database
* Build dynamic HTML forms
* Create scripts that store, retrieve, and update database information
* Display database information in a Web page ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Good solid read for those wanting to learn
I don't normally buy into books like this but it's been a valuable resource for my website building.

Incomplete Book with Incomplete Information
This is the first book I have ever felt the need to review.I am writing this because I am back on amazon to try to find a book that actually teaches me what I am trying to learn.The book has halfass examples with incomplete information to work from.When you do run into a snag during part of the examples, there is no guidance on how to resolve common errors.In short the book sucks and makes me not want to ever buy another book from the "for dummies" series.If you buy this book, you truly are a dummy.

Least Helpful Book Ever
I had a little experience with both PHP and MySQL before I bought this book. While the first few chapters make it seem easy enough, I found that using most of the information in the book - even copied letter for letter - led to error after error. Frustrated, I finally used my DREAMWEAVER textbook which, with as little information as it provides ABOUT both PHP and MySQL was a lot more helpful.

Extremely confusing at times, leaps of logic
Picked this up after reading two worse books (there are many) and found the first explanations clear, possibly because I was already familiar with some of the terms.
After the first two or three chapters, however, Valade gets complacent, doesn't explain minor issues which can leave you puzzled.
The examples are not very useful and, although she explains some of the steps, she leaves out details. Again, confusing.
The book has numerous errors, one which left me reading the same page for about half an hour. Rather than approaching the topic for beginners, she does assume some programming knowledge at time.
After reading the explanations of object oriented programming (classes), I nearly gave up.
The author is not a good teacher. There are scripts on her own web site with corrections.

OK but confusing...
Unfortunately the author of this book is so engrossed in her knowledge she isn't able to step back and tell the beginner (after all this is the Dummies guide) what to do step by step. She informs you 'about' PHP and MySQL with little comprehensive instruction on how to build a database website in a logical clear step by step order.

Overall in my opinion this book is far from 'even a dummy can do it if they follow the steps' guide but more of a poor attempt by an expert to teach people a complex topic without the understanding of what is means to be a beginner. ... Read more

Product Description
* Shows Java developers everything they need to know to build Java database applications with MySQL.
* Takes a hands-on, code-intensive approach in which readers will learn how to build a sophisticated Web database management application.
* Begins with a review of the fundamentals of MySQL.
* Explains using Java's JDBC with MySQL, as well as servlet and JSP programming with MySQL.
* Provides a code-rich tutorial on how to build the sample Java database application using EJBs.
* The companion Web site provides the full code examples plus links to useful sites. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Great Book for a Great Price!
I'm currently enrolled in an Undergraduate Course in Relational Database Systems. I was getting tired of reading incomplete tutorials around the internet on how to use JDBC and MySQL effectively so I bought this book bought last week on Amazon Marketplace. It was ridiculously cheap (About $3), but after seeing how useful it is, I definitely would've paid the regular price. One of the authors, Mark Matthews, actually wrote the Connector/J driver for MySql!

-This book is a tutorial, NOT a reference.
-All of the code and examples used in the book are available online so you don't need to waste hours retyping code to get the feel of it.
-The book assumes you are somewhat competent in Java and goes into applets, beans, and EJBs, but I think someone who knows C++ and really understands OOP will be able to manage alright.

Good luck!

Excellent coverage, well written
I'd never done anything with databases, and SQL was an almost total mystery. So when I decided it was time to "modernize" a tracking tool I'd developed for my team using Perl and a simple flat file "database", I knew it was the opportunity I'd been waiting for to learn something useful and new: database programming. And while there are a lot of ways to develop a database application, I've always kinda wanted to learn Java.

A search for references on databases and Java didn't turn up a lot of hits that looked useful, and this book was about the only serious or substantial work focusing on my need. I bought it with some trepidation; but found it straightforward, approachable, and reasonably comprehensive. Armed with this book plus the MySQL PDF manual and Sun's online Java reference for additional details, I forged ahead and in a couple of weeks of "spare time" programming, I've designed a reasonable and usable database schema, implemented it, and populated my database with data recovered from various project archives. My tool's "not all there" yet, but I expect this book will remain relevant as I expand my humble command line tool into a servlet and GUI... it has good simple examples of all that, too.

I wouldn't lay claims to being an expert database or Java programmer, but it's pretty cool to be able to say this book helped me become competent in just a few weeks of part-time development.

Excellent book, i love it really
This book is fantastic, it teach step by step.
I hope you can buy this book if you are a beginner in MySQL but if you have some level in java languaje.
-------------------------------------------------------------
THIS ARE THE CHAPTER

1. AN OVERVIEW OF MYSQL
2. JDBC AND CONNECTOR/J
3. WORKING WITH MYSQL SQL
4. INSTALLING MYSQL, JAVA, AND CONNECTOR/J
5. USING JDBC WITH JAVA APPLICATIONS AND APPLETS
6. ACHIEVING ADVANCED CONNECTOR/J FUNCTIONALITY WITH SERVLETS
7. MYSQL TYPE MAPPING
8. TRANSACTIONS AND TABLE LOCKING WITH CONNECTOR/J
9. USING METADATA
10.CONNECTION POOLING WITH CONNECTOR/J
11.EJBS WITH MYSQL
12.BUILDING A GENERAL INTERFACE FOR MYSQL
13.DATABASE ADMINISTRATION
14.PERFORMANCE AND TUNING

APENDIX A -> MYSQL DEVELOPMENT AND TESTE ENVIRONMENTS
APENDIX B -> DATABASES AND TABLES
APENDIX C -> THE JDBC API AND CONNECTOR/J
APENDIX D -> MYSQL FUNCTIONS AND OPERATORS
APENDIX E -> CONNECTOR/J LATE-BREAKING ADDITIONS

------------------------------------------------------

EXCELLENT BOOK.
THANK YOU MARK MATTHEWS
JIM COLE
JOSEPH D. GRADECKI

Effective where it counts
I have not come across the errors in this book that some other reviewers have talked about and the code I wrote using info from this book works.My only bad words about this book are that the sections were not really ordered in with any logic, and were not very long.This was Ok though because they give enough information and coresponding well explained code examples to get the job done.I thought I was in trouble because the first half of the book didnt talk about using java and mysql on a web page but half way through they talked about servlets.With this book you can code a three tier web application that runs a store driven from your mySQL DB or you can write stand alone apps with mySQL functionality.In short this book is effective where it counts.

Good for JDBC beginners
I have bought this book because I had expected to find there some more advanced hints and tricks, especially about performance tuning and bottlenecks of Java and MySQL applications. Unfortunatelly, this book only covers the very basic problematics. It is a good kickstart for beginners, but only for them. Experienced developers should pick a general J2EE book instead. ... Read more

Product Description
This book covers the basics of PHP and MySQL along with introductions to advanced topics including object-oriented programming and how to build Web sites that incorporate authentication and security. After you complete this course, you will be able to use PHP and MySQL to build professional quality, database-driven Web sites. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Not for Beginners
I was scared silly when I read the reviews about this book.I sent an email to my teacher who informed me that she had used this book and her classes liked it.The reason that the reviews for the book are so low probably has to do with these folks have not had very much experience with programming languages before using this book.
PHP is a very powerful language and that is another way of saying if you don't know what you are doing you are apt to get into trouble.
Before taking this PHP course I have had Visual Basic, C++, XHTML, XML and Java Script.If anything this book helps me understand better some of the things that I found confusing in earlier classes.However, with that said, this book does not go into all the detail that a person needs to understand concerning the fundamental basics of programming.
So if you understand how to program in other languages this is an EXCELLENT book to learn PHP from.If you are just starting out learning to program maybe you would be better advised to search for a different book.

I hate this book!
This is a terrible book.I've had to buy several Thompson Course Technology series books written by Don Gosselin and I have not liked one.They are riddled with errors.Gosselin's approach to teaching the subject matter is mediocre at best and I'm not the only one that thinks this.Just read reviews of this book and you'll realize how bad it is.After my course was over, I had to buy another book and reteach myself the subject.It looks like I will have to do the same for PHP.Gosselin creates examples that you have to copy verbatim, but he doesn't really explain why you're doing what you're doing, so in the end I don't really learn anything from the examples.Even worse, many of the examples have errors, and since I don't know how to code works, it's very difficult to fix the error.

Everything was as it should be
The book was in great shape, as is to be expected.The delivery was free, great bargain.Thank you

Lacking in content, painfully priced
Unless you are required to buy this book for a class, I would save the 75+ bucks. There is very little detailed information in here, and the most extensive sections are the exercises at the end of each chapter. There are many other books out there for a fraction of the price that will serve as reference volumes long after you've gotten everything you can possibly get out of this one (check out O'Reilly press). All of these "Course Technology" editions by Thompson/Cengage are so pretty to look at on your bookshelf, but so lacking in useful content. Good info for someone with little or no programming experience, but even then - just not worth the price. Unfortunately many of us college students are like sitting ducks to these publishers, easy targets for their marketing scams.

Useful to a Point
It seems like a fairly thorough text on all the various aspects of PHP. How would one know, however, unless one studies another book along side? One major flaw which is very serious: there are typographical errors in coding examples AND explanatory texts. For a programming language that is an unacceptable feature. As a learner, one is dependent on the text being correct. Another pedagogical shortcoming is that some of the exercises ask the user to type in a block of code with mistakes in it. Then it asks the user to correct them. Personally I think that gives the user the opportunity to learn bad coding practice. ... Read more

Product Description

Beginning PHP and MySQL E-Commerce: From Novice to Professional, Second Edition covers every step of the design and building process involved in creating powerful, extendable e–commerce web sites. Based around a real–world example involving a web site selling t–shirts, you’ll learn how to create and manage a product catalog, build and integrate a shopping cart, and process customer accounts and PayPal/credit card transactions.

With the e–commerce framework in place, authors Emilian Balanescu and Cristian Darie show you how to integrate advanced features sure to set your web site apart from the competition. You’ll learn how to expand your catalog using Amazon Web Services, optimize the web site for the search engines, and take advantage of Ajax to build an even more user–friendly shopping cart.

Other highlights:

• The authors show you how to build a complex, extendable e–commerce web site using sound development practices.
• This second edition has been updated to take advantage of a more flexible templating system, and new chapters cover Ajax integration and search engine optimization.
• The text goes beyond basic product and customer management, showing you how to integrate product reviews, process payments using both credit cards and PayPal, and expand your web site catalog using third–party services such as Amazons affiliate program.

Customer Reviews (19)

Ecommerce
the autors explained so well the book and it's true after you finish of read it you will be a proffesional if you are a novice. Really help me with my project

Stopped at Chapter 3 due to code errors.
There is nothing more frustrating then dealing with error filled code. I spent two days trying to get the code in chapter three to run before filing this book in the round file. No errata on the Apress site and the downloaded code from the author's site is totally different from the book. The downloaded code does not run either. Do not waste your time or money on this book.

Excellent Introduction to Smarty, PDO, OOP
This book is a wonderful introduction for procedural PHP developers looking over the fence at Object Oriented Programming. Although I'm not yet ready to go live with OOP after reading this book, it has moved my learning curve forward considerably and rapidly. Read and study every word and line of code carefully, and you will not be disappointed. If/when you get stuck at chapter 4, keep at it. It's your Smarty that needs work. Once you start creating sub-queries (in chapter 5, I recall), you will need to move your work to a LAMP or MAMP environment. Sub-queries don't work in Windows MySQL installations. This is an issue Mr. Darie addresses on his web site.

Good luck and enjoy the ride! This book is pure gold!

Be careful if you are on a windows based machine!
Be very careful with this book if you are on a windows based machine.There is a PHP bug noted on page 150.Unfortunately, no reliable fix or work around is noted anywhere.The fix noted on the errata sheet does not help the matter.Furthermore, there are many forums discussing the problem, but none of them offer a viable solution.The book could be worth four stars if this problem were actually addressed.The author new about the problem, but failed to offer a viable solution to people working on a windows based machine.All they had to do was create a different approach to making multiple queries to the database.What a disappointment.

Perfect!
I can't speak highly enough of this book, but be sure you are buying it for the rights reasons. Here's why:

I have good knowledge of HTML and CSS, but I know very little about PHP, SQL, and MySQL. I want to start an online store, and HTML and CSS just won't cut it. I knew from the beginning I would need to learn PHP, and likely JavaScript to create a functioning store.

HOWEVER: This book does not teach you PHP. It does not teach you JavaScript, or SQL, MySQL, AJAX, or any programming language at all. Are we clear on that? Good.

Now that that is settled, let's see why this book really shines!

This book is about e-commerce. It is a tutorial, and it leads you step-by-step through creating an online store that is fully-functional, secure, and flexible. If you do all the steps, you end up with a complete store. Oh, wait, did I say IF you do all the steps? Actually, no. You can cut and paste the code as you go, if you want, although you would learn less that way. Either way, you need to be thorough. Programming is not for the sloppy, impatient, or anyone with the "that's close enough" mentality. You must follow the instructions meticulously, and you will have to track down every typo. There will be some troubleshooting involved, but I figured it out, and I don't know PHP, like I said earlier.

So, if the code is available for download at the author's website . . . why get the book at all? Well, because if you want to learn how it all works together, how to customize it without breaking it, how to improve or adapt it, and why it is set up the way it is--then you need to read the book. It is easy enough to read and understand, even without much knowledge of PHP.

I found this book to be perfect, because it is exactly what I needed: a tutorial for creating a fully-functional, secure, and flexible store.

So is this book for raw beginners? No. You should have enough experience with webpages to comprehend HTML and CSS, minimally. Experience with programming is a help, but not necessary.

So is this book for intermediate web designers? Absolutely!

How about advanced designers . . . well, I'm not qualified to answer that. But I can tell you the authors of this book have very sound logic when it comes to the architecture of an online store. I imagine it would be beneficial to all but the most experienced designers.

Bottomline?

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR ANYONE DESIGNING AN ONLINE STORE. ... Read more

Product Description

Sams Teach Yourself MySQL in 10 Minutes provides a no-fluff, just-the-answers guide to building and managing MySQL databases. It is carefully organized and thoughtfully written to provide just the information that you need in order to gain a rapid working knowledge of MySQL. Get up to speed quickly with Sams Teach Yourself MySQL in 10 Minutes.

Customer Reviews (3)

Useful quick reference/learning book
I got this having already waded into MySQL by reading things online.I was looking for extra things I had not already taught myself, and a quick reference when I forget how to do some basic things.It serves that purpose well.I have not had problems with out of date things or errors as another reviewer mentioned, but I am not a DBA by any means... I tend to just do simple things in SQL.I am more comfortable in code, so I do big manipulations of data outside the DB in Java or C++.

it is out of date (using mysql 4.0)
This book is based on MySQL 4.0 and some commands don't work on the new version. And this book also has lots of errors. For example, some code (products table)of the sampdb is missing in Appendix B. And it also misses some details so that you have to solve them by yourself.Interesting though.

Easy read...very useful
I have read only half this book (the first half which is dedicated to beginners database work) and found it easy to read and useful. When I become advanced enough I will read the second half. It includes topics like the SQL off-limits words that you shouldn't use in your database naming fields - which is always helpful (Especially when you are like "I know this function should be working!" and it isn't because you've used something in that list - you won't spend hours trying to debug your code!)

I will buy Sams Teach yourself books for other topics again. ... Read more

Product Description
"The expertise, thought, and effort that go into each book are obvious, and I sincerely appreciate your efforts. Keep up the wonderful work!"
--Tracey Moore (Memphis, TN)

Welcome to the only guidebook series that takes a visual approach to professional-level computer topics. Open the book and you will discover step-by-step screen shots that demonstrate over 140 key techniques using PHP amd MySQL, including:
* Configuring Apache to process PHP code
* Working with character strings
* Creating, sorting, and comparing arrays
* Defining and using functions
* Finding and replacing substrings
* Querying databases and retrieving data
* Stopping and starting the MySQL server
* Adding dynamic check boxes
* Sending new Web pages to a browser

Extra / Apply It
* High-resolution screen shots demonstrate each task
* Succinct explanations walk you through step-by-step
* Two-page lessons break big topics into bite-sized modules
* "Apply It" and "Extra" sidebars highlight useful tips ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Good overview, tiny screenshots
Concise overview of general features. Good for a beginner, generally one page per function. Could use a little more detail on SQL joins etc, but I guess there is a whole SQL book!

Good sample code examples, however the screenshots are tiny, in fact so hard to read they may as well not be there. I don't normally wear glasses but I had to break them out and still squint. I have the visual Javascript book which luckily doesn't suffer from this problem.

PHP & MySQL "your visual blueprint"
It might be a very good book, I can't say for sure because I can not read the input lessons with a magnifying glass.
Unless you have eagle eyes this book is absolutely worthless!

Get Your Magnifying Glass Ready
I once had a PHP book that was in a larger format than this.It was on glossy paper and featured screenshots.It was a great book.I wish I could recall the name of it because I would like to obtain another copy.

I had hoped that this was that book but I was disappointed.I can't comment about the code in the book as I haven't begun to work through it.The focus of my problem is the miniscule type on the screencap images.

Now I'm not exaggerating; you could benefit from magnifying glasses when you look at the sample output as displayed on these small screencap images.If you are older like me and need to wear glasses these images will prove challenging to see.Since the book relies on these screencaps to display the sample code and output I regard this as a huge problem.

I understand the need for book publishers to reduce costs and that this effort has led to reducing the size of books but this result is a real detriment to the book's effectiveness.Maybe it wouldn't be a problem for a text-only book, but when you are trying to display screencaps the small size of this book's format (7 3/8" wide X 9 1/8" tall) isn't a suitable format because it forces the screencaps to be printed at what I consider to be too small a size.

Its a shame as the presentation format of visually learning is superior to just text but this book shrinks the screencaps too small to retain readable text in them.Too much fine print. :(

If reading ultra-fine print (seriously, its that small) isn't a problem for you then go for this book.If it is then look elsewhere.

Your friendly blueprint PHP & MySQL book
[...]
First of all I want to confess that I'm absolutely new to PHP and specially to MySQL. I made some try to understand PHP from some books from home library, but there're too advanced for me. In this book I found exactly what I was searching for.

There is no required knowledge level for using this book, but I would recommend it to beginners and intermediate users. For beginners it will be fast and easy PHP & MySQL reference, and for intermediate users it will be excellent book to remind them of all the things they forgotten (and more possibly to bring new stream in their knowledges).

I imagine this book would be useful to people who have no programming experience at all as this book covers basic programming concepts (which are the same in all programming languages) like variables, loops, and arrays, in great detail. Code in this book is for PHP 5 that is currently the latest version of PHP. I know that some companies in the world still stuck on PHP 4. So maybe this book will be helpful to people who wanna take quick overview of interaction of PHP5 and MySQL. I think some people would agree with me that jumping right away from version 4 to version 6 is not very convenient.

This is without a doubt a technical book and such books need to be written with simple language to be ready to everybody's grasp. This book is written with simple language and is very friendly. The book is full of short examples and I liked this book because of its simplicity.

Nobody stays behind as there are clarifications for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X users, so everybody stays satisfied. The detailed chapters on installation and configuration of Apache, PHP, and MySQL for all Windows, Linux and Macintosh are walking the reader through the complex process step by step, giving very clear instructions, explaining the reasons for the recommended configuration choices.

As it says on the cover: "Your visual blueprint for creating dynamic, database-driven Web sites". Book is printed on good quality paper and the most important thispages are not "busy" with a lot of information - inside you find many screenshots for every step you make, so you could have more control over your every action (step).

On a companion website you can download all codes for this book and get more information about author (also review table of content). Compressed .zip file with codes takes about 61kb on your hard disk and 532 kb unzipped. In case of interest you can first download code files and then ordera book.

Would recommend
This book has very high visual appeal, and would actually make a beginner like me want to learn the material covered in this book. The book is well organized (every chapter begins with a few paragraphs explaining the objective of the chapter, then follows with 1-2 pages of learn-by-example), although some of the information regarding MySQL and PHP setup are a bit outdated and confusing. The pictorial examples are clear and readable, although I can see how someone would think they are too small. Overall, I would recommend this book the most to those with little to no scripting experience, as it may move a bit slow for those with a lot of programming or scripting experience. ... Read more

Product Description
Best practices and expert techniques for today's most demanding apps

As the world's most popular, general purpose, open source scripting language, PHP is frequently used with MySQL to create high-traffic, mission-critical applications. This indispensable book shares proven, author-tested best practices and expert techniques that can be applied to even the most demanding MySQL-driven PHP apps. You'll explore ways to extend MySQL with user-defined functions, write PHP extensions, and solve problems when PHP and MySQL alone are not enough and other techniques or third-party tools are necessary.

Expert PHP and MySQL:

• Reviews essential techniques, such as design patterns, complex queries, and advanced regular expression

• Addresses advanced PHP concepts, such as iterators and closures

• Demonstrates using Gearman for multitasking in your web applications

• Discusses caching using memcached with MySQL and your PHP web applications

• Discusses ways to create PHP Extensions and MySQL User Defined Functions

• Shows how to use Sphinx for search functionality in your PHP web applications

Wrox Expert books present the wisdom accumulated by an experienced author team who is recognized as experts by the programming community. These experts challenge professional developers to examine their current practices in pursuit of better results.

wrox.com

Programmer Forums
Join our Programmer to Programmer forums to ask and answer programming questions about this book, join discussions on the hottest topics in the industry, and connect with fellow programmers from around the world.

Code Downloads
Take advantage of free code samples from this book, as well as code samples from hundreds of other books, all ready to use.

Read More
Find articles, ebooks, sample chapters, and tables of contents for hundreds of books, and more reference resources on programming topics that matter to you.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good read, good reference.
mysql > start review;

mysql > Being a MySQL DBA, not a developer, I was mostly interested in the MySQL sections but given I have a general interest in scripting I did go through some of the PHP sections. To be honest they were quite advanced for my php knowledge and experience.

The good thing about the book is that even though it assumes you have the basic knowledge, it still provides an introductory background on most of the two (PHP and MySQL) topics. This is not a "PHP and MySQL for dummies" so don't expect to learn the very basics nor will you become an expert in either topic by just reading the book. Even if you read the book thoroughly, becoming an expert requires years of hard work and experience. Having said that, his book is a good guide to make it there.

If you are at least a basic developer, this book will help you increase your knowledge drastically and create much better apps. If you are already an experienced dev, the book will probably still give you a few insights on things you don't use all that often and help keep your edge. As regards DBAs, the book is worth a great deal in that quite a substantial amount of its content is MySQL, and the PHP chapters will help you understand the developer point of view.

Finally, its a great addition to my library for referencing and a good read.

mysql > Recommended;
mysql > commit;

Not what I was looking for
I assumed by the title, and past experiences with wrox publications, that this book would have a decent amount of code, however, this book has Very few lines of code. The book mainly covers methods/technologies for maintaining/developing large Web sites/apps in PHP and MySQL. The book does not give vast PHP code examples of what it would take to write expert PHP sites/apps. I read this book cover to cover in about a week and learned absolutely nothing. Most of the content in the book should already be familiar to a "PHP programmer". A lot of the content was also very vague. The lack of PHP code illustrated in the book was frustrating and the few lines of PHP code in the book are full of typos/syntax errors. I was hoping this book would extend wrox's Pro PHP5, but this is not the case. I guess I will have to wait for a Pro PHP 5.3 or a book by another publisher...

Quite thorough
Quite a nice book. I wouldn't say it's a "must have", because some topics were only given a brief outline. I wonder why the authors included those paragraphs where they didn't give the topic a full coverage, but presented a short summary and said "You should already know this". Why did they include those paragraphs at all? It concerns mostly chapters devoted to MySQL. But as for PHP, everything's more than OK. General conclusion - "Above average". But so far not that perfect as I expected.

For once, an "Expert" book where you not only can, but must take the title seriously.
This book is choke-full of information, examples and best practices written by some of the foremost experts in their respective fields. All of the authors clearly have extensive experience working on setups requiring expert knowledge. Best of all, they are not afraid of thinking outside the box and the solutions they present are in no way limited to pure PHP and MySQL solutions.

This book really does expect something from the reader, so perhaps a word of caution is in order: you really do need to be familiar with a range of non-beginner subjects on both PHP and MySQL. I strongly recommend that you first read Chapter 1 of the book, helpfully available on the books' website. If you are not familiar with the contents presented here, you're not likely to gain much from your purchase.

If, on the other hand, all that you read there is Known Stuff, you're really in for a treat with this book. If you write programs because you have that personal itch, this book is going to make you feel as if you've just been attacked by a horde of mosquitoes. Really. You'll be re-thinking everything about how you build your websites from now on. But you won't need any itches for this book to make you re-think how you work with PHP and MySQL.

The book is extremely information-packed. I'm not one to shy away from reading 3-400 pages of technical references in a day, but this book is so densely filled that you simply won't be able to do that. Considering the breadth of topics covered, the authors at the same time manage to dive very deeply into each subject, covering all relevant resources, options, program libraries and best practices along the way. This does not make the book hard to read, to the contrary the language is very clear and concise. Don't expect information to be repeated anywhere.

Whether it's due to the authors or excellent editing, the language is very consistent and flows very well from chapter to chapter. If it wasn't for the change in subject matter and the authors' stated focus areas in the beginning of the book, it would be hard to discern that three people have been involved in writing this book.

A wonderful trait of all the authors is that they are very frank in assessing the available technologies, and don't mind telling you which things simply don't work, and why you should stay away from them - even when those technologies are offered by their respective employers.

You'll learn not only how to make the most optimal pure-PHP and pure-MySQL solutions, you will also see how you can integrate both of these with external programs by writing your own extensions and libraries. Descriptions of best practices in subjects such as user authentication and security will probably make you want to go back and check whether something could be improved in your own code and web server setup.

The chapters on advanced caching techniques, multi-tasking, optimization and debugging considerations are all very detailed and to the point. You'll be able to immediately put the techniques presented to use, and the book will serve you not only as a great tutorial, it will also be a great reference later on when you want to tune your setup.

There are of course a few chapters that could have used a bit more work. One chapter consists of barely more than a listing of output of feature lists, another contains very lengthy outputs that the reader might as well pull up on his own screen when working with some of the products. But these examples really are exceptions in an otherwise extremely well-written, informative and above all useful book.

Another word of caution: The book is highly UNIX (Linux) centric. If all your work is done using Windows, your benefit from reading this book might be limited. Then again, reading the book and realizing the potentials just might explain to you why it is most shops deploy their PHP/MySQL solutions on Linux.
... Read more

Product Description
<>Written by the creators of MySQL and edited by one of the most highly respected MySQL authors, the MySQL Administrator's Guide and Language Reference is the official guide to installing MySQL, to setting up and administering MySQL databases, and to storing and retrieving data in these databases. This new edition combines into one book the MySQL Language Reference (on CD) with the practical information of the MySQL Administrator's Guide book. 

Customer Reviews (7)

Way Overthe Averages Head!
This book is not for the faint at heart. However, it can be useful for the geek. It definitely is not for the beginner. It is dense and steeped in code lines.

If one wants a good beginner book for MySql, PHP and Apache then I recommend Sams Teach Yourself PHP, MySQL and Apache in 24 Hours by Julie C. Meloni (Paperback- Dec. 11, 2002.

It is an older book so it may difficult to find at times, but most of the code is Basic knowledge and easy to follow. If one buys a copy make sure it has the CD in it that can be very helpful.

MySQL Admin Guide
Excellent delivery service and the condition of the book was new. The price was also excellent.

Excellent -- if your running version 5
This is an excellent book, but it is written for MySql 5. Check your version before buying.

Get the newer edition
Good stuff.But the MySQL Administrator's guide (2nd edition) and Language reference is out and on Amazon.That contains the same book in a later edition with the language reference on CD on top of it.Buy that instead.

Good Buy
This is a good book gives out the details in an easy to understand format. ... Read more

Product Description

The authoritative, hands-on guide to advanced MySQL programming and administration techniques for high performance is here. MySQL Database Design and Tuning is the only guide with coverage of both the basics and advanced topics, including reliability, performance, optimization and tuning for MySQL. This clear, concise and unique source for the most reliable MySQL performance information will show you how to:

• Deploy the right MySQL product for your performance needs.
• Set up a performance management and monitoring environment using tools from MySQL.
• Implement the right indexing strategy
• Apply good performance strategy when developing software to work with the MySQL database.
• Configure dozens of variable to correctly tune the MySQL engine.

If you deal with the intricacies and challenges of advanced MySQL functionality on a daily basis, you will be able to build on your knowledge with author Robert Schneider's real-world experiences in MySQL Database Design and Tuning.

Customer Reviews (3)

Easy to understand and fantastic optimization tips for MySQL and even MS-SQL or Oracle databases
I am really impressed with the writing style and content of this book. Even though is not really a recent publication its content is still valid and full of nice tuning tips.

The main topic is of course MySQL but author talks about Index and Query tuning, topics than can be easily extrapolated to other RDBMS like MS-SQL or Oracle, helping you with other RDBMS during the process in case you're just a seasonal MySQL dba.

He does not go too much in detail, maybe MySQL (4th Edition) by Paul DuBois fills that hole better but Robert's book I think that is easier to read, without being a dummy book. For a complete MySQL coverage after reading this one, browse for any of Paul's books, he's really the best choice on MySQL books right now (content and easy to read books)

The chapter dedicated to the storage engines is one of my favorites and the one which differentiates this book for any other MS-SQL or Oracle tuning book. MySQL uses a modular approach for storage engine, allowing you to create tables and assign those to that particular engine taking advantage of a better transaction handling (InnoDB engine) or an improved speed for read only or tables (MyISAM engine). It was awesome to open my eyes, see the light and compare with MS-SQL (my main expertise) or see that the database world, like Operating Systems, is not black and white, not just Oracle vs MS-SQL. Actually, MySQL and Oracle are products of the same company and no wonder why after reading this book.

Good book, recommended, and I can assure you that if you're new into MySQL you will start considering this one as a good choice for your production database, especially if your databases are not OLTP but mostly read only or for reporting purposes; MySQL beauty and stronger point ... MyISAM engine ...

I was about to buy Oracle, but chose MySQL instead (and saveed big $$$)
I'm a DBA for a mid-sized manufacturing company. We were about to upgrade our SQL Server to Oracle 10g, which was going to set ups back a lot of money. I had been experimenting with MySQL and bought this helpful book to give me a better understanding of how to make it run fast. I really liked the case studies, because they cover a lot of different senarios. To make long story short, I was able to convert the SQL Server database to MySQL, and things have been going great.

64 Terabytes of table space!
Many of you might be tempted to go with the free MySQL, instead of possibly paying big bucks to Oracle or IBM for their databases. But what may have been holding you back could be a worry that when you go with MySQL, you are on your own. Unless you are already well versed with it, are there pitfalls in the implementation of table design or tuning that render the choice of MySQL a false economy?

It's a reasonable worry. Schneider does well here to disabuse you of that notion. He addresses both issues.

On the subject of table design, the advice is clear. Actually, it seems that the discussion is broadly applicable to any SQL/relational implementation. If you already know some SQL, you won't feel that MySQL is some weird variant. Which speaks well of its designers.

Most of the book, however, deals with tuning aspects. Now here, you'll probably have to learn new things. Each SQL implementation seems to have specific tuning characteristics. There is little standardisation here across implementations. As what I hope is a reasonable guess, check out the sections on improving the efficiency of searches (ie. queries). This may be the most important thing to optimise in many applications.

In passing, let me make one remark about MySQL's InnoDB data storage engine. It can hold a table space of as much as 64 Terabytes! For the vast majority of you, this should be adequate addressing. And it's a rejoinder to competitors who say MySQL is limited. ... Read more

Product Description

Clustering is the final component of MySQL that makes it truly enterprise-level and able to compete fully with proprietary databases such as Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server. The increased number of high-demand, high-productivity corporations and institutions choosing MySQL, including MIT, the Department of Homeland Security, NASA, and Nokia, to name a few, need the benefit of clustering databases for high performance and scalability.

MySQL AB has stepped up to the plate to offer advanced, high-availability, reliable clustering. As this demand has increased, so has the need for information. MySQL Clustering offers thorough, authoritative instruction on setting up and administering a MySQL Cluster from the developers of the cluster itself. You will learn about everything from installation and configuration to performance and troubleshooting in this authoritative reference guide to MySQL clustering.

Product Description
If you are new to programming with PHP 6 and MySQL and are looking for a solid introduction, this is the book for you. Developed by computer science instructors, books in the for the absolute beginner? series teach the principles of programming through simple game creation. You will acquire the skills that you need for more practical programming applications and will learn how these skills can be put to use in real-world scenarios. Everything you need to complete the tutorials is on the companion CD?there?s no software to buy and you can get started right away. By the time you finish thebook you will be able to apply the basic principles you?ve learned to the next programming language you tackle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Not for Beginners
This book should not have been released yet.It is filled with errors - even beyond the errata sheet.The introduction says "I do not expect you to have any previous programming experience."Then on page 3 is says "make sure you can write solid HTML by hand."Isn't that programming?If I didn't have prior programming experience, I would not even be able to read the book.I tried to follow the examples in the book, but could not, there were three errors in chapter 3 alone.There are so many codes within the programs that are not even explained - this book is not for beginners.I am now purchasing additional books and referring to several different web pages to get through my class.

Good book but not a teacher for a beginner!
I am giving this two stars because this is actually not a good book for beginners but really a book for more intermediate PHP users or those programmers interested in gaming development. It suffers from too much reliance on arcane examples plus a first couple of chapters that really provide more frustration than value to a real beginner.

Chapter one actually does nothing to really help you set up a php server.The book assumes that you know a good deal about local server technology and that you are comfortable setting up a local server on your machine.It assumes that you know the subtleties of how a local host file system works.It also assumes extensive experience in static web page developmentxhtml coding, CSS,etc.

In chapter two the book jumps from being very basic to using some advanced tools as examples.The concepts used require that you spend some extremely careful time reading the provided code used in the examples to understand the relevance of specific functions.The examples are interesting but are not directly applicable to a beginner.

In chapter 3 the book becomes a reasonable teaching tool yet its reliance on dice games as examples makes it somewhat irrelevant for what most users are studying this to do on the web.It does provide the new programmer, and even more experienced ones, with some foundation of how php code works but not in a web related context.It does develop good practices and explains how and why the programming works. It explains very well the differences in control structures, and where one shines over another. It makes arrays accessible but not friendly and provides a basic introduction into MySQL.With very careful study you can probably actually put all of it into practical applications but many times you will be left cold when applying it to more day to day web applications.

My advice is if you already have this book then use it as an auxiliary in conjunction with another book that will give you a more grounded perspective without so detailed reliance on complex game type examples.My personal recommendation is "PHP Visual Quick Start Guide Third Edition" by Larry Ullman. This is a real beginners book that actually teaches and will have you proficient in PHP in no time.

Immaculate Literature
Just the book I was looking for. Great price and fast shipping. What more could you ask for? It even came with the CD/DVD and I've tried using it and it works 100% fine. Thanks!

Newbie beware!
I'll admit, I haven't even made it through the first chapter yet. I have high hopes for this book, but the Amazon description left out one crucial detail: you need to REALLY know your XHTML 1.0 strict before hoping to handle PHP. The book makes this very statement on page 3. That would have been really nice to know before I bought the book, since I don't know the first thing about XHTML. Guess if I'm going to get my money out of this, I'll have to buy a book on XHTML first! >:/ ... Read more

Product Description
Together, PHP & MySQL form the most widely used open source database and scripting technologies on the Web today. As a budding Web Developer, you need to learn and master PHP & MySQL.

Build Your Own Database Driven Website Using PHP & MySQL is a hands-on guide to learning all the tools, principles and techniques needed to build a fully functional database-driven Website using PHP & MySQL.

This book covers everything from installing PHP & MySQL under Windows or Linux, through to building a live Web-based content management system.

It also covers more advanced topics such as the storage of binary data in MySQL, and cookies and sessions in PHP, and comes complete with a set of PHP and MySQL reference tables that include PHP and MySQL syntax, functions, column types and more.

This book not only provides easy access to all the code samples demonstrated, but, more importantly, it leaves you with the confidence and know-how to adapt the principles and techniques to your own Web design projects.

This book will show you how to:

- Build a working Content Management System Add, edit & delete Web content without using HTML

- Setup automatic backups of your database

- Increase your database security (Chapter 8)

- Optimize the loading time of your Website (Chapter 9)

- Build an ecommerce shopping cart (Chapter 12)

- Automatically send email on triggered events (Chapter 10)

- Handle file uploads using HTML forms (Chapter 10)

- Build a Web-based file repository or photo gallery

- Utilize sessions and cookies to track site visitors

- Master MySQL Database Administration. (Chapter 8)

- And a whole lot more…

Build Your Own Database Driven Website Using PHP & MySQL is an essential resource for budding Web Developers. If you want to go beyond the limitations of a static site and learn to build dynamic, database-driven Websites, this book will show you how. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (47)

Rip Off - Stay Away
This book comes with a CD in the back with lots of examples to learn from... at least it's supposed to. Actually you have to download the examples off the publisher's website (for an additional price, of course).
As for teaching PHP and MySQL, it's not worth it.I followed the examples to the letter but couldn't get PHP to work with MySQL. (Couldn't even get them to talk to each other)
If you're going to waste your money on this though, I *highly* recommend you order directly from the publisher, since it "seems" if you do, you might get the examples for free (maybe), but don't waste your money on this.

Great book, extremely helpful.
This book was great!It helped step through the basic and not so basic aspects of mysql and how it relates to php. The examples were easy to follow, but not condescending.It was helpful to have online access to the code.I really enjoyed the fact that he would give you enough information to understand the concept, but then had you figure things out on your own before giving the rest of the program.I have been impressed at the detail and helpfulness of this book.

Excellent book!
An excellent book for the very beginner to intermediate user, providing a lot of knowledge in the area of PHP and MYSQL. You will learn about relational database design, how to make a content management system, advanced SQL queries, etc. At the end you will use what you learned to create a dynamic driven website.

Book is too old
This book is way out of date. There are more up to date versions available.

Great for biginners, but out of date for today.
True to Site Point's method and style, this book makes it easy to jump into the basics of it's subject. Easy to navigate and full of helpful tips and hints, all the matieral is easy to access.
However a word of warning for those who may wish to purchase this book- get a newer version! This version covers PHP4.0 which is being discontinued from use in November of 2007. Learning PHP4.0 will not be very helpful after November, so Look for the newer version of this book and you will be set.
I found this to be the newest version as of this posting: Build Your Own Database Driven Website Using PHP and MySQL
I was quite sad when I realized I had purchased, and then read through, the whole book and then found out that PHP4 will be discontinued. You need PHP5 or PHP6 to be effective and up to date.
Also, if you are not an absolute beginner at the subject, this book is probably not for you. You can find more advanced books on the subject that will help you in your php quest. I found the first couple of chapters to be a bore, and maybe even an insult, because they covered 'how to use windows' how to open notepad, or how to do the equivalent in mac. ... Read more

Product Description
The MySQL? database has become the world's most popular open source database because of its consistent fast performance, high reliability, and ease of use. That?s why best-selling authors Phil Pratt and Mary Last are pleased to introduce their latest database textbook - A Guide to MySQL. This straightforward text utilizes three case databases ? Premiere Products, Henry Books, and Alexamara Marina Group ? to teach the concepts and techniques of using MySQL. Your students will gain the skills to build professional quality MySQL databases, thanks to this real-world approach. Additional hands-on exercises at the end of each chapter offer students the opportunity to problem-solve based on what they?ve previously learned. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Textbook Keeper
I'm using this textbook for a MySQL course and it is definitely a keeper! If you are just starting out with it it's a good book but it is also worthwhile for those just wanting a reference. It follows three companies throughout the book, with exercises for each database at the end of each chapter which allows you to practice what you learned reading.

Excellent
This book was posted as used in good condition, but it was much better than that-it came to me with the appearance of being brand new, not to mention that this was the fastest that I have ever received a purchase!!Thanks so much!

Great Reference
This is a great reference book.I have used this book in college frequently and am still using it in the work place.Easy to follow, organized very well, great examples.If you need a reference book this would be a good choice. ... Read more

Product Description
As users come to depend on MySQL, they find that they have to deal with issues of reliability, scalability, and performance--issues that are not well documented but are critical to a smoothly functioning site. This book is an insider's guide to these little understood topics. Author Jeremy Zawodny has managed large numbers of MySQL servers for mission-critical work at Yahoo!, maintained years of contacts with the MySQL AB team, and presents regularly at conferences. Jeremy and Derek have spent months experimenting, interviewing major users of MySQL, talking to MySQL AB, benchmarking, and writing some of their own tools in order to produce the information in this book.In High Performance MySQL you will learn about MySQL indexing and optimization in depth so you can make better use of these key features. You will learn practical replication, backup, and load-balancing strategies with information that goes beyond available tools to discuss their effects in real-life environments. And you'll learn the supporting techniques you need to carry out these tasks, including advanced configuration, benchmarking, and investigating logs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

MySQL on Steroids
High Performance MySQL opens with a quick chapter describing various MySQL installation options including binary packages and compiling from source code. The next chapter describes the different storage engines available in MySQL and why you would want to choose one over another. This is the book's first hint of what you can do to improve database performance: picking the right table type.

Skilled software developers use benchmarking to gain insight into how their software is performing and database benchmarking should be part of that strategy. A brief chapter introduces some database benchmarking strategies and tools.

Chapters on indexing and query performance follow, describing some of the most important skills to master. Following that, replication and load balancing are discussed. Backup and recovery options are covered, as is the topic of security.

A somewhat thin trio of goodies rounds off the book in the appendices: the SHOW STATUS / SHOW INNODB STATUS commands, the mytop tool, and the phpMyAdmin user interface.

Overall, I found many possible areas for performance improvement that I had not thought of before. At 278 pages, a lot of material is crammed into this book. It's a quick read and if you're a MySQL admin or a developer using MySQL, you're bound to find something useful here!

It could have been better
I'm Certified MySQL Associate and preparing for the next exams (Developer and Admin)... and I must say I didn't liked the book.

It offered nothing new for me... so if you're at a high level in MySQL it will not help you that much.

I saw some slides by Jeremy that were by far more informative and compact than the whole book.

To keep it short the complete title should have been: High Performance MySQL for MySQL beginners.

Excellent resource for the beginniner and seasoned administrator alike
Having written LAMP-based web applications, I read High Performance MySQL hoping to gain a deeper understanding of how MySQL operates at a relatively low level and how to deal with ongoing frustrations (especially replication).

I was quite pleased.As others have noted, the book is readable and the authors' tone inviting.While the book does rigorously avoid discussion of low-level implementation details (e.g. "the query is parsed" is left as a black box step in the execution process), this does not detract materially from the message.The chapter on replication is one of the best treatments of this topic I have seen.

I only have a few criticisms.First, there are a number of typographical errors of varying severity, though I understand that the most egregious ones (e.g. in code) have been fixed in newer printings.Second, while the book is titled, "High Performance MySQL," it might be more aptly called, "High Volume MySQL."The contents seem highly directed toward sites that run simple queries against huge tables, neglecting somewhat the many sites (e.g. ecommerce) that may run very complex queries against small to medium size tables, but for which optimization may be just as important.This focus is unsurprising given the lead author's career at Yahoo!, but prospective readers should at least be aware of the bias.

Good intro to managing databases but short on details
This is an overall solid book, covering all aspects of running a MySQL database, from the impact of various flavors of hardware to architecting database clusters.However, I was expecting more details and insight about configuring and scaling MySQL.What are some of the finer points of implementing database clustering or federation?How does indexing and caching work in MySQL?How much will data fragmentation impact performance?In the end, even though the title suggests it covers advanced topics, I didn't learn much new from this book.

Self made DBA
A great overview of MySQL, with a cursory introduction to virtually every field a DBA will encounter over the years. The book is aimed at someone who has already used MySQL, but does not require in-depth knowledge - it's well written and should serve as a great starting point for further research. Jeremy covers: indexes, engines, query tricks, backup, security, and more. For a seasoned DBA, this book may not offer as much, but for the rest of us, it's a highly recommended read! ... Read more