Customer Reviews

Visual Developer SQL Database Programming with Java: Creating Fast, Efficient Database Applications for the Web

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

 

 

I found this book to be extremely useful. It is extremely good at explaining things, and has great code examples. A word of caution: it assumes you'll be using Microsoft Access. It's hard for me to assess how much you would get out of it if you're using a different configuration. It should probably have been called "JDBC programming with Access". But if this is what you'll be using, and/or you're a beginner, this book will be invaluable. I've seen no better book than this for learning the basics of JDBC, and it has helped me immensely. Other books just gloss through the basics and assume you'll figure it out yourself. On the contrary, "SQL Programming with Java" guides you step by step, and tells you every little thing you need to know. You end up with a solid knowledge of both the operation and the concepts behind JDBC. Definitely recommended, "The Book" to start with if you're using Access. It may also be valuable if you're using a similar DBMS.

I found this book to be very useful for creating a database app using JDBC and SQL. It focuses on the SQL side of the equation instead of the JDBC side. While the book does use Microsoft Access as its example, it teaches pure Java. The basic techniques are the same whether using Access or Oracle. If you are looking to write a database front end in Java, this book is an excellent place to start.

If you need to get into Java/SQL/JDBC, boy are you going to be glad you ran across this review. McCarty's book is probably one of the best tech books I've read. This book is WAY under-rated on Amazon. I first got it a couple of years ago, it helped me a TON, and I was always mystified by the reviews here (at Amazon). Just ran across the JavaWorld review, and thought I'd post it here, to do McCarty justice (thanks for a great helpful book Dr. McCarty), and to pass along the word to anyone else interested in this area. Specific comments

1) It is a bit dated now (Java1.2+), some of the methods are deprecated (will still compile - this is Java, not Micro$oft - but you do get a warning).

2) The main concentration/subject matter is on using Java to send SQL commands to query from and add to a relational database; heavy on the SQL and database design. If that's what you're after, get this book.

3) You need to know Java first.

4) The book does use an Access database. I think that's because most of us some version of Office kicking around. However, you are (contrary to some reviews here) by no means restricted to using Access. Anything JDBC can bridge to is fine. The Access examples in the beginning of the book are simply to show people, who may not know, how to set up an Access database. If you use a different database, you'll have to figure out how to do that yourself - it think it's reasonable to assume most people looking at this book will know how to do that. I am talking about setting up the database, not accessing it - the book covers accessing it, using JDBC, which is what we want to do.

4) For some bizzare reason, my copy's CD came with VisualJ++. I tried it, assuming it must have some kind of valuable feature that Sun Java didn't have. It didn't and I went back to Sun. You certainly don't need to use VJ++ to use the book - in fact, I couldn't get the example code to run in Microsoft's Java. Everything worked fine with Sun's Java, except, as I mentioned, some of the methods are deprecated in Java1.2 (aka Java2).

5) The writing is crystal-clear, to the point, and spare. I suspect McCarty may have taught a class on this for a few semesters before releasing the book. Feedback from students can be great in learning what is unclear about one's explanations, and it can be real hard learn otherwise.

The book I have been looking for. Recommended for database programmer who wants to make available their data in the Web or Intranet using Java and JDBC. Great sample programs that really works. I learned a lot from this book about database programming with Java and JDBC. I liked the part where the author detailed nicely the steps how a database connection is established and how the different pieces of interface interacts to store and retrieve data from the database. Great book. More power to you Bill.

The cover says it includes MS Visual J++ 1.1 Trial edition. I already have MS VJ++1.1, and don't want to overlay with the trial version, so I would expect my J++ 1.1 to work with the code - it doesn't. In the very first example, the import looks for java.sql.*; J++ 1.1 that I already have doesn't contain this package; not sure I'm going be be able to continue with the book now!

I needed a book to give an efficient overview of SQL as used with the JDBC. This book has not suited my needs. In the "Why I Wrote This Book" section of the Introduction, the author says "There are many good books on SQL, but almost all focus on interactive SQL..." As far as I know, SQL is SQL whether it is used interactively (queries entered directly by end-user) or from application code. Also, this book contains way too much Microsoft Access and Microsoft SQL Server specific SQL, not the makings for a database-independent Java application.

Nowhere in the description of this book does it say that you need J++ or Access, however, all the examples required them. All I wanted to do was learn SQL, not purchase J++ and Access, nor did I want to learn them. My goal (when I grew up) was to learn SQL as applied to any database, hopefully IBM DB2.

I found that this book does not cover the JDBC API in depth at all. It skimps over it in a couple of chapters and the remainder of the book covers Access development and SQL. I guess I was looking for more of a JDBC sepcific book.

A pretty awesome book if you want to get into Java/SQL DB building.... Tons of code examples.

I have found this book to be a good starting place for anyone that would like to write database apps in java. Yes you to can build a database application for the web in no time.