Building XML Applications (Webdev) [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Simon St. Laurent (Author), Ethan Cerami (Author)

Book Description

Series: Webdev | Publication Date: May 20, 1999

This title is designed for software developers involved in building XML applications. It covers functions, source codes and examples in order to equip the reader with the knowledge to build competent and solid applications.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

With complete coverage of Extensible Markup Language (XML) and a focus on compatibility with the Java programming language tools, Building XML Applications by Simon St. Laurent and Ethan Cerami is a fitting choice for Java/XML developers.

Building XML Applications covers XML and its relationship to SGML and HTML (its Web markup language relatives). The book explores the power of XML as it relates to other key technologies, including relational databases, file systems, and object databases. Also illustrated is the symbiotic relationship XML will have with various information infrastructures.

This XML guide presents a step-by-step introduction to XML syntax. Well-formed documents are discussed in depth, and the guide explores available tools for helping you create Document Type Definitions (DTDs). It's rare to find an XML book that covers cascading style sheets (CSS), and Web developers will benefit from coverage of the competing document style models--the more established CSS and the lesser used eXtensible Style Language (XSL)--as the transition from CSS to XSL becomes more likely to occur.

There are generous sections on XML parsers with complete coverage of the /ELFRED and Microsoft parsers, as well as the Simple API for XML (SAX). Six real-world examples are provided, making this book appropriate for budding XML coders using both Java applets and full applications. With a good balance of foundational material and sample code, this title offers a well-rounded introduction to Java/XML application development. --Stephen W. Plain

From the Publisher

Focuses on a core set of five real-world XML applications from financial analysis and document management to electronic commerce. Presents a step-by-step overview of topics ranging from the initial XML specification and XML parsing to server side CGI, Java Servlets, and object-oriented databases.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 551 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies (May 20, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071341161
• ISBN-13: 978-0071341165
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,691,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Simon St. Laurent is an Editor with O'Reilly and Associates. Prior to that, he'd been a web developer, network administrator, computer book author, and XML troublemaker. He lives in Dryden, NY.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars no detail on DOM and XSLT makes this a weak book, November 10, 1999

By 

Mark Volkmann (St. Charles, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building XML Applications (Paperback)

In my opinion, the most important tools for building XML applications are DOM and XSLT. This book covers neither of them. It only covers SAX and CSS which are poor substitutes. While SAX has some advantages over DOM, it does not help with outputting new XML which is a common need.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book, September 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Building XML Applications (Webdev) (Paperback)

I recommend this book. It probably shouldn't be your first, or only book on XML though. For example, it doesn't go into much detail about designing/creating DTD's, or at least wasn't very clear in that aspect. However, for me, it served it's purpose well, to show me how to use XML, doing so using some small but practical problems.

I'm very satisfied.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Overview of XML and practical Java examples, August 19, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Building XML Applications (Webdev) (Paperback)

I was looking for a book that gave me a brief overview of the XML specs and then some examples of how to use it. This book delivers with the appropriate focus on Java. The authors do a good job of covering several different parsers and parsing methods and provide solid information on SAX. As a beginning Java programmer, I found this book to be very helpful.