Customer Reviews

C++ Builder 6 Developers Guide with CDR (Wordware Delphi Developer's Library)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Not having used C++Builder for several years, I was looking forward to reading this one to learn the new bits of v6, and pick up some pointers on BDE while getting there. The book was very frustrating to me. There are some people who can explain topics in an easy-to-follow fashion. The author of this book excels at making topics as complex as possible, using multisyllabic words whenever possible, and just generally trying to appear erudite. Opening the book at random, I came across this sample: "A web application module is typically a TWebAppPageModule object or a TWebAppDataModule object. The TWebAppPageModule component should be used if our application is to generate at least one web page; in other words, our application is of page module type. (p307)" I'm not planning on throwing it away, but it's not a book to keep by the computer. For many topics, I can get more useful information from Borland's on-line help.

This book feels like a surface skim of BCB6, with the occasional deep dive with extremely specific examples. I should have figured that at a bit over a third the size of C++Builder 5: A Developers Guide, quite a bit would be missing, particularly with all the cool new components in BCB6. For example, under "Developing custom components", the author states that this is a topic that could occupy an entire book. He then gives two pages of notes and code fragments that did not help me at all. CB5:ADG above, on the other hand, has an entire chapter, 74 pages, and actually provides the information needed for the task. Why bother including this topic if the information is useless?

I also have to admit, I found the fact that the author had to come here and respond to critics with five stars not only amusing, but worth taking one star away from my own review (which otherwise would have been three stars). This is by no means a five star book.

Unlike many other books written on C++ related technologies, this book discusses all the new technologies supported by C++Builder, and fundamentals of desktop and database development with the same level of emphasis. With regard to database development all the three technologies supported by Borland, BDE, ADO and the new dbExpress are discussed at length. This book is as useful to a new C++Builder developer interested in learning C++Builder, as it is to an experienced developer who is interested only in advanced development concepts of the product. This is a notable feature of the book. In nut shell, new developers will be benefited by the whole book, while the advanced developers will be benefited by about two thirds of the book. In my opinion, the author is very smart in choosing the book's contents to make it useful for every kind of reader.

A great book for learning how to develop applications with Borland C++ builder. Thorough and detailed explanations of the IDE, networking, and Database topics with lots of tables and diagrams to clarify the concepts. Includes a good refresher on some of the advanced features of C++. The book is organized in such a way as to make it an ideal reference guide as well. It had everything I needed for my C++ Builder project. However this book is not for beginners, it expects some knowledge of C++.

I am the author of this book, and I feel I should write a response to this review made by "A Reader" from NY,NY on March 10, 2003, which, in my opinion, is made without going through the book in detail, or even attempting to use the examples.

This book is certainly not on the C++ language; however, it is written for C++Builder developers very carefully to bring out many features not documented in the manuals. Extensive set of example projects are created throughout the book making sure that these programs compile and execute well. Extensive editing has been done by me and the publisher to minimise the possibility of errors. The book is written to be useful for both newcomers and experienced professionals. Obviously every book will not satisfy every need of every individual; however, it does not mean the book is useless. Book reviews are really appreciable when they bring out both the strengths and weakneses of the book in DETAIL rather than just a simple sentence; then only reviews are useful to the potential buyers.

In addition, the book is really handy, without compromising on the quality of contents, and one can carry it easily and read while in travel also, not like the bulky books which are difficult to carry.

The featured book `C++Builder 6 Developers Guide' is a critical
undertaking by Mr. Satya Sai Kolachina, who seems to have a thorough understanding of the C++ language and the C++ Builder product. The author has put his views in a no-nonsense style, in a way to make the book useful for every level of programmer, from beginner to the experienced. However, the readers should have some minimum knowledge of the C++ language or any other object-oriented language, as assumed by the author. As a newcomer to C++Builder, I have a very comfortable ride over the book and it helped me understand a number of new concepts supported by C++Builder. The example projects provided by the author are a very helpful in understanding C++ builder features.

The `C++Builder 6 Developers Guide' written by Satya Sai Kolachina is a compelling purchase. The book is very useful for object-oriented programmers to get a good handle of the Borland VCL framework, particularly with respect to the database development and a host of distributed technologies. The notable feature of this book compared to other books of similar nature, is that database development is handled at Enterprise development level, and not just desktop development level. The author has given priority to the Enterprise level databases such as MS SQL Server, Oracle, and Borland InterBase compared to many others who focused their attention on desktop databases such as Access and Paradox. More than half the book is dedicated to the distributed technologies, thus bringing out the key features of C++Builder to the reader. The book is certainly a must have for every C++Builder developer.

This book serves well both novices and experts by providing answers to technical questions such as simple "how to" s, as well as presenting useful pointers on rather complex concepts that make further research easier. The author does an excellent job of helping readers comprehend and appreciate the overwhelming features of C++ builder, by offering a step by step approach in explaining fundamentals as well as advanced concepts. This book explains in clear and simple terms why C++ builder is not just a compiler but a feature packed, fully integrated development environment, which is essential for developing high performing, user friendly applications. The chapter on C++ advanced concepts does a commendable job in jogging your C++ memory. The first part of the book covers in great depth how to use the set of tools provided by C++ builder to develop database applications with ease and effectiveness. The author presents in great detail how to take advantage of the features of C++ builder to develop simple, as well as advanced database applications. Part two provides the web developers using Borland technology an excellent source of information along with examples to understand the difference among verity of proprietary architectures currently available. Finally, an entire chapter on advanced topics is well justified and serves as a prelude to upcoming technology innovations. Quite simply, this book is a must have for all serious developers using Borland Technology.

I am very pleased to have the book titled `C++Builder 6 Developers Guide' by Satya Sai Kolachina, as it discusses the new features of Borland C++Builder 6 in an easy to understand way for a professional like me, who is new to this product. In addition, I am thrilled to learn from the book, that the database programming is really a piece of cake, even using the Microsoft ADO framework through Borland's VCL components. In addition, the new dbExpress framework in the VCL architecture is very well explained. The book is completely dedicated to database and web development, as needed by today's industry.

This is not the book to buy on the subject of C++ Builder 6. Save your money on this one and go with Borland's development guide on C++ Builder 6.