Beginning Google Maps Applications with PHP and Ajax: From Novice to Professional [Paperback]

Michael Purvis (Author), Jeffrey Sambells (Author), Cameron Turner (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1590597079 | ISBN-13: 978-1590597071 | Publication Date: August 23, 2006 | Edition: 1st ed. 2006. Corr. 2nd printing

The Google Maps API remains one of the showcase examples of the Web 2.0 development paradigm, making it fairly trivial for third-party developers to incorporate dynamic mapping services into Web applications. In fact, interest in the Google service is so strong that it arguably sparked the mashup phenomenon, along with a number of websites such as http://www.gmapsmania.com intended to highlight some of the exciting applications developers are building using the mapping API.

Google Maps Application Development is the first book to comprehensively introduce the service from a developer-perspective, showing readers how they can integrate mapping features into their Web applications.

Proceeding far beyond creating a simplistic map display, readers are shown how to draw upon a variety of data sources such as geocode.us and the U.S. Census Bureau’s TIGER/Line data to build comprehensive geocoding services for mapping any location in North America.

Readers are also guided through various examples demonstrating how to encourage user interaction such as pinpointing map locations, adding comments, and building community-driven maps.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mike Purvis is a Engineering student at the University of Waterloo. He maintains a weblog at uwmike.com and enjoys cooking, cycling, and playing with LEGO. He's worked on many web projects of various sizes and has a strong interest in independent standards and open source.

Jeff Sambells is a Graphic Designer and self taught Web Application developer best known for his unique ability to merge the visual world of graphics with the mental realm of code. With a Bachelor of Technology degree in Graphic Communications Management and a minor in Multimedia, Jeffrey was originally trained for the paper and ink printing industry, but he soon realized the world of pixels and digital ink was were his ideas would prosper.

In late 1999, he co-founded We-Create Inc., an internet software company based in Waterloo, Ontario, which began many long nights of challenging and creative innovation. Currently, as Director of Research and Development for We-Create, Jeffrey is responsible for investigating new and emerging internet technologies and integrating them using web standards compliant methods. He is described by his peers as both a natural programmer and an innovative thinker.

Cameron Turner has been programming interactive games since his first computer in 1985; interactive web sites since 1994 and since 1999 has been one of the founders of We-Create Inc. He obtained his honours degree in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo Ontario, with specializations in applied cryptography, database design and computer security. As the Chief Technology Officer at We-Create Inc., Cam has been involved in all aspects of Internet software development, design and specification. More than a manager, Cam maintains an active ability to develop in all of the latest break-through technologies as well as an ability to easily translate tech-talk into lay-English for clients and their stakeholders.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Apress; 1st ed. 2006. Corr. 2nd printing edition (August 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590597079
• ISBN-13: 978-1590597071
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #390,568 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Languages & Tools > Ajax

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well done, September 12, 2006

By 

pb (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beginning Google Maps Applications with PHP and Ajax: From Novice to Professional (Paperback)

I am using this book to build a mapping application. I'm a beginning-intermediate web programmer and find the book well designed. There are nice sections on improving the user interfaces of map applications, updating maps with data queried from a database, and plenty of good examples (also posted on the book's website). It's a good all around case study in developing dynamic websites with JavaScript, custom controls, databases and PHP. There is a positive review on Slashdot as well.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolutely excellent roadmap to Google Maps API Integration, November 9, 2006

By 

Anthony B. Burnham "m0rph3ne" (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beginning Google Maps Applications with PHP and Ajax: From Novice to Professional (Paperback)

This book was an absolutely incredible guide to the nuances of the Google Maps API. It clearly goes from simple integration, to geocoding to more complex functions such as overlays etc. I found it absolutely invaluable for my project, and I'm sure you will too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must buy, June 15, 2008

By 

Oguzhan Topsakal - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beginning Google Maps Applications with PHP and Ajax: From Novice to Professional (Paperback)

If you are going to get one book to learn or improve your Google Maps skill, this is the book. This very well organized book introduces you the basics and then moves on some advance staff that you have to learn if you want to develop serious Google Maps application.
You can check out the table of content and sample chapters from its website.
I enjoyed reading it and therefore I highly recommend it for Google Map developers.