XML for Real Programmers (The For Real Programmers Series) [Paperback]

Reaz Hoque (Author)

Book Description

Series: The For Real Programmers Series | Publication Date: May 29, 2000

Rapidly gaining acceptance throughout Internet and enterprise development, XML (or Extensible Markup Language) makes it possible to create customized, reusable standards for displaying
data on the Web. This is a critical new technology for developers of Web sites that require highly flexible display capabilities, as well as the programmers creating the back-end systems on which these sites rely.
XML for Real Programmers is a savvy technical introduction that offers readers both a dynamic view of what XML is and in-depth instruction in the techniques they need to master to put it to work. Filled with real-world examples drawn from three key approaches to XML implementation, this book will be indispensable to developers of all kinds who are ready to begin work on the next generation of practical Web applications.

* Provides a thorough technical introduction to XML-what it is, what it can do, and how to use it to meet serious development challenges
* Demonstrates XML's power as a core part of database-driven, fully distributed, Web-based enterprise systems
* Discusses advantages of and techniques for using XML in conjunction with emerging and established technologies, including CDF, RDF, Java, and relational databases
* Comes with a CD-ROM containing all the example code referred to in the book and third-party software of use to XML developers

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Most XML books focus on the XML language and its related dialects: XSL, Xlink, and Xpointer. XML for Real Programmers delivers something different--a combination of an XML tutorial and an ambitious exploration of Java implementations of XML.

The first section focuses on XML specifications and includes some excellent examinations of the core concepts, plus hypothetical examples of how XML can be leveraged in the real world. For example, the text introduces a scenario where XML is used as a data-transfer standard between various suppliers and a corporate Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The book also illustrates how XML can be used effectively in the order-processing stage of a typical business-to-consumer e-commerce site. With many other examples, the first portion of this book is great for anyone looking to get the "big picture" of what XML is all about.

After the XML overview section, the subject matter rapidly becomes more challenging. The book begins a case study that lasts throughout the remainder of the title. To follow this section effectively, Java expertise is required. The case study lacks the clear architectural diagrams used so frequently in the first half of the book, so the reader must pay closer attention. The book presents a Java servlet that interfaces with a database via JDBC, and dishes up XML to other objects and browser clients. The text shows how to construct a generic XML DOM interface and create classes for an e-commerce account system, catalog, and shopping basket. The model continues with back-end integration with distributors via XML.

Although Java proficiency is a prerequisite for complete understanding of this book, the first section can be quite useful for developers in any language, as well as technical managers seeking clarity about the importance of XML. In this book, working Java programmers will find an XML tutorial that is finally targeted at their tribe. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered: XML documents, Document Object Model(DOM), Extensible Style Language (XSL), Xlink, XPointer, E-Commerce XML applications, W3C Level 1 Document Object Model imlementation, XML Servlet construction, XML extranet interconnections, namespaces, Resource Description Framework (RDF), Document Content Description (DCD), Channel Definition Format (CDF), and the Simple API for XML (SAX).

From the Back Cover

Are you looking for a serious, intensely technical book on XML? XML for Real Programmers provides detailed instruction in the all techniques you need to master to build XML applications for any Web enterprise. Inside, the author begins with incisive introductions to the entire family of XML technologies. Then, building on this foundation, he guides you step by step through the development of three sample applications that together form a complete, cohesive e-commerce site:

1. A reusable XML framework, adaptable to a wide variety of "document factory" Web applications and complemented by key business objects: an Account class, a Catalog class, and a ShoppingBasket class.

2. A Java-based servlet responsible for all aspects of XSL transformation, including external stylesheets, conditional processing, flow-control, dynamically created attribute nodes for parent elements, and template invocation.

3. An order processing application designed to accept and process data structured by a wide range of DTDs.

Features

• Offers in-depth coverage of the essential members of the XML family-DOM, XSL, Xlink and Xpointer-including specification-level analysis and explanation.
  
• Teaches by example, developing in detail three XML applications and showing how they function together as a single, integrated e-commerce site.
  
• Focuses heavily on Java and how it is especially well suited to building and deploying XML applications.
  
• Concludes with a chapter focusing on the future of XML, other emerging specifications, and the needs of Web-based enterprise.
  
• On the CD, provides all the book's sample code, plus IBM Visual Age, IBM XML parser, and Java Tutorial by MindQ.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann; Book & CD-ROM 1st edition (May 29, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0123555922
• ISBN-13: 978-0123555922
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,817,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars UnReal Programmer disappointed, July 8, 2000

By 

"thequickbrownfox" (Owego, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: XML for Real Programmers (The For Real Programmers Series) (Paperback)

What dissapointed me was the title compared to the contents. I was expecting lots of good code, explanations, and tips from someone who had found a lot of the gothcas that come about from writing code with these new XML parsers and stylesheets. There is almost no code until page 178, and even this code uses IBM's xml4j and the TX methods, which are very outdated. SAX is barely mentioned until chapter 8, pg 424 of a 449 pg book. The Author spends a lot of time on this "XML website" development, but I don't feel the pages were well spent. Not much code and not a real production level design IMHO. The "Java and XML" O'Reilly book is more of a programmers book. For XSLT, I like "XSLT Programmer's Reference" from Wrox.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars envelope pusher, June 14, 2000

By 

Christian V. Pussilano - See all my reviews

This review is from: XML for Real Programmers (The For Real Programmers Series) (Paperback)

This book on XML is a refreshing break from usual books on the topic, like "An XML Primer." It illuminates the creative possibilities that XML is uniquely qualified to afford, and its main thrust is to show the many innovative possibilities of XML that allow the XML programmer to interface his design structure with other languages and utilities, like Java and Perl. Anyone venturing into the XML world should make this their second book purchase, right after the one that introduces him/her to the basics of XML. This envelope-pushing book will have you doing the same in the very near future.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars XML Unexplained, November 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: XML for Real Programmers (The For Real Programmers Series) (Paperback)

*** Disclaimer: I couldn't finish this book, so my review only covers the first half. For all I know, the 2'nd half is a masterpiece, though I doubt it. ****

This book is terrible. In 20 years of reading computer books (including several years reviewing prospective book manuscripts), I've never come across a book anywhere close to being as badly structured and written (and, just as unforgivable, as badly edited) as this mess. The author clearly is handicapped by not being a native English speaker as the writing is dense and sometimes takes quite a bit of effort to decipher.

OK, I can work around the language difficulty, but in addition, the book's remarkably content-free. For one, the examples -- which don't come till after a few extrordinarly tedious rehash chapters on XML structure -- are trivial.

The ultimate insult: the book assumes that the reader *is already intimately familiar with XML*. "XML for Real Programmers"? To me, the title sounded like the book would be a good intro. to XML for an experienced programmer; it's not.

Avoid this book. If you need to learn XML, start with the W3c.org standards documents.