Product Description

In MySQL, Paul DuBois provides you with a comprehensive guide to one of the most popular relational database systems. As an important contributor to the online documentation for MySQL, Paul uses his day-to-day experience answering questions users post on the MySQL mailing list to pinpoint the problems most users and administrators encounter. The principal MySQL developer, Monty Widenius, along with a network of his fellow developers, reviewed the manuscript, providing Paul with the kind of insight no one else could supply. Instead of merely giving you a general overview of MySQL, Paul teaches you how to make the most of its capabilities. Through two sample databases that run throughout the book, he gives you solutions to problems you'll likely face. He helps you integrate MySQL efficiently with third-party tools, such as PHP and Perl, enabling you to generate dynamic Web pages through database queries. He also teaches you to write programs that access MySQL databases.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #180895 in Books
• Published on: 2000-01-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 756 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
The unexpected pleasure of reading books about databases is that they are often written by authors with highly organised minds. Paul DuBois and his editors at New Riders have assembled MySQL with a clarity and lucidity that inspires confidence in the subject matter: a (nearly) freely-re-distributable SQL-interpreting database client-server primarily geared for UNIX systems but maintained for Windows platforms as well. What isn't "free" about MySQL (the application) is its server's commercial use; all clients and non-commercial server use are free. DuBois's tome isn't free either, but its list price is modest in light of its own and its namesake's value.

The volume is superbly organised in 12 chapters and 10 appendices and contains a concise table of contents and an expansive 50-page index for relational information extraction. It is peppered with references to the on-line HTML documentation that comes with the source and binary distributions (which are available and trivially-installable in stable rpm and tar releases).

The first third of MySQL is an excellent instruction tool for database newbies; the second third is a detailed reference for MySQL developers; and the last third consists of clearly annotated appendices, including C, Perl (but not Python), and PHP interfaces.

Perhaps as an indication of the collective will of the developers of MySQL, DuBois does not separate Window 95/98/NT design or development specifics from its main discussions. Platform-independent design is a goal, not a reality, and users will have to rely on newsgroups and mailing lists for details. Moreover, security issues are addressed in a mere 18 pages, a large part of which is devoted to standard UNIX file and network-access permissions. Next-to-nothing is mentioned about defence against common hacking strategies, the use of secure shell interfaces or access encryption.

Although it is nearly 800 pages, DuBois's book is gratefully not encyclopaedic. It is a valuable précis of the MySQL database, and its easy-to-skim look and feel will make it an excellent browse for database experts who want to know what is and is not possible within MySQL, the application. --Peter Leopold, Amazon.com

From the Back Cover

In MySQL, Paul DuBois provides you with a comprehensive guide to one of the most popular relational database systems. As an important contributor to the online documentation for MySQL, Paul uses his day-to-day experience answering questions users post on the MySQL mailing list to pinpoint the problems most users and administrators encounter. The principal MySQL developer, Monty Widenius, along with a network of his fellow developers, reviewed the manuscript, providing Paul with the kind of insight no one else could supply. Instead of merely giving you a general overview of MySQL, Paul teaches you how to make the most of its capabilities. Through two sample databases that run throughout the book, he gives you solutions to problems you'll likely face. He helps you integrate MySQL efficiently with third-party tools, such as PHP and Perl, enabling you to generate dynamic Web pages through database queries. He also teaches you to write programs that access MySQL databases.

About the Author

Paul DuBois began his involvement with MySQL after recoiling in horror at the complexities of dealing with a database from one of the larger commercial vendors, and with its customer support mechanism. Turning to MySQL for relief proved to have unforeseen and unexpected consequences: first as the opportunity to contribute to the MySQL Reference Manual, then to writing MySQL with New Riders, and most recently to NuSphere, a company actively involved in MySQL development, promotion, and training.

Paul's responsibilities and interests have at one time or another involved database development, Web site development and management, mailing list management, system administration, and TCP/IP and AppleTalk networking. He's considered a leader in the MySQL and open source communities.

Customer Reviews

Got to be THE definitive MySQL book
I found myself having to use MySQL to backend a C-based project I was doing, but I'd not seen MySQL before. Used this book along with the online manual and had the application working great (with replication!) in about three days. Just added a web-based PHP front end too. All this is documented in this book, very clear and easy to follow. Problems? - if you don't know SQL, get a SQL reference as well, and the book is a bit out of date, which is normal with computer software books. Oh, and it's a bit on the pricy side.. Summary: in my opinion this book is as definitive on MySQL as K&R is/was on the C language. Get it!

The best MySQL book I purchased
In the second edition of MySQL, Paul DuBois provides an updated, comprehensive guide to one of the most popular relational database systems.
MySQL 4.0, now generally available, is a long-awaited update to the database management system that has many new features, including a new table definition file format, enhanced replication, and more functions for a full text search.

I am impressed by the clarity and usefulness of the introductory chapters that are targeted at readers new to databases. This section gives non-technical users the knowledge and experience needed to make productive use of a database very quickly.
The book make the learning for beginners piece of cake, and for experienced ones a lot of fun. It's focus is on couple of tables that you build in the first chapter, and keep manipulating throughout the book.
Easy language, great references and awesome appendixes. Listings of all the functions, keywords, syntaxes are available (in alphabetical order). Also separate appendixes for Perl DBI API, C API and PHP API makes it even more useful...

An excellent book - probably the only MySQL book needed
Having embarked up on a large project for my Company, utilising both PHP and MySQL I found this book a godsend.

You need to have some experience of programming but the book is laid out so concisely and precisely that you will find that even seemingly complex theories and procedures become simple.

As well as PHP there are excellent chapters on how to access MySQL from both C and Perl, using the DBI