Customer Reviews

Presenting XML

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

 

 

This book is miserable. If you like to have your material presented in an organized and precise manner stay away from this one. Save yourself some frustration and buy something else.

The book has some good information for the new and novice user. Unfortunately, you have to filter through too much to get at them. On several occasions, I had a sense of deja vu because the author decided to repeat a concept covered multiple times earlier in the book.

I don't consider it a total waste of money because I did complete it and feel I learned something. However, if you have some experience with HTML or XML, spend your money elsewhere.

I've only read 4 chapters so far on this book. But, it has been extremely painful! I will probably press on, but this is definitely snooze material!

This book epithomized the reason why the GOTO statement has all but disappeared from programming. With all the refering to further chapters and sections, right in the middle of a topic, dizziness takes a new meaning. To quote Sid Ziff: " This book should not be put aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force!"

Briefly: this book is dry, repetetive, and way too light on code samples that should help reinforce key concepts.

Just walk right past this one.

I felt this book is decent enough. ... But when I was reading "Java and XML" I find that Presenting XML provides more information on XML than the OReilly book. Ofcourse OReilly book is good on Java programming part. Things like enity references are well explained by Richar Light. Some of the initial chapters try to present a story of sorts which is .... But the following chapters get more technial. Overall concepts are presented in reasonable and simple to understand style rather than W3C's website's formal XML specification.

Unfortunately, many of todays xml books have been 'rushed to the presses' and are of very poor quality. This book is better than most I've read/seen but I was still disappointed. I forced myself through the first five chapters and finally quit around chapter 7. The opening chapters seem to fluctuate between a managerial overview and a detailed how-to book, accomplishing neither. I also felt that there was a severe lack of real-world examples / applications. I was glad that I checked it out from the library instead of buying it.

This book is very good if you have no clue what XML is, however it has now become dated with many of the developments in XML standardization. I highly suggest it for a general overview, but take into account that some of what you read is no longer true. There really isn't much choice though since there aren't very many books on XML (yet).

Very badly organized and hard to follow writting styles. If you are technical enough, just go to w3 website to learn XML, because this book does not provide anything easier to understand (if not more confusing) than the pure specifications.

I have a software development background and am now in a project management role. I really thought this book provided a good feel what what XML is and does. It also helped frame XML vs HTML. I liked it. Not super technical, but very readable and informative.