Product Description

Even if you've never used MySQL before, this Visual QuickStart Guide will have you up and running with the world’s most popular open source database application in no time. In this completely updated edition of our best-selling guide to MySQL, leading technology author Larry Ullman uses his trademark crystal-clear instructions and friendly prose to introduce you to everything that’s new in MySQL. Filled with step-by-step, task-based instructions and loads of visual aids, this book explains how to interact with MySQL using SQL, the language common to all databases. The interface examples show how to use MySQL’s own tools and how to use three popular programming languages (PHP, Perl, and Java). The book covers MySQL versions 3 and 4, as well as everything new in the eagerly anticipated version 5. Along the way, you'll find extensive coverage of MySQL installation, administration, database design, as well as its use with various programming languages, database programming techniques, utilities, advanced MySQL and SQL, and more!

•    Takes an easy, visual approach to teaching MySQL, using pictures to guide you through the software and show you what to do.
•    Works like a reference book—you look up what you need and then get straight to work.
•    No long-winded passages—concise, straightforward commentary explains what you need to know.
•    Affordably priced, because buying a computer book shouldn’t be an investment in itself.
•    Companion Web site at www.DMCInsights.com/mysql2 contains complete source code for examples in the book, online resources, extra scripts and tutorials, updates, a reader forum, and more.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #105001 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780321375735
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

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.

About the Author
Larry Ullman is the Director of Digital Media Technology at DMC Insights, Inc., a firm specializing in information technology. He is the author of several books on PHP, MySQL, and Web development, including PHP for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide (1st and 2nd editions). In addition to writing, he develops dynamic Web applications (in PHP and ASP.NET), conducts training seminars (on PHP, Oracle, and SQL), and teaches at the University of California Berkeley Extension Online.

Customer Reviews

A solid introduction
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.

From total novice to in-the-know
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.

Post-purchase support makes the difference
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!