Java in a Nutshell : A Desktop Quick Reference (Java Series) (3rd Edition) Review

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Java in a Nutshell : A Desktop Quick Reference (Java Series) (3rd Edition) ReviewThis book is my new favorite Java book. This book is probably my new favorite technical book. It's simply an excellent example of what a technical reference book should be.
The first quarter of the book is a very good introduction to Java, the syntax, as well as object oriented programming (OOP). The syntax and OOP portions of the book are the best I've seen in any book. If you are new to Java, reading through these sections carefully will teach you almost everything you'll need to know about the Java language. The third edition of the book doesn't assume a C/C++ background, so even those with limited or no programming experience will find this section very helpful.
Next you'll find excellent coverage of the Java platform. The bulk of the book is a reference of the different Java classes in JDK 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, and even 1.3Beta. The coverage is excellent. I would have liked to see examples, but I suppose that really is asking too much from one book.
I have a large library of Java books, but this one is #1 for me. Shelf time for this book is going to be very low. The book literally hasn't seen a shelf since it arrived from Amazon.
There are several Java books I find to be far superior to others. For anyone new to the Java language, I believe the following are the very best books to have nearby (ranked in order): Java in a Nutshell, 3rd... Java Examples in a Nutshell...Java Foundation Classes in a Nutshell... Java Enterprise in a Nutshell...The Java Class Libraries, 2nd, Vol 1. by Patrick Chan
Obviously, I'm a fan of David Flanagan's Java books (he wrote the top four). Pick one up to see why. They are all excellent, but my favorite is this one (JavaNut 3rd edition). The set of four Flanagan books easily comprise the best resource on Java available.Java in a Nutshell : A Desktop Quick Reference (Java Series) (3rd Edition) Overview

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Java In A Nutshell, 5th Edition Review

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Java In A Nutshell, 5th Edition ReviewAs far as the information inside the book goes, it's a great book that describes the basics of Java in a simple, here's what you need to know format. It describes everything you need to know about Java syntax, objects, etc, etc, etc. The big reason to get this is for the Java 5.0 info, which is scattered throughout Chapter 2. There is also Chapter 4, which goes into more detail on some of the more interesting features of Java 5.0.
However, the bulk of the 1200+ pages are essentially the javadoc, with some additional notes. In thumbing around and looking at random class descriptions, I didn't see anything I couldn't get from the javadoc. This is obviously a personal preference - if you like the hardcopy, it might work for you. It just seems like a waste to me.
I would have been much happier with the first 400 pages and a note on page 401 that said "buy another book if you need the apis" or "go read the javadoc". A 400 page Nutshell book I can throw in the backpack, thumb through, and carry around. A 1200 page Nutshell (like Java 5.0 for that matter) seems to be suffering from a bit of unnecessary bloat.Java In A Nutshell, 5th Edition Overview
With more than 700,000 copies sold to date, Java in a Nutshell from O'Reilly is clearly the favorite resource amongst the legion of developers and programmers using Java technology. And now, with the release of the 5.0 version of Java, O'Reilly has given the book that defined the "in a Nutshell" category another impressive tune-up.

In this latest revision, readers will find Java in a Nutshell, 5th Edition, does more than just cover the extensive changes implicit in 5.0, the newest version of Java. It's undergone a complete makeover--in scope, size, and type of coverage--in order to more closely meet the needs of the modern Java programmer.

To wit, Java in a Nutshell, 5th Edition now places less emphasis on coming to Java from C and C++, and adds more discussion on tools and frameworks. It also offers new code examples to illustrate the working of APIs, and, of course, extensive coverage of Java 5.0. But faithful readers take comfort: it still hasn't lost any of its core elements that made it such a classic to begin with.

This handy reference gets right to the heart of the program with an accelerated introduction to the Java programming language and its key APIs--ideal for developers wishing to start writing code right away. And, as was the case in previous editions, Java in a Nutshell, 5th Edition is once again chock-full of poignant tips, techniques, examples, and practical advice. For as long as Java has existed, Java in a Nutshell has helped developers maximize the capabilities of the program's newest versions. And this latest edition is no different.


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Professional Web APIs with PHP: eBay, Google, Paypal, Amazon, FedEx plus Web Feeds Review

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Professional Web APIs with PHP: eBay, Google, Paypal, Amazon, FedEx plus Web Feeds ReviewIf you are looking for a good book describing how to make use of the various web services out there, look no further. Professional Web APIs with PHP is a compliation of several helpful tutorials covering the more popular web application programming interfaces (API) available. It was written by the talented Paul Michael Reinheimer, who is a Zend Certified Engineer and member of the PHP Security Consortium. He has done a great job covering what at times seems to be a somewhat esoteric topic. In his own words, here is the approach taken in this book:
"Every time I approached a new API, I was spending 80% of my time trying just trying to make the first call or two. Once those were out of the way subsequent calls were fast, and in many cases almost trivial to write. So I slowly refactored my book into a tool to help developers get through those first few difficult calls..."
I appreciated his dive-right-in approach to understanding the differing APIs. Considering that some of the large scale API documentation totals in the range of 500 pages each, the brevity and clarity of the book's explanations were a welcome contrast. He also covered some of the differences between REST and SOAP, and why some APIs give preference to one over the other.
The main APIs that are addressed are those which tend to be thought of as large and revenue driven - eBay, Google, PayPal, Amazon and FedEx. Other community oriented APIs such as Flickr and Del.icio.us are also covered, as well as the National Weather Service. As a lead in to all these topics, he covers the parsing of basic web feed formats like RSS and Atom, in order to give a general feel for dealing with XML data. Towards the end of the book, the necessary methods for creating your own API are demystified.
Another thing I liked is that this book doesn't spread itself too thin, attempting to be the end-all for API instruction by covering a smorgasbord of server side languages. Rather, it focuses solely on PHP and does quite a fine job of it. I find that approach so much more helpful. The likelihood of someone knowing one language well, and wanting to learn a variety of APIs is much better than someone wanting to learn a few APIs, in a ridiculous number of languages.
His site tagline says it best: "PHP: Because friends don't let friends code Java."
Reinheimer does well by avoiding the absurdity which plagues far too many programming books, instead opting to focus on what is applicable from a practical standpoint. So, whether you are looking to create an online book store that interfaces with Amazon, sell your own products via PayPal, or ship FedEx products that need to be tracked on the web, this book is for you. The thoroughly explained examples will get you on the right track in no time.Professional Web APIs with PHP: eBay, Google, Paypal, Amazon, FedEx plus Web Feeds Overview
Offers hands-on tips and numerous code examples that show Web developers how to leverage content and feeds from today's top Web sites-including Google, eBay, PayPal, Amazon, Yahoo!, and FedEx
Introduces APIs (Application Program Interfaces) in general and uses real-world examples that show how to produce and document them
Explains how to use the popular scripting language PHP to create APIs that interact with unrelated applications over the Web
Examples take readers through each stage of the API process, from basic test implementations to integration with existing sites


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Practical API Design: Confessions of a Java Framework Architect Review

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Practical API Design: Confessions of a Java Framework Architect ReviewEnough said.
This and Effective Java by Bloch are the two books every Java programmer should have read. It will change the way you program and you'll be grateful for the change. The examples in this book are in Java but that's because they had to be in some language; I don't think any part of this book is specific to Java. If your code is consumed by other people, or even a future self, then this book will help you think through issues you may not have know you have. It did me.
In my opinion, this is those one of those once in a decade books that changes the game for anyone who reads it.
A totally mature, non-didactic work written by someone with that perfect combination of real-world experience, a high intellect, a no BS attitude, and humility.
This book is like getting a magical time telescope- you can see what the decisions you are making in your coding today will actually lead to in the future and what the inescapable consequences will be for you.
Actually, reading this book is a little like being put into the role of Scrooge being visited by the three ghosts of Christmas. You get to see what's going to happen to you because of your past and present actions before it happens. At it's heart it's a longitudinal study of how code is first consumed, abused and misused by other programmers and how those abuses become dependencies which determine what YOU, the code's author can and cannot do in future releases.
In a very small nutshell- totally innocent innocuous, completely legal and even recommended programming practices which you apply every day in your code can and will completely shut down any chance for your code to evolve in any rational way going forward in future releases. Why? Because you can't see the potential consequences of consumers of your code doing something you never thought they might do in ways you never meant for them to do it.
But here's a guy who did do those things and lived to pay the price.
For example, if you think that using interfaces (in Java) is usually the best way to program, then you might have a nasty surprise coming at you when other people (damn them!) actually start to program against your code.
When the book's over, you might be as happy as Scrooge that there's still time to change things before it's too late.
Like Bloch's Effective Java, the lessons in this book are so important that they're destined to become diffused throughout the general programming culture and become known to people who haven't even heard of the book. But can you wait until all that filters down to you through osmosis?
Practical API Design: Confessions of a Java Framework Architect OverviewThe definitive guide to API design, this book will be required reading for all designers and engineers involved with the development, testing, and maintenance of APIs.

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Applied Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services Review

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Applied Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services ReviewTeo drills down into the nitty gritty which some other books on SSRS can leave behind (or address at too high a level not useful to real-world developers). Case in point, chapter 5 presents a solid understanding of the new tablix region with step-by-step walkthroughs where needed (implementing grouping can be a little confusing at first if you're used to other tools like MS Access). As a seasoned developer, I found many little tips and tricks which another book I just finished on the subject didn't even begin to cover.
Teo understands what developers need and what they don't. Some of us don't have a lot of time to spend experimenting with a new tool or a new version. His explanations and examples cut to the chase and left me feeling confident in my ability to put the information to use. The videos on his website are a great compliment to the text. I recommend them both.Applied Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services OverviewEver wished for a tool that can turn enterprise data into meaningful reports that could be shared easily with co-workers, customers, and partners?
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services is the "magic wand" you need to unleash the hidden power of data. The author, who has worked closely with the Reporting Services Development Team, takes you on an insightful tour that provides an authoritative yet independent view of the technology.Supplying much-needed technological information to workers, administrators, and developers, Applied Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services shows you how to apply Reporting Services in real life to build innovative Business Intelligence solutions that drive decisions. Information workers will learn how to design feature-rich standard and ad hoc reports. The book gives administrators the necessary background to install, upgrade, and manage the report environment. It teaches developers powerful ways to extend Reporting Services and integrate it with a wide range of applications.The book doesn't assume any prior experience with Microsoft Reporting Services. It is designed as an easy-to-follow guide for navigating safely the most intricate aspects of the technology. New concepts are introduced with step-by-step instructions and hands-on lessons. Video presentations help the reader stay on track when a picture is worth more than a thousand words.The book website at www.prologika.com provides sample chapters, source code, discussion forum, and online video tutorials.

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Facebook Application Development (Programmer to Programmer) Review

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Facebook Application Development (Programmer to Programmer) ReviewI'm relatively new to Facebook development, and not nearly as fluent with PHP as I'm sure many of the folks considering this book must be. So, you should probably read this review with that in mind.
I bought this and FBML Essentials at the same time, hoping that the two together would provide a sufficient understanding of the api and mark-up language. This book, as described by the other reviewers, has many typographical errors, which of course can be a nightmare if you're relatively low on the learning curve (as I am/was). If you choose to buy this book, you should most certainly download the source code from the wrox site to accompany your reading (as it seems it to be error free and because the code snippets in the book often leave critical methods and files out.)
The greatest shortcoming of this book is its lack of applied examples... many of the more advanced features in later chapters are listed in almost dictionary-style format, with no illustration or example code to explain how the methods and such are actually written and how they might be applied. Again, if you're well acquainted with php, you may be less in the dark than I and thus able to conceptualize how everything fits together. This is definitely NOT a book for novices (I found the O'Reilly book, although short, to be a more effective introduction to development via FBML in this respect (though it doesn't touch much upon the api and other more sophisticated techniques broached in this text.)
That said, the fact that there is such scant information available for Facebook development make this book worth your consideration; but I would definitely consider supplementing it with a book like O'Reilly's, and couple it with a pretty thorough acquaintance with the developer's wiki on Facebook. Even downloading and stepping line-by-line through the footprints application from Facebook will help you get the sense of how this stuff works.
Also be forewarned that this, and most of the books presently available, are not written for the new Facebook API written this summer (2008)... so methods like require_add() are no longer recognized and throw errors... this of course can be quite confusing if you're new to all of this.
Using this book, the wiki, and O'Reilly text, I was able to make my first Facebook App that lets users feature a particular video pertaining to a charitable cause from a small library in their profile boxes and application tabs. If you're trying to do something basic like that, you should be able to do so with these resources. Good luck!Facebook Application Development (Programmer to Programmer) Overview
The wildly popular Facebook social networking platform has published an open Application Programming Interface (API) and developers are eating it up--60,000 signed up to use it in the first few days; with this API, any programmer can create applications and new features for Facebook
Explores and explains the components available to programmers, including working with Facebook Markup Language (FBML), querying Facebook with FQL, application layout and flow, advanced configuration and performance tuning, and more
Businesses such as NBC, Yahoo!, Red Bull, Forbes, and the Washington Post are building branded applications to reach the growing Facebook community


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Facebook API Developers Guide (Firstpress) Review

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Facebook API Developers Guide (Firstpress) ReviewAs far as I know, this was the first book released about Facebook development. So it comes as no surprise that it feels like it was written in a weekend. It's quite an accomplishment to make a book that's only 100 pages long feel padded, yet somehow the author manages to achieve this. For example, the bit of code that shows you how to set your API Key variable in the config.php file is repeated at least 3 times! The sample application that occupies the rear third of the book is extremely disappointing because it is just a plain old PHP app. It does not take advantage of the Facebook API.
I'm giving this book 2 stars in part because there is a dearth of Facebook development books. And there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the information provided here, it's just limited. As a primer it will be enough to get you started, but you'll be done with the book in a couple hours and hungering for more.Facebook API Developers Guide (Firstpress) OverviewFacebook is a huge social networking site with about 50 million members. In May 2007, Facebook announced that they were implementing the Facebook API: a programming interface that allows users to create their own Facebook applications and access Facebook data. This book takes readers through their first steps with the API, introducing all of the functionality they need to create larger applications.

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FBML Essentials: Facebook Markup Language Fundamentals Review

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FBML Essentials: Facebook Markup Language Fundamentals ReviewI purchased this book after reading a review calling this book "Totally obsolete". That reviewer has lost credibility with me, but I will admit there are portions in the book that restrict it to a period of time in the past (I feel authors should avoid referencing the future with expectation, unless they are planning a revised edition to follow those dates). This may be what the one reviewer focused on while ignoring the real context of the book. There is also a major resource link referenced I found not working, but these types of things are beyond an author's control (unless they are controlling that domain... hmmm...).
Anyway, except for a few things that date the content of this book I found it to be a solid addition to my reference library and as I begin to develop Facebook Applications it will be one of my resources to help me determine the best development route (FBML vs API).
I do appreciate the author's interests in reviews of his book and in truth it was his statements (not solely the negative review) that encouraged me to purchase the book for a closer look.
To quote Rodney Rumford; "Jesse has given you the direction to properly use FMBL with this great book. Use it often and it will save you hours of frustration." I have to agree.
FBML Essentials: Facebook Markup Language Fundamentals Overview
Do you have an idea for a Facebook application? With FBML Essentials, you'll learn how to build it quickly using the Facebook Markup Language (FBML) and other easy-to-use tools in the site's framework. If you can develop a website with HTML, writing a Facebook application with the help of this book will be a breeze. Of course, Facebook is not just another website. Any applications you write for it will have a potential audience of 16 million dedicated users. It's not just another social networking site, either. Under the surface, Facebook is pretty sophisticated, with a development toolkit that includes it's own modified version of HTML -- FBML -- to customize the look and feel of your Facebook applications. With FBML Essentials, you not only learn how to get started with this toolkit, you also get a complete reference on every FBML tag Facebook has ever written, with examples of how each tag works and advice on the best ways to use these tags in your code. This book includes:

A walkthrough of a sample Facebook application
Design rules for using images, CSS, JavaScript, and forms
Specific chapters on tags -- authorization tags, logic tags, user/group tags, profile-specific tags, and more
Messaging and alerts using FBML
Creating forms with FBML
Facebook navigation
Notifications and requests
Dynamic FBML attributes, including MockAJAX
How to test your FBML code
A chapter on FBJS, Facebook's version of JavaScript

If you want to try your hand at writing a Facebook application, you have a willing audience, an easy-to-use toolkit, and the perfect guide to get you started. FBML Essentials will help you take your idea from conception to working application in no time.


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