Customer Reviews

Jdbc: Java Database Connectivity

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

 

 

Finally, the JDBC book I've always been looking for. I first started using JDBC last spring. At the time, there weren't many choices available on the bookshelf to learn from. The best of the bunch was Java Database Programming with JDBC, now available in a second edition. While that book is still decent, this book blows away that and every other JDBC book I've ever seen. Finally, a book that looks beyond all the simple and mundane parts of JDBC to expose what they all mean and what you can do with them. With excellent descriptions on topics like Transaction Isolation Levels, Dealing with BLOBs, and Handling Simultaneous Users, among many others, you'll have your JDBC applications doing back flips if you want them to.

If you are in the market for a JDBC book, be sure to read the recent comparative JDBC book review at JavaWorld (http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-01-1998/jw-01-bookreview.html). Unfortunately, this book is too new to have been included. To fill in the columns of their table for this book: Price/$39.99, Pages/388, Chapters/10, Appendices/5, Index/Decent, Glossary/None, CD-ROM/Yes, Authors/1, Listings Density/54, Drivers Explored/No, Three-tiered Example/Yes, JDK 1.1?/Yes, API Reference/Yes. Also, if you are new to Java, you will need an introductory book, like "Core Java", as this book does not touch Java fundamentals. If you are new to SQL, you might consider "SQL Database Programming with Java", too.

If you need to build an database app with java you should read this book. This book is pack with things like RMI, Security and alot more.

Lack of explanation and instructions on how to set up the examples in the CDRom.

The only instruction found for settinng up the database to run examples in the CDROM is for Sybase. If you use other kind of database.. good luck.. you are on your own.

I would agree that the intended audience for this book is confusing. The first 2 chapters are very basic chapters about Java and Database, yet unless I knew about them, why would I be looking for a JDBC book.

The book reads like a poorly written technical manual. I would recommend it only if you have several other books on JDBC and can afford to spend $32 for the examples in the back of the book..... A very poor read.

This book did help for advnced use of JDBC. However, the basics which are the most important are covered jsut as well in CoreJava Vol. 2 by Horstmann and Cornell (Highly recommended). Another problem was that all of the examples were writeen in JDK 1.02 unless Van Haecke really hated the event model that much. However, all in all Van Haecke does a very good job of explaining the concepts behind JDBC and how to use it.

Unfortunately very poorly organized and highly repetitive. By continually repeating already learned steps, the author makes a straightforward subject appear needlessly complex.

Full of descriptions like:
"'String DriverPropertyInfo.name' -- This is the name of the property."

It's one thing to be a great programmer, entirely different to be a teacher, able to present concepts in a clear, concise, and well-organized manner. You can learn JDBC from this book, but you'll have to fight the writing to do so.

It's unclear who the book's target audience is, since much is presented too simply for the experienced, but much is too difficult for the novice. It even includes introductory sections "About Java" and "Database Fundamentals". I wouldn't want to attempt this book without being thoroughly versed in both.

It's even difficult to use as a reference since the sections aren't clearly separated and it's hard to go back and find anything.

I really wanted to like this book. I really can't.