Product Description

Arguably the most capable of all the open source databases, PostgreSQL is an object-relational database management system first developed in 1977 by the University of California at Berkeley. In spite of its long history, this robust database suffers from a lack of easy-to-use documentation. Practical PostgreSQL fills that void with a fast-paced guide to installation, configuration, and usage. This comprehensive new volume shows you how to compile PostgreSQL from source, create a database, and configure PostgreSQL to accept client-server connections. It also covers the many advanced features, such as transactions, versioning, replication, and referential integrity that enable developers and DBAs to use PostgreSQL for serious business applications. The thorough introduction to PostgreSQL's PL/pgSQL programming language explains how you can use this very useful but under-documented feature to develop stored procedures and triggers. The book includes a complete command reference, and database administrators will appreciate the chapters on user management, database maintenance, and backup & recovery. With Practical PostgreSQL, you will discover quickly why this open source database is such a great open source alternative to proprietary products from Oracle, IBM, and Microsoft. Also included is a CD-ROM with Command Prompt's PostgreSQL Application Server, LXP. The CD covers LXP version 0.8.0 and PostgreSQL version 7.1.3.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #410190 in Books
• Published on: 2002-01-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 636 pages

Daniel C. Hanks, Provo Linux Users Group, 7 Aug, 2002
"...provides an excellent introduction to Postgresql for both newbies, and intermediate users...Overall rating: 9/10."

From the Author
Practical PostgreSQL is not targetted at the "power SQL users" who already know SQL inside and out. Instead, it focuses on users who are new to PostgreSQL, and who have slight to moderate SQL experience. Consequently, advanced programming in languages such as PHP, C, and C++ are not covered in this book. (There are included, however, a short introductory chapter on JDBC, and a chapter on Command Prompt's commercial web language, LXP).

The most consistently reported flaw in the first edition has been the lack of a comprehensive index. While this has been noted for the second edition, internet users may refer to Command Prompt's website for a complete, on-line edition of the book, along with a search-interface to quickly locate topics not found in the Index.

About the Author
Command Prompt began in late 1997 as an Internet application development firm. Command Prompt originated as an after hours company working with PostgreSQL, Perl, and PHP. In January of 2000, Command Prompt became Command Prompt, Inc. Command Prompt currently specializes in advanced web based application development using PostgreSQL and languages such as PHP, C++, Perl, and Java. Their primary efforts have been in the development of their PostgreSQL Application Server, LXP (included with this book) and specialized development, such as e-fullfillment systems.

Customer Reviews

An excellent book for beginners needing a crash course.
Having skimmed through a number of books on PostgreSQL this one grabbed my attention by being easily the clearest. It teaches how to use PostgreSQL in a logical way and while it is not a database design book, it gives enough information without getting over-technical. While a little familiarity with linux is expected, the book starts with the absolute basics when it comes to SQL by giving a brief but informative history of relational databases before moving on to teach how to use SQL with PostgreSQL.

Advanced sections such as programming PostgreSQL and using triggers etc mean that by the time you finish reading you are at a good intermediate level and can make use of the command reference at the back to look up any additional details that you need.

Very poor introduction to PostgreSQL
This book provides a very brief introduction to SQL, a rehash of the installation instructions that come with PostgreSQL itself, and an infuriating "advert" for the authors own commercial addon. Anyone interested in learning how to use PostgreSQL would be much better served by purchasing "PostgreSQL: Introduction and Concepts" by Bruce Momjian, or using the excellent documentation that comes with PostgreSQL.

Books published by O'Reilly used to have a reputation for expanding on freely available documentation in an insightful and well edited manner. However, O'Reilly's recent titles have been little better than the insipid "... For Dummies" series.

pretty useless
the bulk of the book is filled with trivially simple examples that really recap standard SQL statements and not postgres specific things. the more advanced chapters briefly gloss over the real interesting bits but again with useless simple examples.
the chapter on LXP is a waste of time, it is only of passing interest and belongs on the web not in a book.
the index is also useless, there's no entry for "cursors" or "keys"!?!...