5 comments about Delphi Graphics and Game Programming Exposed.

1. This book really helped me. Didn't you people read HOW TO INSTALL THE HEADERS?! All the samples work for me and I'm right now writing my first game as I go along. When the back cover says "intermediate to advanced" it means intermediate programmers
   NOT intermediate GAME programmers. I do wish it covered 2D in Direct3D though, because in DirectX 8.0 and up you MUST do things this way but nothing off as at print time DirectX 6-7 were current and many people still use 7.



2. I don't know what it is about this book but I liked it a lot.
   The book has a special vibe; it is casual but it leaves no detail out in what it's aimed at.
   Unlike other technical books where you would skip sections this book keeps you reading from begin to end.
   Sure it's not sophisticated, no 3D for instance.
   But it's great for example for people who're coming from Turbo Pascal like me and want to explore Delphi and games(using DirectX). So it is a good primer presented clear and understandable. And no no not beneath beginners.
   And great 2D games can be made with this book as a background.
   2D games still have their place in the entertainment world.
   I'm not saying that you should necessarily learn how to make 2D games to be able to make 3D games but it's an asset. You people shouldn't ignore the "gamemaking thinking" that comes with 2D game manufacturing. But as the author points out in the book if you really wanna make 'em big, you hafta have artists involved in your project.

   ps: if you notice that im from Belgium: I have the same edition and in English.




3. I too thought there would be a little 3D in this book, but I can understand why there isn't. 3D Game programming is absurdly complex. You need to get the basic concepts and feel of game programming down in 2D (well, it's a good idea anyway).

   Many complain about not finding the CD Key... it's on a card that sticks out like a sore thumb in the back of the book. Look a little harder.

   This book is not a comprehensive guide to game or direct x programming (or Delphi). However, what it can do is provide you with the means to jump right in and make a game. What I'm talking about is ready-made basic 2D game engine's that can be modified to do just about anything. The book gets you the basics on graphics, sound, sprites, controls (even force feedback), special effects and a bit more.

   I was introduced to this book by taking a graphics class in my 4th year of college. We barely used the book (because we only touched a little direct x at the end), but I spent the end of that winter break and much of the following months making a Tetris style puzzle game. If you can get the example programs to compile/run, you should be able to modify them to do your bidding.




4. This book is useless and stupid also for beginners.
   Please don't buy it



5. I recently bought this book and it is, as several reviewers say, out of date (not the author's fault although it would be nice if the publisher came out with an updated version). Several reviewers also, however, comment that the book is worthless because the Delphi 4 version does not come with the key. This is a problem. However, the authorization code is available on the publisher website (www.wordware.com). Of course, Borland has come out with several versions of Delphi since then but Delphi 4 is still a good compiler and a great way to start up with Delphi (especially if you aren't wanting to get into .NET right away).
   
   I'm pleased that I bought this book and am looking forward to experimenting with the code. As author Ayres points out, he's trying to equip us to write shareware games, not become professional game developers for slave-labor game shops.

1 comments about Introducing Delphi Programming: Theory through Practice.

1. If you are new to programming, and want to learn Delphi... This is your book.
   
   I found the book interesting, and very well structured. It can take any beginner and make them a programmer in a few weeks.
   
   The problem with most computer books for beginners, is that they are written by programmers that already know how to program. So many minor details that confuse beginners are often left out. Besides, this book is really fun.

2 comments about Web Services Development with Delphi (Information Technologies Master Series).

1. If your looking for a great addition to your Delphi library, look no further than this book. It covers in great detail most of the issues that face web services development, from creating simple com servers, using MTS/COM+ transactions, and even database technologies such as DataSnap, its all here with the details and examples to put these technologies to use today!

   I would recommend this book for anyone looking to sharpen thier skils in COM, Database Technologies, or Web Services/Web Application creation. The basics are covered as well as the more advanced topics all in great detail.




2. This book, maybe a good Delphi book but out of the 695 pages only 25 has to do with Web Services which is a major part of the title. The book should be call "Delphi does Web stuff". On the other hand then it would not sell would it?
   Printed on the cover: "For a Solid Understanding of How to Use Delphi for Creating Web Services" - You can find more up to date information by a using on google.

5 comments about C++ Builder 6 Developers Guide with CDR (Wordware Delphi Developer's Library).

1. This book serves well both novices and experts by providing answers to technical questions such as simple "how to" s, as well as presenting useful pointers on rather complex concepts that make further research easier. The author does an excellent job of helping readers comprehend and appreciate the overwhelming features of C++ builder, by offering a step by step approach in explaining fundamentals as well as advanced concepts. This book explains in clear and simple terms why C++ builder is not just a compiler but a feature packed, fully integrated development environment, which is essential for developing high performing, user friendly applications. The chapter on C++ advanced concepts does a commendable job in jogging your C++ memory. The first part of the book covers in great depth how to use the set of tools provided by C++ builder to develop database applications with ease and effectiveness. The author presents in great detail how to take advantage of the features of C++ builder to develop simple, as well as advanced database applications. Part two provides the web developers using Borland technology an excellent source of information along with examples to understand the difference among verity of proprietary architectures currently available. Finally, an entire chapter on advanced topics is well justified and serves as a prelude to upcoming technology innovations. Quite simply, this book is a must have for all serious developers using Borland Technology.



2. Unlike many other books written on C++ related technologies, this book discusses all the new technologies supported by C++Builder, and fundamentals of desktop and database development with the same level of emphasis. With regard to database development all the three technologies supported by Borland, BDE, ADO and the new dbExpress are discussed at length. This book is as useful to a new C++Builder developer interested in learning C++Builder, as it is to an experienced developer who is interested only in advanced development concepts of the product. This is a notable feature of the book. In nut shell, new developers will be benefited by the whole book, while the advanced developers will be benefited by about two thirds of the book. In my opinion, the author is very smart in choosing the book's contents to make it useful for every kind of reader.



3. This is not the book to buy on the subject of C++ Builder 6. Save your money on this one and go with Borland's development guide on C++ Builder 6.



4. I am the author of this book, and I feel I should write a response to this review made by "A Reader" from NY,NY on March 10, 2003, which, in my opinion, is made without going through the book in detail, or even attempting to use the examples.

   This book is certainly not on the C++ language; however, it is written for C++Builder developers very carefully to bring out many features not documented in the manuals. Extensive set of example projects are created throughout the book making sure that these programs compile and execute well. Extensive editing has been done by me and the publisher to minimise the possibility of errors. The book is written to be useful for both newcomers and experienced professionals. Obviously every book will not satisfy every need of every individual; however, it does not mean the book is useless. Book reviews are really appreciable when they bring out both the strengths and weakneses of the book in DETAIL rather than just a simple sentence; then only reviews are useful to the potential buyers.

   In addition, the book is really handy, without compromising on the quality of contents, and one can carry it easily and read while in travel also, not like the bulky books which are difficult to carry.




5. Not having used C++Builder for several years, I was looking forward to reading this one to learn the new bits of v6, and pick up some pointers on BDE while getting there. The book was very frustrating to me. There are some people who can explain topics in an easy-to-follow fashion. The author of this book excels at making topics as complex as possible, using multisyllabic words whenever possible, and just generally trying to appear erudite. Opening the book at random, I came across this sample: "A web application module is typically a TWebAppPageModule object or a TWebAppDataModule object. The TWebAppPageModule component should be used if our application is to generate at least one web page; in other words, our application is of page module type. (p307)" I'm not planning on throwing it away, but it's not a book to keep by the computer. For many topics, I can get more useful information from Borland's on-line help.

   This book feels like a surface skim of BCB6, with the occasional deep dive with extremely specific examples. I should have figured that at a bit over a third the size of C++Builder 5: A Developers Guide, quite a bit would be missing, particularly with all the cool new components in BCB6. For example, under "Developing custom components", the author states that this is a topic that could occupy an entire book. He then gives two pages of notes and code fragments that did not help me at all. CB5:ADG above, on the other hand, has an entire chapter, 74 pages, and actually provides the information needed for the task. Why bother including this topic if the information is useless?

   I also have to admit, I found the fact that the author had to come here and respond to critics with five stars not only amusing, but worth taking one star away from my own review (which otherwise would have been three stars). This is by no means a five star book.

5 comments about Sams Teach Yourself Delphi 4 in 21 Days (Sams Teach Yourself).

1. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK. IF YOU ARE A PROGRAMMING BEGINNER, DON`T BUY IT. THERE ARE MANY BASIC PROGRAMMING SUBJECTS IN THIS BOOK THAT AREN`T EXPLAINED VERY WELL, GO AND FIND SOME BASIC PROGRAMMING BOOK FOR BEGINNERS.

   IN THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU ARE A C++ BUILDER, VISUAL BASIC OR ANY OTHER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE PROGRAMMER THAT WANTS TO LEARN DELPHI, THIS BOOK WILL REALLY HELP YOU GET THE BASICS OF THE BEST AND MOST POWERFULL DEVELOPMENT TOOL THAT IS DELPHI. IF THIS IS YOUR CASE, DON`T WASTE YOUR TIME AND CLICK THE ADD TO CART BUTTON RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!! BUY IT!!!!

   THE END OF CHAPTERS EXCERCISES AND QUESTIONS REALLY HELP YOU TO GET THE KNOWLEDGE.

   ANOTHER GOOD BOOK FROM KENT REISDORPH!! GOOD JOB!!




2. I used this book as my introduction to Delphi and found it useful, but less than ideal.

   The early chapters of the book gave a good introduction to the basics of Delphi programming, and in particular the many tricks which Delphi has to make programming easier.

   If all you intend to do is produce a program to present databases in a particular way this book will probably meet your needs fine.

   My reservations relate to the presentation of information about the language itself. The explanation of the various features of classes seemed sketchy, and left me unsure of when I should use what sort of features. I had hoped that the chapter on "Advanced programming techniques" would help, but this focused on elements which "polish" a programme, but don't bridge the gap to a finished application of any real complexity.

   I didn't bother finishing the last few chapters on matters such as producing components and DLLs as I felt I needed to learn more about classes, properties and datastreams before I would benefit.




3. An ideal book for anyone who wishes to begin learning Delphi (version 4, 5 or 6). I an experienced Visual Basic programmer and purchased Delphi 5 hoping to use the on-line documentation to learn Delphi but found it too advanced and not an ideal learning environment. (On-line help tends to be a great reference tool but it's always hard to learn from.) I then purchased the Delphi Developerýs Guide, which seems to be regarded as the best book on the subject. Although a superb book in its own right, its not aimed at beginners. I have now completed the Samýs Delphi 4 in 21 days, and let me say, itýs a terrific book for beginners, which teaches in a lesson format, which is actually surprisingly easy and fun to follow. Donýt be put off by the Version 4 title either, all the lessons work just fine in Delphi 5.



4. After reading all the reviews this book had I was very surprise to see how terrible this book is. Make sure not to buy this book I was very very disapointed, it is supposed to be for an intrudoctory level, but this book is way below that, the only person who should by this book is someone who has never used a computer. This is very disapointing considerint other Sam publication. Botom Line DON BUY THIS BOOK



5. I purchased this book, without having any background in programming in any computer language, except a small amount of Basic & HTML, hoping for fast results. The truth is that although the book is comprehensive and user friendly, it relys heavily on a pre existing knowledge of the subject matter and is really NOT for the absolute beginner. My only other observation would be the constant "I'll cover that part later" aspect of the text, which is very frustrating, and makes the reader want to skip ahead to consolidate learning. I would certainly recommend this book, but only as an addition to the library of someone who knew a great deal about Delphi first, without which 21 days is optomistic at best!

5 comments about Inside Delphi 2006 (Wordware Delphi Developer's Library).

1. Having been familiar with Pascal in the past but not programming for a few years i decided to get back into the swing. But OOP and Delphi seemed like a whole new language to me. This book refreshed me on the basics and guided me through the rest. Now i look forward to writing in Delphi ... without breaking a sweat!



2. I have several years of experience with C/C++ using MFC and Borland C++ Builder, and I have long been planning to expand my knowledge to Delphi. To this end, I found this book extremely well written with plain, well orgnized and easy to understand English. Albeit English is not my native language but it took me just 3 hours to finish reading almost half of the book (near 300 pages) with much enjoyment and I feel I already have a good jump start with Delphi. Of course, I guess the presented material might appear too fundamental to Delphi masters, but it is definetly a good book for someone who already have some experience with C/C++ but want to learn Delphi.
   
   Some have complained .NET is only covered at the miminum. But to me this is acceptable since I can find information from other books once I get a hold of Delphi in general. In short, this is a very good book and I would happily rate it with 5 starts.
   
   Continued Comments by the same reviwer after one year:
   Delphi in a Nutshell by Ray Lischer, would be a very good subsequent reading after this book.
   
   Also, this book doesn't touch on Web Services, XML programming, Refactroing, and Unit Testing. These stuff can be found from CodeGear website --- they have very good Webinar series on the topics that would compliment this book.



3. I know Assembly, C, and C++, and until I read this book, did not know any Pascal. I got the book mainly to help me with Borland Developer Studio 2006. The last version I purchased from Borland was C++ Builder 4.0 and I wanted (in hard copy so I could read away from the computer) to understand the differences between the compilers. The book is written mostly for Pascal programmers, but it does a decent job covering C++.
   
   A lot of the programs, utilities, and examples I see from various sources are in Pascal. I decided now was as good a time to learn a new language as any. For my situation, this book was the perfect choice. I could read the C++ code then use that understanding to help me learn Pascal, all while becoming familiar with Borland's new environment.
   
   The book itself is fairly well written, though many parts are difficult to follow. It is not the right book for a new programmer - but compared to other programming books, it is a gem. If you buy this book, expect to spend time tweaking some of the examples to make them work, and don't expect to be told everything you need to complete the lessons. With that said, there was nothing I could not make work or figure out with a little thinking - which actually turned out to be a good thing because I learned quite a bit. There are also many good Windows programming techniques and ideas, which are quite valuable themselves.
   
   My overall impression? All serious Borland BSD users should have this book on their shelf.



4. As a long time Delphi programmer from v1 through v7, C++ Builder programmer from v1 through v3, and Kylix programmer from v1 through v3, I found this book to be a very useful "nutshell" type book which provides both Delphi and C++ examples throughout.
   
   As others have noted though, this is not the book you want if you expect more than cursory treatment [...]- I didn't so I wasn't disappointed.
   
   Well written to boot.



5. I have been a Delphi programmer for a number of years and read many Delphi books and this is by far the most basic. It is also the most difficult to follow. The Mr. Hladni mixes Delphi and C++Builder into one presentation. So if your interest is only Delphi (which seems to be implied by the book title) then take about half of the 727 pages and throw them out. Another difficulty in the manor of his approach is the examples his uses. The examples in the first 10 chapter are console applications - get real DOS. I had the feeling that he pulled parts of old material together and manufactured this book. I have always been critical of the example code that books use for their simplicity. This book goes to the extreme. The best example of this simplicity is chapter 23, Creating Win32 API Applications. All of the examples used in the chapter are basic components of Delphi - forms, buttons, list, etc. Delphi hides this complexity from programmers and there is very little need to create a form using direct API calls, so why doesn't he have examples that are more pertinent? If I were a non-experienced Delphi programmer and I read this chapter and I would come away confused at why I would want to create a Win32 API program. As an experienced programmer I found this chapter a waste of time and skipped through the material in about 2 minutes.
   
   When he did address newer features than Pascal coding from the 1980s he did not point out or almost never that it was new/modified, whatever, the reason for the change much less the significance of the change. Needless to say you will not find a chapter entitled "New Features of Delphi 2006" and sadly that is the reason I bought this book.
   
   If you are new to Delphi then you may find this to be a good primer, but I would suggest that as soon as you complete the book to get another to expand your knowledge of the current product (Mastering Delphi 2005 by Cantu for starters). For experienced programmers this book is a waste of time and money.

5 comments about Delphi in a Nutshell (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)).

1. This is a book that each Delphi coder must have in his collection. The book covers all the most important feature of object pascal, thread, interfaces and so on...
   You must buy it if u need of a reference boook.

   Delphi Newbie keep away.




2. This is a useful book that provides a good reference to Object Pascal as well as the System unit. The problem I have with it is that my copy and that of my colleague completely broke off. The publisher should pay better attention to the production of this book. I have managed to glue it back on.



3. Ray has written an excellent desktop reference for Delphi. I really liked the explanation of the SysUtils unit. I found that there were functions in there that I had written myself, if I had only known I would have saved myself some time. The Language reference with the Tips and Tricks is excellent, helps make more sense of the sometimes archaic online help. My only complaint is that this is the ONLY Delphi book published by O'Reilly, I would love to see a Learning, Programming, or Mastering book!



4. This book is a fair reference for the intermediate programmer. However, it stops at Delphi 5, so it's use for those using later versions of Delphi will find a lot missing. The book is organized fairly well and it is easy to find answers to questions that are pertinent up through Delphi 5. It does have some tutorial content, but that is limited and for those seeking programming with Delphi education would be better off with other books. This book is best used as a supplement to an instructional book, like the Cantu books.



5. Material is presented out of order and not readable to anyone who has not already mastered the subject.

5 comments about Mastering Delphi 7.

1. In order to understand some issues related with delphi 7, the book is very helpful. But is not a step by step book. In that case I advice to look for something more especific.
   This book is reality very good, an excellent work of the writer, you should buy it as a bible.



2. yesterday I received the book by international shipping. As I have read the first 14 pages I am really satisfied with the cost that I pay. Thanks to God (to create such a man), thanks to marco and thanks to amazon of course.



3. Mr. Cantu has taken on an immense task condensing most of what you need to know about Delphi into a single volume. While he did a tremendous job of giving you a foundation of most aspects of Delphi, inevitably there are some areas in which you are left wanting.
   
   I purchased this book for use at work, and for the most part - even if I have not found the exact answers to my questions - I have been able to determine the right "questions to ask" when it comes to formulating my Google queries to track down the answer I need. When it comes to Database Programming, I didn't find everything I needed in regards to ADO and had to get another book "Delphi Developers Guide to Programming with ADO" in order to make up for the sadly - very short section that Mr. Cantu devoted to the topic in this book.
   
   Overall - this is an excellent companion for anyone who develops in Delphi. I must however offer one caveat - you will not find all of your answers here without the aid of Delphi developer websites, forums, Google, and other third party resources. I recommend this as a purchase if you understand that it is just a good reference. If you have a specialized need - I suggest trying to find your answers via the Delphi section on About.com or via DelphiBasics (download version).



4. This is an excellent Delphi learning & reference manual. I am finding it to be a great asset to my programming books.



5. I bought this book for getting one step further in delphi. But it took me ten steps further. Adviced to who need to real mastering in delphi.

2 comments about .NET 2.0 for Delphi Programmers.

1. As someone who used to use Delphi almost all the time, I hate to admit that in order to stay employable today, I'm having to know and use .NET. If you find yourself in the same situation, and you want a fast-track to .NET 2.0, then this book is at the top of the list.
   
   It's the single most used book in my collection today when it comes to .NET.
   
   At first, I read it cover to cover. It's not hard reading like some books can be, and it made sense to me since I know Delphi.
   But with Jon's writing style, it's organized in a way that I reach for it when I need a quick reference as well.
   
   It comes with special tidbits about the inner workings of the CLR, which I always find fascinating.
   
   I keep it at the front of my bookshelf. I've had other programmers that C++ guys come by and ask to use it. So you don't need to know Delphi to make good use of it. Borland C++ Builder users will find it an easy read as well since Builder is built on Delphi.
   
   Five thumbs up for this one. Well done Jon!



2. The best way to go from Delphi to Net Framework. Use the Delphi skill to learn Net.

5 comments about Mastering Borland Delphi 2005 (Mastering).

1. I found the book attractive and easy-reading. Marco Cantu boosts Delphi learner's expectations again, with this Mastering Delphi 2005 edition. The author makes learning Delphi a gentle issue, as if he's chating with you personally. Definitely, the book is a better choice for learning Delphi.



2. This latest in Marco's Delphi series is a must-have for anyone who is serious about rapid Microsoft Windows systems development. In contrast to most, perhaps all, of the technical books dealing with creative development, this one is very readable, and more to the point immediately useful.
   
   The rich code samples are immediately applicable to today's right-now applications, with background material that is succinct and helpful.
   
   It's still applicable today for one simple reason: Delphi is still the fastest and most reliable way to build robust Windows applications, bar none. The economic impact of this simple fact is why Delphi is still being used today, despite Borland's self-induced problems, and will continue to be used for the same reason for as long as Win32 is around - probably a long, long time indeed.
   
   DISCLAIMER: Borland wanted to do a case study on my company's use of Delphi, even after I told them I thought that their marketing department was brain dead. They compiled and published the case study, but I still believe that their marketing department is brain dead.



3. Marco Cantu presents another fine in-depth Delphi book. I treat this as more of a reference rather than something you read start-finish. Its over 900 pages long and I recommend having tried Delphi for a while before picking this book up. The downloadable demos are especially helpful. Highly Recommend it.



4. The book covers the fundaments of the Delphi 2005 programming, in an inteligent and clear way. Doing more emphasis in win32 development but not leaving alone to .NET interested.
   This book mantain the expected quality for an author like Marco Cantu. An recommended choice for all Delphi developers.



5. For subscribers of the previous mastering Delphi series this book is not going to add much to your knowledge of Delphi.
   I have the Mastering Delphi 4-2005 and I haven't really opened this one as it offers nothing new.
   For the beginner in Delphi this would prove as useful as Mastering Delphi 4 was for me; invaluable.