MySQL (Visual QuickStart Guide) (Paperback)

by Larry Ullman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
With the Web extending into every nook and cranny of modern life, there are plenty of folks out there who have data storage issues that need to be addressed-Qbut no million-dollar budgets to do so. Luckily for them, there's MySQL. Offering Oracle-like power without the huge price tag, MySQL offers a networked database that can be accessed in numerous ways-Qall of which are described in this invaluable reference. In the clear, concise language readers have come to expect from this popular series, this Visual QuickStart Guide demonstrates how to interact with MySQL--both directly and through various popular programming languages (for example, PHP, Perl, and Java). Step-by-step instructions, practical examples, plenty of screen shots, and loads of useful tips and tricks make learning MySQL a breeze, even for novice programmers. Focusing first on the underlying conceptsQWhat are databases? What is MySQL?--author Larry Ullman then proceeds through installation, administration, database design, and more before tackling MySQL's use with various programming languages, database programming techniques, and utilities. Web developers, system administrators, programmers, and just about anybody who uses databases will find themselves turning again and again to this essential guide.

From the Back Cover
With the Web extending into every nook and cranny of modern life, there are plenty of folks out there who have data storage issues that need to be addressed-Qbut no million-dollar budgets to do so. Luckily for them, there's MySQL. Offering Oracle-like power without the huge price tag, MySQL offers a networked database that can be accessed in numerous ways-Qall of which are described in this invaluable reference. In the clear, concise language readers have come to expect from this popular series, this Visual QuickStart Guide demonstrates how to interact with MySQL--both directly and through various popular programming languages (for example, PHP, Perl, and Java). Step-by-step instructions, practical examples, plenty of screen shots, and loads of useful tips and tricks make learning MySQL a breeze, even for novice programmers. Focusing first on the underlying conceptsQWhat are databases? What is MySQL?--author Larry Ullman then proceeds through installation, administration, database design, and more before tackling MySQL's use with various programming languages, database programming techniques, and utilities. Web developers, system administrators, programmers, and just about anybody who uses databases will find themselves turning again and again to this essential guide.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press (September 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321127315
• ISBN-13: 978-0321127310
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #140,648 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A solid introduction, December 14, 2002

By	macktheknife (Northern, CA) - See all my reviews

The Peachpit Press' Visual QuickStart series is designed for an audience who prefer step-by-step instructions on using programs but can't stand the superficial coverage and the patronizing tone of the Dummies series. Larry Ullman's "MySQL: Visual QuickStart Guide" is a solid introduction to a popular open source database program that's quickly becoming an industry standard. If you want a step-by-step tutorial showing you know how to set up a MySQL database and learn about the basics of relational database programming, this book's for you. Ullman even shows step-by-step instructions for different platforms, ensuring that no matter what OS you use, you won't get lost in the tutorial.

If you have already successfully installed your MySQL database and have tinkered around creating manipulating a few databases, you don't need this book. Instead, turn to Paul DuBois' wonderful and highly-acclaimed "MySQL" published by New Riders. I also recommend that book for readers who have successfully completed Ullman's book.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From total novice to in-the-know, July 27, 2004

By	Ryan Greenberg (Los Andes, Chile) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Larry Ullman's Visual QuickStart Guide is top-notch. At the beginning of the summer, I knew nothing about MySQL. Now I am SELECT-ing, INSERT-ing, and doing all other sorts of MySQL like a pro, or at least like someone who understands what is going on.

This book is divided into 3 major sections in my mind. The first 100 or so pages deal with installing MySQL, creating databases, and using SQL queries to do thing. The next 80 pages are about using MySQL in conjunction with various languages: PHP, Perl, and Java. The last 100 pages have helpful solutions (how to make a search engine, or present result pages when doing a search), a section on MySQL administration, and some useful appendicies.

Like most QuickStart Guides, you can jump around in this book and use it as a reference manual, though you really need to read from chapter 2 to 4 if you are new to relational databases in general or MySQL in particular.

Chapter 3 on Database Design is excellent. I walked through it step-by-step and followed the instructions to plan out my database. The database has been working very well, and I felt that I really understood what was going on instead of just entering commands and hoping they worked.

Chapter 4 and 5, which explain MySQL commands and functions, are likewise very well done and useful.

My only criticism is that sometimes the code presented in the latter sections of the book gets mired-down in lots of HTML tags which can make things a little difficult to read.

There is not much here for fairly intermediate to advanced users who already know MySQL. If that is you, perhaps another book would serve you better.

In summary: if you want to understand and use MySQL and have little to no knowledge of it currently, this book is for you.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Post-purchase support makes the difference, January 19, 2004

By	John J. Vosmek III (Takoma Park, MD USA) - See all my reviews

Another reviewer mentioned "bugs" in this book, i.e., commands in the book that don't work. as I understand it, one of the difficulties with open-source software is that in can be available in a number of different packages from a number of different distributors that all work in slightly different ways. Therefore, if you're not using exactly the same version of MySQL, it's not going to work exactly the same for you. Given this inherent difficulty in writing a guide like this Larry Ullman does an excellent job. As some other reviewers have pointed out, the step-by-step approach of the Visual Quickstart Guides works really well for some people, like me. My first one was Liz Castro's HTML book, which got me hooked.

The best feature of Larry Ullman's book, though, is the fact that he has set up an online support site to accompany it. Larry personally answers questions from readers who have gotten stuck at various points. This is above and beyond the call of duty for most tech-book writers. Unfortunately for Larry, his wish to have more readers who have finished the book help out with the question answering hasn't come true yet, so if you do finish the book, go to the site and help him out!