Customer Reviews

Introducing Microsoft SQL Server(TM) 2005 for Developers (Pro-Developer)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This book is a good idea: an intro book for SS2005 aimed at developers, but it is unfortunately not implemented very well. Firstly, the author obviously isn't a professional developer. The advice he gives is just plain bad much of the time. It belies a lack of experience designing and building database systems. Secondly, the book was written for one of the really early CTP versions. Much of it doesn't apply to the actual product released in November. Thirdly, the author writes with a mix of arrogance and incompetence that, while entertaining, doesn't belong in a book like this. MSPress: do yourself and us readers a favor and get a better author for the next version.

As it's obvious from the title, the book lists new improvements for programmers, not what become available to database administrators. It doesn't cover a lot of enhancements to enterprise data management in the following areas: high availability technologies, additional backup and restore capabilities, and replication enhancements; scalability advancements such as table partitioning, snapshot isolation; database encryption, and an enhanced security model; new management tool suite.

Programmers will find what was added to SQL language: ranking functions like Row_Number, Rank, Dense_Rank, NTile; new data types; the specific use of WITH clause; SOME, ANY and ALL operators; EXCEPT and INTERSECT set operators; PIVOT to create a cross-tab table; exception handling by TRY...CATCH; and other additions to SQL. A big chapter is devoted to XML integration. You will also find a lot of information about Common Language Runtime (CLR) Integration, the ability to develop database objects using any .NET language.

Other object models and services are also covered: data transformation services, server management objects, native HTTP SOAP, notification services and reporting services. You will also find out about the SQL Server Service Broker, distributed asynchronous application framework for new levels of scalability.

From Esposito, Prosise, Richter, Balena...Since the days when MFC was new, I've grown to trust the Wintellect authors and learned to look forward to their take on the Microsoft products. Microsoft and Wintellect really dropped the ball on this one. Scattered Logic, Examples which don't work, lack of focus, where should I begin?

How about with the title. I don't know who the intended audience was...certainly not developers. Maybe purchasing departments? I found Mr. Debetta's writing style quite arrogant and it interfered significantly with any points he may have been trying to get accross. Rather than an introduction, I found it to be little more than an extended advertisement.

Mr. DeBetta clearly has a passion for XML. However, XML is just a small part of a developer's interest. Maybe next time he will step back and think about what developer's are looking for. Those of us out in the field trying to stay abreast of new technologies. We are NOT looking for ads, we ARE looking for solid leads on where to take our products. This book does not suffice.

I feel I've wasted too much time on this book. Spending any more on this review seems an excess.

This is easily the weakest of all the new Sql 2005 books. It is not only full of errors and omissions, it is also really poorly written. DeBetta needs to try to do DeBetter because this is easily DeWorst of the new crop of Sql books.

What really struck me about this book is that the author has no real ability as a teacher. The material is rife with nonsequitors and general illogic that interfere with, rather than aid, the teaching. DeBetta's pathetic excuse for instruction actually gets in the way of learning. He would have been better off just reproducing the Books Online and keeping quiet.

I have never returned a book before, but I am returning this one. This book was the biggest waste of money and time I have made in a long time.

One side note: I found some curious coincidences when reading the other reviews on this page -- are the reviewer named "SQL Person" and DeBetta the same person? They certainly share a penchant for longwinded, barely readable prose. They use many of the same phrases and hackneyed reasoning, as well as a healthy dose of good old-fashioned self-promotion. I sure hope DeBetta isn't coming on here and promoting his own book in disguise. That would make you wonder why no one but the author would come to the book's defense when people like myself point out its many shortcomings -- wouldn't speak well of the book.

Covers only the first beta of Sql 2005. Many examples don't work. Talks about features not in the product or that work very differently. Also not written for developers. I agree with the other review--it really is for beginners only.

Old build, poor writing style, bad code = bad book.

Don't waste your money. Go buy a book from another publisher that teaches you about SQL Server 2005. Better yet, the product documentation is even better than this book!

Upgrading to Sql 2005 prompted me to buy this book. What a mistake. It is the most horribly written tech book I have ever bought. It is also loaded with errors. It appears to me that the book was written for a *very* early beta - plenty of stuff simply isn't there in the shipping product or differs substantially. The examples offered for the stuff that is there are simply juvenile. Is this guy a first time author? It sure looks like it. And he has no shortage of ego. I have never heard of him, but he talks like he invented databases.

Horrible writing + errors on nearly every page + worthless examples + arrogance = one rotten book.

This book is a solid intro to SQL Server 2005. My only problem with this book is that author really focused on some topics and had almost nothing to say on others. For instance, Ch. 3 on XML was very detailed and included plenty of examples to learn from. On the other hand, other topics like DTS and Reporting were glossed over at best. Overall, this is a good intro to using SQL Server 2005 new features and it does make me want to buy a more advanced book. However, I would have liked to have seen a little more consistency in the amount of detail for the various topics.

If you can barely spell S-Q-L this book might be helpful to you. For everyone else I would skip it. I regret spending the money I did on this and will be returning it.

The reasons for this are many. One - Debetta doesn't have much talent as a writer. The book consists largely of poor grammar and extremely boring prose. Nothing is really explained very well here. It is like the author was in such a hurry to get his book out that he forgot that people buy books to learn how to do things. We can get syntax guides from the Books Online.

Two - the book is about an old beta of Sql Svr. Much of it doesn't even apply to the September CTP. Why would anyone publish a book about a beta version of a product? Why not wait until the real thing is released so that the book would have some shelf life?

Three - the book states the obvious over and over. People who have worked with databases much at all know you need indexes. You don't need to spend three pages selling us on that. How about giving some guidance on how to choose *good* indexes? How about some instruction on which indexes work best in which types of scenarios?

Last but not least is the horrible code shown. I got the impression that the author had not written much Transact-Sql or code in general. The examples are rife with beginner mistakes and typos. Many won't even run as is.

Don't have much good to say about this one. Peter if you have a day job I would suggest you keep it.

Does not go into much detail of specific help for any issues. It discusses some of the new features but since the DB was not released at the time of publication it is a little vague an many of the changes.