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MySQL
The Scoop Paul DuBois has gone beyond the technically comprehensive MySQL documentation to produce an informative and entertaining compendium of MySQL knowledge. Requiring little prior experience ("What is a database and why should I care?"), he explains general SQL and RDBMSs as well as the peculiarities of MySQL. What's to Like? The prose is clear and readable. At the start, DuBois walks the reader through designing two very different database projects. After the first chapter, a normal user will be proficient at manipulating the client and issuing basic commands -- even designing her own tables. From there, the rest of the MySQL world opens up as more detail emerges. The sections on optimizing queries and table indexes will prove particularly valuable as the database grows from a hobby into a valuable project of its own.
Almost anyone working with MySQL will find appropriate information, no matter his approach. While the standard client receives ample attention, Perl and PHP Web interfaces are developed and explained in later chapters. After explaining the general ideas of the particular interface, DuBois walks through the design and evolution of programs to fill specific tasks. These programs start with basic functionality and gradually add more features until the original goal is met.
Though the book explicitly covers stable version 3.22 and development version 3.23, features introduced in newer versions are marked and features on the roadmap are mentioned. Deprecated functions and replacements are labeled, too. As well, the section on "missing features" is useful, giving suggested workarounds, when present. (Examples include subselects and transactions.) ANSI SQL receives plenty of attention -- even where the MySQL implementation strays. It's an honest approach.
DB administrators aren't left out -- a full section is dedicated to their own issues. Security and permissions receive due treatment, as does performance tuning. The section on maintenance and database relocation was particularly interesting. There's even a treatise on the structure of the database files (notable for the differences between the ISAM and MyISAM formats).
Finally, the included appendices are well-selected. Weighing in at slightly less than a third of the pages, this tome will not have time to gather dust on my bookshelf. Most pertain to programmers, but having a physical guide to the built-in MySQL functions has a certain appeal.
What's to Consider? While filed with useful information and clear examples, the Perl chapter had a distinctive C flavor to it. As the corresponding C chapter assumes familiarity with that language and the PHP discussion starts with an introduction to PHP, the author assumedly addresses potential MySQL programmers in three categories: C programmers, Perl dabblers, and PHP initiates. While this likely reflects the makeup of his intended audience, it may also prove distracting to more experienced users. (Suggestion for these folks: read the example code and skip to the API appendix.)A minor nitpick is the binding and cover of the book. My review copy managed to attract lots of dirt on the nice cover, and it developed a serious crack in the spine, in the middle of the Perl DBI chapter. Some of the affected pages are coming loose, after moderate usage. Hopefully this is just a defect in my copy.
Be aware that much of the example prose has a touch of free-Unix to it. Nearly all options will work on the Windows platform, but users unaccustomed to extended command line forays may feel uncomfortable. (Since this also applies to the database, it's barely worth mentioning.)
The Summary MySQL is an excellent book, with a good balance of database introduction, believably practical examples, and technical information. Want to program, set up, or administer a MySQL system? You won't go wrong here.
Purchase the book at ThinkGeek.
Table of Contents- General MySQL Use
- Introduction to MySQL and SQL
- Working with Data in MySQL
- MySQL SQL Syntax and Use
- Query Optimization
- Using MySQL Programming Interfaces
- Introduction to MySQL Programming
- The MySQL C API
- The Perl DBI API
- The PHP API
- MySQL Administration
- Introduction to MySQL Administration
- The MySQL Data Directory
- General MySQL Administration
- Security
- Database Maintenance and Repair
- Appendixes
- Obtaining and Installing Software
- Column Type Reference
- Operator and Function Reference
- SQL Syntax Reference
- MySQL Program Reference
- C API Reference
- Perl DBI API Reference
- PHP API Reference
- Useful Third-Party Tools
- Internet Service Providers
There's a very clear and prominent link to it on the postgresql web page. Seems to me that that should be the first place to look for resources.
--
Change is inevitable.
Progress is not.
As an owner of both books, I'd have to say that the MySQL book is far better than the OReilly version.
I've only had a chance to flip through the MySQL book, but just in that, far more has been covered than in the OReilly one. Not only that, but it seems to be missing the technical and grammatical flaws of the My&m.
This is a strange feeling, but for once I will have to recommend the non-oreilly version of a book.
-- DrZaius - Minister of Sciences and Protector of the Faith
The VPN book by O'Reilly, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565925297/ , is really quite mediocre - while some of the conceptual discussion is OK, it fails to cover IPSec properly (which is now the industry standard for crypto based VPNs) and is not a patch on Dan Harkin's IPSec book.
I do generally like O'Reilly books, but this is full of errors and fails to address the most important issues.
Hi, thanks for the info, interspersed with a couple of boos 'cause I want this book yesterday! ;)
My main question about the book, which I haven't been able to figure out from the info I've seen: Does it cover PHP 4? At all? Mostly? Thanks for the help, and I'm looking forward to reading the book!
Cheers,
ZicoKnows@hotmail.com
I'm getting a quote of $34.00 at ThinkGeek for the mySQL book when I follow the link in your post. Is there a code I can enter to get some kind of discount, which would explain the $29 that you two are talking about? I'm not looking to buy this book, 'cause I already own it, but having the discount in the future would be nice. I didn't, like, insult Slashdot one too many times in my youth to recieve the discount or something, did I? ;)
Cheers,
ZicoKnows@hotmail.com
New Rider's MySQL $29.25
UPS Ground ($6.73)
UPS 3 Day Select ($8.60)
UPS Second Day Air ($11.10)
UPS Next Day Saver ($22.25)
UPS Next Day Air ($24.75)
You're looking at a minimum of $35.98.
Do some comparison shopping first at Best Book Buys before you decide.
BTW, the ISBN listed at ThinkGeek is incorrect. As the /. article states, it should be 07357-0921-1.
Whilst the New Riders Java Certification book got what was probably (and rightly) the worst reveiws ever, this MySQL book seems to cut the mustard and beat the O'Reilly offering.
I have been an avid O'Reilly supporter since the beginning. I have so many first printing O'Reilly books, I can't count them all. I suffered through the O'Reilly binding-testing phase (and am quite pleased with the results). I swear by O'Reilly books. I recommend them to everyone who asks.
However, IMHO, the New Riders MySQL book is light years better than the O'Reilly book. Everyone in my group now owns the New Riders MySQL book, and all comments I've heard have been favorable... sometimes wildly so.
I also agree that the Linux Firewalls book is a good book. I have not read any other New Riders books, so I can not speak to them, but I will vouch for the quality of these two books.
I'm one of the biggest ORA fans out there. Their books are superb. They tend to present twice as much information in half the space and far more clearly than anyone else out there. I have a huge O'Reilly library and they're all show much wear. The small bookshelf next to my desk is almost exclusively inhabited by O'Reilly. The huge bookshelves I keep in the next room is where I keep other technical publishers (along with 10 years of novels). O'Reilly books are the best, bar none.
Except for _mSQL and MySQL_.
This book was a dog. A major disappointment. In trying to cover both DBs, they managed to cover neither. It was all over the map, and while the first two chapters have some nice general db-design theory, they aren't worth the price of admission.
I'm going to give MySQL a try.
Seth
$5 / month hosted VPS on linux = awesome!
E-Commerc e Solutions with MySQL by Prima (Editor)
List Price: $39.99
Will be published in September 2000.
ISBN: 0761524452
MySQL and PHP from Scratch
List Price: unavailable
Published in January 2000
ISBN: 0789724499
Professio nal MySQL Programming by Wrox Author Team
List Price: $49.99
Will be published in July 2000.
ISBN: 1861004281
SAMS Teach Yourself MySQL in 21 Days by Mark Maslakowski
List Price: $39.99
Will be published in May 2000.
ISBN: 0672319144
Php3 and MySQL Web Development by William Jason Gilmore
List Price: $39.99
Will be published in April 2000.
ISBN: 0672317842
and for your reference:
MySQL & mSQL by Randy Jay Yarger, George Reese, and Tim King
List Price: $34.95
Published August 1999
ISBN: 1565924347
MySQL by Paul DuBois and Michael Widenius
List Price: $49.99
Published December 1999 (?)
ISBN: 0735709211
--
A lot of people seem to use MySQL, so maybe it has some advantage that I'm missing. Or then again, maybe the people who are using MySQL just don't grok true relational databases.
"The axiom 'An honest man has nothing to fear from the police'
Why is it that the proponents of "one nation under God" are so eager to get rid of "liberty and justice for all"?
Bull. It's simple to manage relational data in flat files. It's generally faster to do this if you use fixed-width records, but it's still easy to do with variable-length delimited text files.
Refer to The AWK Programming Language by Aho, Weinstein, & Kernighan for sample implementations of relational data management using flat files. Look at join.awk for elucidation.
The same techniques are applicable to Perl or any other modern computer language.
"The axiom 'An honest man has nothing to fear from the police'
Why is it that the proponents of "one nation under God" are so eager to get rid of "liberty and justice for all"?
If someone wants to knock this book, fine, but to moderate someone up when they admit they haven't even read the book is silly, especially when they offer no more detailed criticism than some vague "BAD experiences."
I read O'Reilly's mSQL and mySQL when it came out. Say what you want about their other books, this was not their finest hour. The New Riders books, which I read about three months ago, is a great book on its own -- in comparision to the O'Reilly book, however, it's simply outstanding. If you want to get one book on mySQL, the New Riders one is unquestionably the book to get.
Oh, and I have no connection with New Riders -- I own a lot of O'Reilly books, and the mySQL book is the only tech book of New Riders that I own so far. So far. I'm really looking forward to their Web Application Development with PHP, which I ordered a couple of weeks ago.
Oh yeah, and as for the info that I mentioned in the subject line. I just noticed that ComputerBookstore.com just extended their 41% off sale on all New Riders books until April 30. (The deadline had been April 16th, but I got inundated with tax-paying and forgot to order my books.) Heh, and as I check the above link to make sure it works, I noticed that they've also now got a 41% off sale on all Wrox books, too. Argh, pity me and my credit card....
Cheers,
ZicoKnows@hotmail.com
P.S. Heh, I noticed that they've even got Jon Katz's Geeks at 41% off, too.
This is scary. As I lay in bed last night I was reading the book in question. After bieng sucked into the book for over an hour I finally put it down to sleep. Hmm, maybe Slashdot would be interested in a review when I finish. Doh! Oh well.
Anyways, I can't comment too extensivly on the book, I've only made it through a couple chapters.
So far this has got to be the best technical book I've ever read. Paul DuBois's writing style fit me perfect. I often have a hard time reading technical books. My mind starts to wonder and I lose track of the trail most tech books seem to lead you down.
With MySQL is was different. Everytime I started thinking about a "whatif" scenario Paul DuBois was there explaining the answer. It sort of startled me as I found my own logic following the books.
Too often I find myself struggling to keep up with some of the Orielly books. Most of thier books seem to already assume some level of proficiency with the topic on hand. I love they're books, I just have to read them a couple of times. Once to get an overview and once to put it all together.
So far I'm only a couple chapters deep in MySQL. I bought this book because it had some good reviews at Amazon (I bought it local) and I literaly had no experiences with databases. Withing this first couple chapters I find myself understanding the concept fairly good (IMO). Unless this book takes a drastic turn for the worse I can't imagine not getting my money's worth (I paid retail $59.95).
While I can't guarantee your train of thought will follow the authors like mine did. I still highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in MySQL. Even if you have no experience with databases Paul makes it easy to start off and learn the basics.
LiNTcheck out what the MySQL folx say about this book here
and on other subjects but the mySQL book and the Linux firewalls book I purchase from new riders were excellent. I got the Linux Firewalls book for a reference when changing to ipchains. I'm a Systems Administrator and I have MANY O'Reilly books that are great. I would recomment AGAINST getting the O'Reilly mySQL book ( a friend of mine has both and I've taken a look at the O'Reilly book ) it does not cover as much information and the information it does cover is not done as well.
Anyone reading this should seriously consider this New Rider Title. Especially since xtal didn't read it and I did.
Gary
======== In the future, everything will be artificial. ========
I have copies of both O'Reilly's mSQL/MySQL book and the New Riders' MySQL book. Had I not acquired them in that order, I would have never purchased the former.
The latter is much more comprehensive than the first especially with regard to examples. I consider it the essential reference for MySQL while the O'Reilly book is more of an introduction to MySQL. My O'Reilly book is now a loaner for folks in my department who have a passing interest in MySQL, however, I keep a short leash on the New Riders' book because it is an indispensable resource.
insipid
dp
---
http://insipid.com
I picked up the Oreilly book just after it came out last summer. It disappointed me. While I really enjoyed the "intro-to-databases" chapters in the ORA book, I thought that it was much more of a "here's how to program databases; by the way we are gonna talk about MySQL some." The coverage of database programming in many different languages was a defintie plus, though some chapters, notably rhe Java chapter, were really sparse (even if you don't count the missing Guestbook example!)
/.ers have noted) is disappointing.
The problem with the ORA book was that it didn't get into MySQL enough. It certainly got me to a point where I could start doing good database programming, but it didn't accelerate me to being really good with MySQL.
The NewRiders book does just that. I picked it up last week and I just love it. It has a weak introduction to database design; if you don't know how to design a database, you'll want to pick up something else first. However, if you are already familiar with designing databases, this book simply shines.
The first section is simply marvelous. It does a good bit of hand holding, getting you used to using MySQL and its utilities. Chapter 3 is really good; it goes into detail about some of the MySQL language extensions, and how and why you use them. Chapter 4 is a plus also; while MySQL is already fast, optimization of your queries is important for any database application.
The second section is quite good also, giving an indepth review of how to program the engine with 3 popular languages. DuBois' treatment of C is refreshing; too often the old-standby language is ignored, with all the hype of the RAD/Web languages. However, the omission of Java and Python (as other
The third section is astonishing. FINALLY someone explained how to use the goofy user management scheme in MySQL! I also really enjoyed the mention of database administration, including the hows and whys of isamchk. DuBois points out a lot of subtle gotchas or hangups; a real plus to someone who has never administered anything like a RDMBS before.
All in all, this is a great book to buy. It gets you to understand just about everything there is to know about MySQL. The ORA book is good if you need reference for more languages and want a simple introduction to database design, but the NewRiders book can't be beat for breadth of topics and accuracy. Having Monty as the technical reviewer surely helped!
If you are currently programming MySQL, or are thinking about it, you will want this book. I know I'm glad I purchased it.