5 comments about Core Visual Basic 5 (Core Series).

1. Even though I'm now using VB6 & I've bought several of the newer books, I still think this is overall the best general book on VB available.

   My main complaint has nothing to do with the book itself, but rather with the marketingspeak on it which states that it's for "experienced programmers." In practice, that statement has probably done more harm then good, since advanced programmers will be disappointed by the more basic areas of the book.

   This is the ideal book for anyone who is either an experienced programmer new to VB or an intermediate VB programmer struggling with some of the more advanced topics.

   Advanced users will also get much out of the book, but know ahead of time that the first 150-200 pages are made up of a conscise but basic introduction that you'll want to skip over (though you'll probably find it a useful reference from time to time).




2. All text goes straight to the point, no useless words, no stupid jokes. Written by brilliant minds, with plenty of teaching talent. I would put them in the same category with Jesse Liberty and Tom Armstrong. If anybody can add a name to this list, send me a word, thank you. Thank God for the sharp minds, without them you sink deeper and deeper.



3. Great book to learn how to create classes and objects, but loses depth when talking about ActiveX EXE's, ActiveX DLL's and ActiveX Controls. It also lacks information on how to use your controls on a web page.



4. I have to concur with those disappointed readers. I am an experienced programmer. I have programmed for years with C and GUI tools. I have done object-styled programming in Ada, understand OO concepts and have even done some OOP. I should be the perfect audience, but so far I am at sea with this book.

   I have trudged through the first one and a half chapters only, so perhaps my views will be more charitable at the end of the journey, but shouldn't a book like this be accessible and clear right from the start?

   I have built a small application -- the walk-through example -- and I have no idea what I did. This is an exaggeration, but I wish to make the point that this exercise seems without much objective. Oh, I have become used to clicking a few buttons, but I have hardly any schema or model in my head of how the objects and properties fit together.

   Sorry Gary and Dave -- you clearly have a lot of fans. But I'm not signing up just yet.

   I should be keen to receive recommendations from programmers for other books which do the same as this book purports to. (Perhaps something a teensy-bit more analytic?)




5. this book has got both breadth and depth. it serves as a good reference full of concise and relevant examples. some advanced concepts and techniques are introduced to the readers with amazing clarity. core visual basic 5 is indeed an excellent second vb book to get. if you are really new to programming and want to get started in visual basic, get Beginning Visual Basic 5 for an easy and comprehensive introduction then get this book for more advanced coverage. have fun in your quest for VB knowledge!

5 comments about Professional VB.NET, Second Edition.

1. The .Net platform has undoubtedly revolutionized the world of software development, whether web based or traditional windows. Professional VB.Net like other WROX books (pardon my bias) does complete justice to the subject matter, explaining every nuance and subtlety with the typical lucidness that WROX books have been come to be known for. I used this book to pass the 70-305 certification exam. Great book for learning the language and the .Net platform.



2. Good book if you want to find how to apply VB.NET in different areas. BUT if you want to know VB.NET itself, don't waste your time, it should be the last book in your list.



3. This is not a book for beginners who are new to VB world. This book explains the differences (improvements) from VB6.0 to VB.NET. In addition, it has a few chapters that explain the Object Oriented concept in a well-organized fashion. This book is a good investment for anyone who is looking to move into the VB.NET world.



4. I`m really happy that I've purchased this book.
   Actualy I`m a self-learned VB 6 programmer; after having finished about how to program VB.NET, I wanted to learn more about the infrastructure of the .Net framework & also how to use professional tricks to increase the performance of my applincations.
   I found this book helpful on the way to achieve the above goals.
   You can consider it as a MUST HAVE BOOK for a professional VB developer.



5. This book has disappointed me one too many times so I'm going to finally write the review I've been wanting to. I keep trying to use this book and it keeps leaving me short. Sometimes in the examples the author tells you to do something obscure but then he doesn't tell you how to do it. The coverage lacks depth and detail.
   
   I am an experienced VB programmer but I got this book to help me convert to .Net. It has been a big disappointment. Some of the topics I needed help with were not covered. Most of the ones that were covered were sketchy.
   
   Fortunately, I picked up a Special Edition of "Using Visual Basic .Net" from Que which typically saves my bacon.

5 comments about Mastering Delphi 5.

1. The content is spewed all over the place. The book is not well structured. Cantu knows Delphi extremely well but writing a book is a different ball game than development. Had the book had an excellent editor it would certainly come out better than what it is today. I doubt if the next version covering Delphi 6 is going to be any better.

   If you are new to delphi or coming from VB than try tom swans book "delpihi bible". It is more coherent and structured. For an advanced Delphi book, I have yet to find one that really shines. Most of them are so, so.

   Overall - yes you will benefit a little if you hang on it long enough and that is where the problem.




2. I am usually quite nice when it comes to reviewing anything but i am a student studying IPT (Information Processing Technology) and doing Delphi. For me this book has done nothing but confused me. I am a beginner and am looking for a book to get me started and teach me code in the simplest form... if anyone knows any then EMAIL ME please. I believe that as soon as i have that experience under my belt that this book by MARCO CANTU will be very greatly appreciated. It is definately NOT a book for BEGINNERS! INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED users I reccommend this book but BEGINNERS NO!

   I think i'll get a copy of Delphi 3 for Dummies because hopefully that will teach me what i need to know. Beginners once again this HUGE 1100 page book i believe is not aimed at you so don't spend the AUD$85 to buy it if u're in my case. THANX BYE




3. Maybe in a few months from now (June 2001) i will find this book an excellent one for Delphi. But right now i need a book that explains why his code is doing several things. From my point of view you don't have to already Know Object Pascal and old version of Delphi to read a book that is selfrated as All Levels. So if you are looking for something to start with THIS IS DEFINETELY NOT THE BOOK YOU NEED. Do i have any recommendations for alternatives? Well i don't but i am working on it...



4. I give 5 stars because the book starts and end great, of course ther is a lot of things missing, and sometimes I tell my self sheize, but, for starters this book is great, i also have developer's guide wich is more complete but also leave us in the middle of something, i'm still looking for more specific books, i mean one book cannot cover all delphi potential, and you have to keep looking in market, i'm sure Marco will bring another piece of great work, and if he doesn't someone will, i'll keep looking until I become a MASTER OF DELPHI...



5. I knew absolutly nothing about Delphi or any other programming language. As a complete beginner it can be very frustrating trying to find a book that explaines the basics well and continues into in-depth delphi programming. I have a number of other books, all of them assume that you know the basics of delphi programming and are not clear enough. This book was a bit hard for me to start with, however I was able to download an introduction to pascal and delphi from the authors website ... which made the learning process allot easier, and after allot of sweat I made the change to this book.
   I have not finished going threw the entire book yet as it really goes into advanced topics that take more time, However I am coping well enough with the more complex delphi topics and have made real progress. I would highly recomend this book to anyone interested in learning delphi from A-Z.

No comments about Instructor's manual to accompany Structured BASIC programming for business, third edition.

No comments about Structured Basic Programming for Business.

5 comments about The Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Java.

1. Of the many Java books I have purchased, this has been the most helpful. I recommend this to anyone learning Java, especially Visual Basic users. Can't wait for an update to cover JDK 1.1.x and Beans.



2. Recommendation
   VB pros - Strong Buy.
   Delphi pros - Buy.
   C++ pros - Don't Buy.

   Pros
   Author makes language approachable by writing VB code next to Java code. Learning by example snippets makes Java seem easier than it is. This teaching method gives the reader the bonus of a boatload of code samples to play with, all on a CD. These CDs are nice, but I remain unconvinced that a CD justifies the skyscraper prices computer publishers demand.

   Cons
   Biggest letdown was absence of database material. JDBC came on the scene about the time the book did so perhaps that explains the omission. JDBC or not, the author should have said something about databases. Also, the Internet received too little attention. I was surprised since the Internet was touted by Sun as the language's primary justification (read cross-platform compatibility) after marketing the benefits of a language for toasters and refrigerators warmed programmers hearts like watching a flawless sprinkler system hose your workstation during a supposed fire drill.

   Review Abstract
   The chapters are organized well and short (<20 pages each). This isn't Moby Dick so biting off small bites and taking time to digest is part of good geek mores. You actually learn to think of VB in an abstract manner - more mores.

   Chapter Review Details
   1. "What is Java?" A quick and dirty overview of Java. Could have used a fun in the Sun anecdote or three.
   2. "Installing & Using Java" Missing any mention of Visual Cafe or Microsoft J++. Perhaps I'm a bit tough here, but author burst out of the gate without even checking on Symantec and Microsoft.
   3. "Syntax of the Java Language" Didn't hurt much.
   4. "Object-Oriented Programming" Best lesson for Vbers who like pick-it-up-during-lunch training methods.
   5. "Using Classes in Java Programming" Whoever gave them the name "class" must enjoy the bewildering look on people. It makes more sense to stick ! with the term "object." It confuses me. I think schedule every time I see "class" instead of methods to accomplish something like returning the number of characters in a string using int len = abc.length();.
   6. "Inheritance" Actually a good moniker. Properties and methods are passed on to your version when you base it on a previous object. It's the same as placing a textbox on a form. You have access to the height property even though you didn't write the code for it. Java folk say you inherited the height property.
   7. "Java Visual Controls" Just what the chapter title means. About the only chapter that needed more material and examples.
   8. "Writing a Simple Visual Application in Java" This is where the book would start to change if the author does another version. This chapter simply needs to include a real tool like Visual Cafe or Microsoft J++.
   9. "Layout Managers" Too much said here. VB does it better and, amazingly, Microsoft marketing machine doesn't even demand credit for it.
   10. "Using Graphics Methods" I don't know how to draw on paper much less on screen so no opinion here.
   11. "Writing a Program With Two Windows" Excellent chapter with a misleading title. Should have gone with Communication between Windows.
   12. "Files & Exceptions" Another strong chapter that would have been a good transition into databases.
   13. "Using Threads in Java" Best theoretical chapter in the book. I didn't get it all so I'll have to reread it a few times.
   14. "Images in Java Applets & Applications" Necessary evil for artistically challenged like myself.
   15. "Menus & Dialogs" Nuff said.
   16. "Classes & Binary Files in Java" Should have come after chapter 12.
   17. "Keyboard Input in Java" Makes me appreciate VB.
   18. "Using the Mouse in Java" Makes me like VB even more.
   19. "Building Custom Contro! ls" Somewhat tough. I would usually surf far and wide for one someone else's hack before taking the time to do anything complicated.
   20. "Using Packages" A way of grouping classes. I never heard of it before.
   21. "Building Web Pages" No Java, just plain HTML.
   22. "Applets & Web Pages" Late, but finally!
   23. "Interacting With Web Page Forms" Really fun section.
   24. "What is JavaScript?" Author gets points for due diligence.
   25. "Using Sockets in Java" Most powerful chapter. You can get dangerous here.
   26. "Math Classes & Matrices" A small chapter that was still appreciated. It would have been easy to add some statistic examples on CD like standard deviation and average of arrays.
   




3. This book is unlike any other Java book on the market. For a VB programmer, the comparisons really clear even the most abstracts aspects of Java programming. I highly recommend this book.



4. As a proficient VB/COM developer, I thought this might be a good book to begin learning Java with. Be warned: It is not! It was written over 4 years ago and it completely out of date. The text makes constant references to the accompanying CD, which does not exist. The book honestly looks like a poor quality photocopy. It is clear that this was writen in 1996 and republished in January 1999 with nary a change in content. The book only goes to VB4, which is long gone. Want to learn Java? Buy Beginning Java 2 by Ivor Horton. I am sending this book back.



5. As a long time VB and ASP programmer, retraining for Java or C# is a mind-boggler. After taking a class on OO Analysis and Design, I can now make sense out of the paradigm of OO, and appreciate it's benefits. But the paradigm shift is so great, that one probably needs more than the syntax training and introductory level OO concepts presented in this book to be successfull with OO. However this is not the author's fault. If you already grasp OO concepts, this book provides superb examples of how to move from procedural syntax and program structures to use inheritance,polymorphism, and encapsulation as provided by Java.

1 comments about The Basic Handbook: Encyclopedia of the Basic Computer Language.

1. If you are translating from an old BASIC on one system to a different system or to a modern BASIC this book will be invaluable. Its coverage is comprehensive - both of the main families (HP and Microsoft) as well as many variant forms of BASIC can be found here. This is NOT a textbook - it is intended for an experienced programmer who needs a reference for an extinct dialect. Each command and function is listed alphabeticly with the system that used it and what it does.

2 comments about Software Visualization: Visualizing the Structure, Behaviour, and Evolution of Software.

1. Este libro, es demasiado teorico.
   Esperaba algo con ejemplos mas practicos y detallados sobre la visualizacion de grandes proyectos de software.
   Sirve como punto de partida de alguien que este interesado en la materia, para seguir estudiando la materia, pero no para una aplicacion rapida de lo ahi conversado.



2. The previous reviewer (in Spanish) criticizes the book for being too theoretical and not having practical examples with details about visualizing large projects. They state that it is a starting point for someone interested in studying the subject, but not as a quick start for visualization. This is not surprising.
   
   The description on the back cover refers to this book as "the first textbook on software visualization", which "targets both students and teachers in computer science". It further states that it is written for graduate students and researchers, "as it will provide a broad and systematic overview of the area including many pointers to tools available today".
   
   In essence, such a review is like going to an Italian restaurant, then disparaging the food because you really wanted Mexican instead. It's not fair to the author or future readers.
   
   
   
   The author does a phenomenal job of covering a very broad topic exactly as he intends to. The writing style is brief and informative, and the organization is excellent. The book is broken down into coherent sections that address specific methodologies that exist (or have existed) in this field. To wit, here is a summary of the chapter contents:
   
   1. Introduction
   Definition and explanation on software visualization, taxonomies and surveys, etc.
   2. Visualization Basics
   Basics of human perception and cognition, graphical representations, techniques, and metaphors.
   3. Static Program Visualization
   Observing properties such as program architecture, control flow, data flow, etc.
   4. Dynamic Program Visualization
   Visualizing runtime data, including algorithm animation and visual debugging.
   5. Visualizing the Evolution of Software Systems
   Visualizing how software structure, coupling, etc. evolve over time.
   6. Evaluation
   Quantitative and qualitative evaluations of various methods, plus empirical results.
   7. Conclusions
   Summaries, resources for further reading, and though on the future of visualization.
   
   As a Master's student in Computer Science researching Software Visualization, this book is an invaluable resource. It covers virtually all of the seminal works and major ideas that have influenced the field in its short history. The author certainly provides abundant resources for the reader to find the individual tools, and if they are difficult to comprehend or use, the tool is to blame, not the author.
   
   I highly recommend the book as a reference for the theory, history, and progress in the field of Software Visualization.

5 comments about Programmimg Distributed Applications With Com+ and Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 (Book & CD).

1. I have huge respect for the author and the knowledge shared with us in this book. I love the aspect of "WHY is this the way it is?" for every chapter in the book. I would rather know first how things work beehind the scenes so I can then develop against that knowledge. This is definitely for someone with at least 2-3yrs of good experience with VB6 and MTS. I was able to step one level up in COM+ architecture and become advanced programmer/architect just by finishing this book. Excellent!



2. Good book. As one reader noted above, it seems aimed at providing background information rather than how-to guidance. And this is a good thing. It's definitely worth reading if you're interested in broadening your understanding of COM+ architecture and its underpinnings.



3. The common mistake everyone does while learning COM+ is that they try to pickup the syntactical details to write a good COM+ component. But trust me you will never learn COM+ that way. There is more theory in COM+ than code and this book exactly does that. It gives you the inside scoop and at the same time doesn't overload you with details.
   This book is definitely not for beginners. This book is for those people who want to know "Why things work the way they do in Windows and Why do I always do these things in VB?" At the end of this book you will think twice even before you write a simple Select statement. You will know what I mean when you read the book. I took a few day off to complete it as it was so good.



4. Excelente libro, el mejor de visual basic 6 que pude conseguir, tiene todo lo necesario, abarca todos los niveles y todos los temas. Muy completo, de repente al ser tan completo le falte un poco de profundidad, pero casi no es necesario. Me acompaño por mas de 10 años como desarrollador vb6.



5. This is a bit old now, but if you need to program COM+ from VB6, then this is the book for you. It has all the little nuggets of knowledge that you absolutely will not be successful without.

1 comments about Microsoft Visual Basic BASICS : Book w/ CD.

1. This book is the main reason of why I became a computer science engineer, and genius in my field. I totally respect the authors