MySQL Cookbook

PHP and MySQL Web Development (3rd Edition) (Developer's Library)

High Performance MySQL

Beginning PHP 5 and MySQL: From Novice to Professional

Mysql And Msql

MySQL (3rd Edition) (Developer's Library)

Format: Paperback
Author: Paul DuBois
ReleaseDate: 10 March, 2005
Publisher: Sams
Rating:

Excellent reference book
Illustrations are clear, and examples concise. This book is used at least once a day. Covers all aspects of MySQL.

Only nag is that version 5. 0 was obviously still evolving when this was written, so some of the new features such as triggers and views are not fleshed out well. But the author deals with that early on, and does give them some page time.

As with most open source programs, check the website -- there are some really nifty tools now available for MySQL that weren't available even a few months ago.

Worth the price -- don't wait for the fourth edition. If you do, you'll be missing out on what you can do with this amazing product.

Probably complete, but...
However when it comes to searching the information you need, this is a different story. This book is full of interesting data - and is even probably complete.

The biggest problem is the index. You need a refresh about the syntax of the command to dump/recover the database. . . don't look for "dump" or "recover" it's not in.
Even the simplest operations like "How do I extend the fields of my table?", there is neither "add" or "field" in the index (besides the FIELD() function).

Finally the information is hard to find within the chapters also. There are 13 head of chapters with non intuitive titles. The author had seemingly a hard time to manage all that information, and distributing it logically among chapters. Repetitions, omissions,. . . the book is not pleasant to search/follow/read.

I agree one must be glad to have a book about Mysql, this is why I gave 3 stars, but the book could be largely improved.

The most comprehensive reference to MySQL usage, administration, and programming currently available.


I actually owe my involvement with MySQL and my current employment to this book. If someone approached me and asked `Mike, I want to learn MySQL ad I can only afford one book, which one would you recommend?', I would have to answer MySQL by Paul DuBois. When I was taking an Oracle course in University I found a copy of the first edition of this book in a bookstore at a discount and picked it up in the hopes that since it referred to SQL on the cover it might help me with my studies. While the book did teach me a good deal about SQL, it also taught me about MySQL, an RDBMS I would use exclusively as soon as the Oracle course was over with.

At more than 1200 pages, this is certainly the most comprehensive book on MySQL available to date. This book covers everything from installing MySQL to query optimization to PHP programming, along with everything in between. The book also provides enough reference information that it serves as a nice substitute for the MySQL documentation when you do not have internet access.

Part one of this book deals with the basics. MySQL is described, and a basic SQL tutorial is provided. Later chapters describe choosing data types and performing the various tasks that are involved in using MySQL. By the time you complete part one, you should be able to access data, create tables, join tables, and optimize your queries. For a typical user these first 300 pages should be all you need to become an advanced user (not an administrator mind you).

Part two occupies the next 250 pages and is a nice introducion to programming and instructs you in the use of the C, Perl,
and PHP APIs. While not as extensive a programming introduction as you will find in a dedicated PHP, Perl, or C book, the subject of database programming with these languages is well covered, and you should be able to write a basic database application after reading part two.

In part three, Paul DuBois descibes the administration of a MySQL database. Of particular interest should be the chapters on
administration and security. Additional subjects include file maintenance, server configuration, and replication. As with part one, part three is comprehensive and should provide solutions for anything you may encounter when administering a MySQL database.

The reference information in the appendices is quite extensive, and covers everything from installation to function and syntax references. The information should be current to MySQL 5, and is an excellent resource when you do not have access to the online reference manual
with its current information.

This is without a doubt one of the finest resources available on MySQL. This was my first MySQL book and my old first edition is well worn and has served me very well. If you need a good MySQL book that can take you from being an absolute beginner to a seasoned DBA, this is the book for you.