Mastering Apache Velocity (Java Open Source Library) [Paperback]

Jim Cole (Author), Joseph D. Gradecki (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471457949 | ISBN-13: 978-0471457947 | Publication Date: July 16, 2003 | Edition: 1

A comprehensive tutorial on how to use the power of Velocity 1.3 to build Web sites and generate content

Designed to work hand-in-hand with Apache Turbine, Struts, and servlets, Velocity is a powerful template language that greatly enhances the developer's ability to customize Web sites. It separates Java code from the Web pages, making a site more maintainable. Because of this, it is a viable alternative to JSPs and PHP and is expected to become the standard template engine. In addition to its use with Struts and Turbine, Velocity can also be used to generate Java and XML source code, XML schemas, HTML templates, and SQL code.

Even with all its promise, finding expert instructions on how to properly program with this language has been difficult. This code-intensive tutorial gives you all the tools you'll need.

It begins by quickly bringing you up to speed on all of the Velocity fundamentals and the Velocity Template Language. You'll then learn how to apply Velocity in a variety of areas with the help of richly detailed code examples. Additionally, you'll be taken through the steps of building a complete application in order to see how you can utilize all of the techniques and technologies discussed in the book. Covering the latest features of Velocity 1.3, Mastering Apache Velocity shows you how to:
* Build Java-based Web sites with Struts, servlets, Turbine, and other open-source tools
* Generate a wide variety of Web content and code, including Java, XML, SQL, and Postgres

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A comprehensive tutorial on how to use the power of Velocity 1.3 to build Web sites and generate content

Designed to work hand-in-hand with Apache Turbine, Struts, and servlets, Velocity is a powerful template language that greatly enhances the developer’s ability to customize Web sites. It separates Java code from the Web pages, making a site more maintainable. Because of this, it is a viable alternative to JSPs and PHP and is expected to become the standard template engine. In addition to its use with Struts and Turbine, Velocity can also be used to generate Java and XML source code, XML schemas, HTML templates, and SQL code.

Even with all its promise, finding expert instructions on how to properly program with this language has been difficult. This code-intensive tutorial gives you all the tools you’ll need.

It begins by quickly bringing you up to speed on all of the Velocity fundamentals and the Velocity Template Language. You’ll then learn how to apply Velocity in a variety of areas with the help of richly detailed code examples. Additionally, you’ll be taken through the steps of building a complete application in order to see how you can utilize all of the techniques and technologies discussed in the book. Covering the latest features of Velocity 1.3, Mastering Apache Velocity shows you how to:

• Build Java-based Web sites with Struts, servlets, Turbine, and other open-source tools
• Generate a wide variety of Web content and code, including Java, XML, SQL, and Postgres

About the Author

JOSEPH D. GRADECKI is a senior software engineer at Comprehensive Software Solutions and an associate professor of computer science at Colorado Technical University. He is an expert in using open source and other tools for building Web and distributed applications. Gradecki is also the author of several books including Mastering JXTA (Wiley).
JIM COLE is a senior software engineer specializing in custom J2EE^TM development, database management, and security maintenance. He is an active developer who regularly uses open source tools such as Struts and Velocity, and also has experience with Perl and PHP.

Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: *Wiley Computer Publishing; 1 edition (July 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471457949
• ISBN-13: 978-0471457947
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #974,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Full of Mistakes, not good enough, August 19, 2005

By 

New Yorker (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering Apache Velocity (Java Open Source Library) (Paperback)

This book does a very good job of explaining Velocity, but the code examples in this book are full of mistakes. I felt as though the book made things seem easier than they actually are, and I would have appreciated a more in-depth technical exploration of Velocity. The title is misleading, because there is not enough information in this book for you to "master" Velocity.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fairly Helpful, January 22, 2008

By 

David R. Harrier (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mastering Apache Velocity (Java Open Source Library) (Paperback)

The book does a pretty good job of getting you up and running on Velocity. My biggest complaint is that the book is too old. Velocity has changed. Many methods have been deprecated in the toolkit and finding good documentation is difficult.

This book will get you started. It explains the Velocity language clearly. For anyone who has done programming in a variety of languages this should seem straight forward. I would recommend this book to any one starting out with Velocity and some prior experience in client server web development.