5 comments about Programming WCF Services (Programming).

1. WCF is one of the four major application programming interfaces introduced as part of .NET Framework 3.0. With its enormous power and flexibility, WCF has a very complex and multilayered architecture. After reading some nice overviews on WCF and even writing some simple code with out-of-box facilities provided by WCF, one may get a misleading impression of it being simple and straightforward. Once to delve into real world programming, you would be exposed to huge number of issues and complexities that in most cases may not be overcome without thorough understanding of the subject.
   Juval Lowy's book does an outstanding job ob systematically and thoroughly uncovering practically all aspects of WCF programming. Not only it presents a simple to understand architectural picture of WCF in general and various architectural and functional subsystems, but also abandons with practical and thorough explanations of the details of virtually all aspects of WCF.
   This book is not a beginner book. For starting with WCF I would recommend Michele Bustamante's book "Learning WCF". Lowy's book is a thorough reference on WCF that soon becomes your primary source of information.
   I would like also to note that it does not seem to be the intent of the book to reflect on all internal plumbing of WCF, which realistically needs lot of experimentation. You may find Justin Smith's book as a good supplement to Lowy's book on custom channels and behaviors.



2. This book was actually my first exposure to WCF. Many people describe it as a more advanced WCF book than the other more basic ones out there. Although I tend to agree that it is more advanced than other books, I disagree with the implicit suggestion that you shouldn't start with this book if your a beginner. I generally gain better command over a subject by going deep enough to understand what's going on, and what capabilities I have at my disposal.
   
   "Programming WCF Services" does just that. It starts with the simple basics which is important for the novice. But as soon as you understand the basics, you yearn for much more deeper content, which follows in the chapters to come. Although I wish the book would have had a chapter devoted completely to Channels, the overall depth of the book is enough for most use cases that WCF developers will encounter.
   
   Something i really like about Juval Lowy's writing specifically is that he walks you through the thought process of the underlying problem. He shows you the different options that are possible, and then gives his final opinion, thus leaving you satisfied as to why a particular methodology is better than another.
   
   If Juval would consider a 2nd edition, I would recommend a chapter on custom Channel development, and RESTful web services.
   
   All in all, a great book for beginning and intermediate WCF service developers.



3. Absolutely the best book I've read on Windows Communication Foundation. A must have book. Juwal explain every single WCF detail in a very well simple form but this don't break the value of this excellent book. A book written for beginners, intermediate and professional WCF developers.
   
   Well done, Juwal.



4. I have previously read Juval Lowy's Programming .NET Components and it was one of few excellent books which gave deeper explanation about .NET. This book is as great as that one and only one of the few books giving a good explanation about WCF and its internals.



5. I've been a fan of Juval ever since I took an al-day seminar with him at DevConnections a few years ago. He's a great teach and a great writer. However, he is not for beginners.

5 comments about Build Your Own Website The Right Way Using HTML & CSS.

1. 
   I've been using HTML for 14 years, and have a long experience in software development, but I really found this book interesting and useful. I would highly recommend this to all, experienced and inexperienced - you're never too old to relearn!



2. I knew a bit about css and html back in high school, but needed a refresh, so I got this book. It did help me alot to not only remember css/html, and also help me do it the right way. After reading this book, you should be able to create a pretty decent website (assuming you have a creative mindset and apply these techniques to your own logic).
   
   The book also covered tables and forms pretty well. Other useful stuff include how to put the site online, how to activate the forms, and other web-related advice.
   
   There are a few minor cons to this book. There wasn't any info on frames (i would like to know). Theres a one small typo in the form chapter which confused me a lot. Also, the author could have skipped a couple of pages that deals with people who also beginners with computers.
   
   Overall, I recommend this book for people who dont know anything about css/html and people who know css/html a little bit but wants to learn to do it the correct way. I would also like to note this book is probably not worth the money for people who know decent css/html.



3. This book really couldn't have been more useful.
   
   I've been working in HTML and CSS for about a year using Dreamweaver. I didn't have a great grasp of the basics, but didn't want to spend money on a book to cover what I already knew. I took a chance on this one and I'm glad I did.
   
   The author's writing style is upbeat, but not overly playful. Other How-to books tend to take the humor too far (____ for Dummies) but this one strikes the right balance.
   
   More importantly, the information is well explained and usually works on the first try. In other words, one can learn a great deal and build a working product quickly with this book.
   
   I now have a knowledge base that helps me in every facet of web design. If you feel you're missing a few pieces of the puzzle, or are new to web design- you'll love this book.



4. I teach college courses on Web development that emphasize Web standards and usability. This is one of only two entry-level (X)HTML + CSS books that I will recommend to students, and this is THE book I recommend for those who want to get started in the field as an in-depth guide to standards-based Web development, or as an excellent, no-frills reference for your Web development bookshelf.



5. This is a very good book. I have been stumbling around for some months now trying to figure out how to do web site development, yet never having had any training to do so. I'm only half way through this book, but it is like the lights have come on. This book really made sense to me. It was easy to understand and the directions were written in terms that anyone could understand and follow. I agree that it would have been nice to have some color, but it was okay not having it if that meant keeping the cost down. Once I finish this book, I'll be moving on to another that will teach me how to work in the Dreamweaver CS3 Suite, a program I have been stumbling around in for some months now with no success. I feel like Ian Lloyd's book has provided a firm foundation on which I could build before moving on to DW and CSS.
   
   If you are a first time wanna be web site designer, with no computer training or experience, yet want to learn a firm foundation on which to build, I would highly recommend this book.

3 comments about Dojo: The Definitive Guide.

1. I'm up against a deadline for a web application. The going is slow when you
   have to hand-carve the HTML, JavaScript, CSS and PHP. Dojo saves you at least
   two-thirds of the work, so I'm very grateful for it. But it takes some getting
   used to, and the on-line documentation is, well, succinct.
   
   Russell's book came along just in time. It's a lifesaver.
   
   The Introduction alone is worth the price. I found out about
   some invaluable Web development debugging tools that I'd never seen before.
   Russell provides a clear, concise explanation of some very important JavaScript
   notions: Closures, Context, and Anonymous Functions. And all of this before
   we even get to the toolkit!
   
   The book makes the Dojo easy to use and easy to understand. There's a wealth
   of coding examples, as well as complete lists of objects, methods, and so forth.



2. Dojo is a comprehensive JavaScript toolkit that provides a layer of insulation between you and browser inconsistencies by leveraging JavaScript and other web technologies. Dojo is very good in situations where YUI is already being used. Dojo has a standard JavaScript library with a collection of drop-in replacements for customized HTML controls and CSS layout hacks, build tools, and unit tests.
   
   Part 1 of this book is a standard library reference that exposes you to the various nooks and crannies of Base and Core, the parts of the toolkit that comprise a JavaScript standard library. Base contains rich functionality as diverse as AJAX calls, DOM querying based on CSS selector syntax, standardized event propagation, and functional programming utilities like map and filter. Core includes lots of additional features for operations like animations and drag-and-drop. While this can be incredibly useful, these features just aren't as common to all use cases as the features in Base.
   
   Part 2 explores the rest of the toolkit, including complete coverage of Dijit, the rich layer of drop-in replacements for customized HTML controls. Dijit is designed so that it can be used in the markup with little to no programming required, and makes it possible to build attractive web pages that already look and behave much like user interface controls from desktop applications.
   
   Part 2 concludes with a discussion of the build system and unit testing framework provided by Util. The build system includes a highly configurable entry point to ShrinkSafe, a tool that leverages the Rhino JavaScript engine to compress code by as a third or more. DOH stands for the Dojo Objective Harness, and provides a standalone system for unit testing your JavaScript code. This is also discussed here.
   
   This book assumes that you've done some web development with client-side technologies such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. You by no means, however, need to be an expert in any of these skills and you really don't need to know anything at all about what happens on a web server because Dojo is a client-side technology. Just knowing what they are and how they are used is more than enough. As in most O'Reilly applied programming technology books, there are plenty of code examples. The book just doesn't talk about all of this stuff, it actually shows you the technology in action.
   
   If you are an existing web developer or even a hobbyist who is able to construct a very simple web page and apply a little JavaScript and CSS to brighten things up a bit, then you are qualiified to read this book. If you haven't even heard of HTML, JavaScript, or CSS, and have never written any code that works with any of these languages and technologies, then you might want to consider picking up a good introduction on web development before tackling this book.
   
   The following is a detailed table of contents:
   
   Part 1: Base and Core
   Chapter 1. Toolkit Overview
   Chapter 2. Language and Browser Utilities
   Chapter 3. Event Listeners and Pub/Sub Communication
   Chapter 4. AJAX and Server Communication
   Chapter 5. Node Manipulation
   Chapter 6. Internationalization
   Chapter 7. Drag-and-Drop
   Chapter 8. Animation and Special Effects
   Chapter 9. Data Abstraction
   Chapter 10. Simulated Classes and Inheritance
   Chapter 11. Dijit Overview
   Chapter 12. Dijit Anatomy and Lifecycle
   Chapter 13. Form Widgets
   Chapter 14. Layout Widgets
   Chapter 15. Application Widgets
   Chapter 16. Build Tools, Testing, and Production Considerations
   Appendix A. A Firebug Primer
   Appendix B. A Brief Survey of DojoX



3. Matthew Russell has captured what makes Dojo the "magic sauce" of the Ajax world. As he indicates in the book's dedication, Dojo can be your friend in combating browser idiosyncrasies. Since Russell has been an active participant in the Dojo development community for a long time, he's in an excellent position to write from an expert's viewpoint. Another Amazon reviewer has covered the book's contents thoroughly. "Dojo: The Definitive Guide" is very well-organized and covers lots of ground. I appreciate the fact that the author doesn't simply rehash online documentation; instead he provides real insight and coherent explanations. Like most O'Reilly books, the table of contents and index are invaluable in rapidly honing in on a particular subtopic.
   
   To get the most out of this book, you do need to have some web development background (JavaScript, CSS, HTML), but then who else would be purchasing this book? While the book might have benefited from a discussion of Dojo use with YUI, Google Gear, or other toolkits, the author points out this is out of scope. I imagine this saved more than a few trees. (Check out the ongoing efforts of the OpenAjax Alliance if you need to combine multiple frameworks.) I would have preferred access to the code examples packaged in a convenient zip file; perhaps the author will add that to his O'Reilly catalog page (URL given in the preface or just search for "Dojo" at oreilly.com). However, these points do not detract from the thoroughness in which Russell has covered a difficult and rapidly changing topic.
   
   This book is certainly worthy of the fine O'Reilly imprint. The fact that it is edited by the always discerning Simon St. Laurent is definitely a plus. If you are a web developer who needs cross-browser support, you need this book in your library.

5 comments about CSS: The Definitive Guide.

1. Most of the stuff that you learn in CSS can be found already ONLINE and before I bought this book, I had a very good fundamental understanding CSS and thought I buy this book for more knowledge and learn anything that I could have missed. Well I did, but I could have found this information online, however I've spent months learning CSS and it's very difficult to found all the things in this CSS book in one place.
   
   I recommend this book if you have the stimulation to learn from a book and the money because of course the internet is FREE.



2. As others have pointed out this is not a CSS "cookbook" full of design templates. If that is what you are looking for, you will be disappointed. If however, you want to understand CSS, how it works, best practices and so on, this is a great book. Although you can find all of the info in various places on the web, Mr. Meyer is a good author explaining in detail how things work and bringing up valuable points to be aware of along the way. A good addition to any web developers library.



3. Nicely written, very informative. My deduction of a star is for the reference having neither examples nor page numbers where a more detailed explanation would be found. This is a common omission, so I would still recommend this book. I would not recommend this as a first introduction to web authoring, as it is strictly CSS, which of course does nothing without structural mark-up. For those who have been building sites for a while, and need some guidance and insite into CSS, this is a great choice. However, for those who have very little or no experience I would instead recommend 'Build your website the right way...' by Ian Lloyd.



4. This is a book about CSS, and CSS, is about the presentation aspect of web pages. How the text appears, the size, the layout, etc.
   
   However, the presentation style inside the book is kind of sloppy. For example, on page 186 and 187, when it talks about inline elements, Figure 7.33 "Strongly emphasized" is printed not as tall as Figure 7.34 and 7.35 when the CSS style is the same. And the word being used is "which is" and is changed to "that is" in Figure 7.34 and 7.35, when it is changing the vertical-align only. The reader would be better helped if they can see the contrast of the CSS style, without the change of wording for no reason at all. Also, in Figure 7.34, the bigger words should not overlap with the smaller words above, as tested in CSS compliant browsers, but it is printed so on the book.
   
   Then again, in Figure 7.36, for no reason at all, the picture is shrunk down to 1/4 size of the previous examples, when they are all talking about the same case except for some vertical-align difference. It may be done just because the page is running out of space. That is pretty sloppy.
   
   On page 181 to 182, it talks about various terms of the inline box model, and there is no figure at all to exemplify the terms at all. Then after the reader goes through a tough time to read through those text of hard definitions, 3 pages later, the figures start to appear. Please, can the book be designed so that the readers are considered? CSS is partly for making the content easy for the audience, and how about this CSS book is made easier for its audience too?



5. Before purchasing this book, I had purchased about a half dozen books on css, one from the same author. I was really surprised to find new ways to use css that I hadn't learned in the other books. Each topic is discussed completely and in detail. For a reference on css, this book is the best I've found.

5 comments about jQuery in Action.

1. jQuery is a Javascript framework that aims to let you think structurally and conceptually, rather than worrying about syntax and other details. In that largely succeeds, and so does this remarkable book.
   
   Every technical book should be like this one; having written a few myself, I know that's a tall order. "jQuery in Action" is concise but clear, humorous but not silly, and answers all the questions it raises, quickly. The reader is never left wondering "But what about..." for more than a sentence or two. The authors clearly gave a lot of thought to pedagogy, because things are explained in a clear way which progresses naturally from chapter to chapter. Factor in the extremely readable style and the handsome diagrams, and it's easy to see why reading this book is a sheer joy.
   
   For each major feature of jQuery, this book provides a "Laboratory page", a kind of interactive HTML playground where you can try the feature out using different options. The remarkable flexibility of these pages is a testament to both the power of jQuery and to the imagination and creativity of the authors.
   
   Perhaps the most commendable feature of "jQuery in Action" is, however, its unflinching honesty. All too often authors are interested in selling you on an approach or a product, and they tend to gloss over the rough spots to win you over. These authors refuse to do that. They present their topic just as it is, describe its merits, and let the reader decide. You should, of course, decide to buy this book!



2. I found this book to be a great resource for learning about jQuery. I was able to apply what I learned right away.



3. This is just an excellent book all around. It's well-written. No BS to wade through (just the stuff you need to get going with jQuery). It has excellent online tools to download so you can really get into jQuery and how it works (they call it a Lab page -- it's a set of HTML pages that you download and use to test tasks or theories in jQuery).
   
   I haven't read too many books solely on Ajax frameworks but I cannot recommend this one enough. You'll be up and running with jQuery faster than you can imagine.



4. I have solid JavaScript skills and plenty of experience, but at first I wasn't feeling 100% comfortable using jQuery; I was able to be productive very quickly, but failed to feel at home using it. This book was exactly what I was looking for. jQuery has its own way to approach many problems and, in my case, I almost had to "unlearn" certain habits and embrace the idiomatic alternatives offered by the library. jQuery in Action helped me a lot in the process, saved me some time and made the whole learning process much more enjoyable. I wish there was more space dedicated to ui.jQuery, but I understand that's a topic worth a dedicated book.



5. I rarely write reviews for the books I read, but with this one a review isn't that hard. First and foremost, this book assumes that you already have some solid knowledge on web design (CSS, HTML, and Javascript). There is a quick chapter on javascript in the appendix that helps but it's more of a friendly reminder of javascript concepts that anything else. It's also good to have an understanding of some of the more advanced CSS selectors that are in the CSS3 specification. This isn't a requirement but you'll get a bit more out of it if you do. jQuery has some very powerful ways of selecting elements and you can use some of the CSS3 selector statements even if the browser doesn't support it. Very cool stuff! The authors do a great job of explaining things with detailed code and real-world examples (which you can download and run yourself if you wish to follow along). They also do a good job of breaking everything down into a linear fashion that is easy to absorb and don't get ahead of themselves all that often. All in all, this is probably one of the best web development/design related books I've read in a while. I haven't quite finished yet but the half I have read is reqlly well written. I already feel like I have a firm grasp of the basic concepts of jQuery and could probably start using it a bit. Bravo to the authors for writing a solid book on jQuery!

5 comments about Head First C# (Brain-Friendly Guides).

1. This is my second Head First Book (first was HTML), and I really enjoy the style of these books. You don't just sit down and read through these books (and fall asleep like most others I've read). You will be at your PC working through the exercises, doing more coding than reading. That's why I wanted to learn C#, to write programs, not just learn a language.
   
   Experience is the best teacher. The exercises in this book are followed with solutions to help you over the rough spots in your learning. There are also 3 labs where no solutions are provided, so you are challenged to solve these on your own. But, you're not completely on your own. Head First has a forum dedicated to each of its books, and the C# forum is the place to ask questions and share ideas.
   
   If you're looking for a place to start I highly recommend this book.



2. This book is great, if you're looking for a book to learn C# this is it. I wish all books had pictures. (sigh)



3. There's a reason why there is no "Search Inside" feature for this book...in my opinion. This thing is a train-wreck. This book is like the Robin Williams of technical books...It jumps around all over the place, it's not funny and you can't wait to slam it against something. There's pictures of dogs, cats, cups and couches. It's way too busy...If you grab one end of the book and you flip through the pages as fast as you, I think you can actually give yourself a seizure...in my opinion...



4. This book also represents an innovative way to learn and not only C# knowledge itself. Have you ever tried to learn something and end up being frustrated with the way it is being taught? This book not only explains C# but it also explains how to learn quickly and how to obtain your edge on learning itself!



5. There are over 43 pages of corrections (errata) to the first edition (11/07) of this text. It is inexcusable. You can go to O'Reilly's site and print the errata lists, three of them, to use as cliff notes to decode this book. I have purchased three other titles in the Head First series that are excellent. The quality of this one is horrible. Not only do some of the programming examples have minor syntax mistakes, but entire sections of code are incorrect. In one case the errata recommends downloading a pdf because the text has been substantially revised "to enhance clarity and quality of learning".
   
   If you want to purchase this book, make sure you get the latest edition.
   
   Kevin

5 comments about RESTful Web Services.

1. RESTful web services is one of the (very) few books I read from start to finish without browsing the ToC for "more interesting" chapters than the one I was currently reading. From a writers perspective, this book is executed flawlessly: great organization of content, good segues that keep the flow, fun to read, etc.
   
   The title, however, should be "HTTP used correctly". Of course inventing a new term and world is more fun for everybody involved :) But this is what you will find in this book: An accurate description of the most popular application protocol that runs on top of the most widely-used transport protocol (TCP) on your internets. And enough information to show the SOAP/RPC-over-HTTP guys what they have been abusing for a decade.
   
   At some point before I read this book I was getting extremely annoyed by the "RESTful means your web application has to have nice URLs" statements everybody around me started to make. I then wrongly accused the REST proponents of spreading that kind of misinformation. I basically put them in the same drawer as the SOAP guys, people who just wanted to create new jargon to push some new nonsense methodology, wrapper, or layer; because they profit from more complicated software stacks in one way or another.
   
   So I finally decided to read up on what "RESTful" really means, and after finding more hand-waving and misinformation on wikis and blogs, I decided to read this book. What a surprise, these guys really want to show everyone how to use HTTP properly. Of course that would be great, and this book is the Manifesto this movement really needs.



2. The book is full of general knowledge that anyone in Web Development should know, but the editors did a horrible job. Nice book guyz but I would definitely s-can the intern who did the error checking.



3. Sure... it's got its issues: very repetitive, some glitches here & there... But overall, it's the best (if not the DEFINITIVE) guide to RESTful Web Services.
   
   If you've used SOAP and/or other Web Services-related technologies/schemas/etc. etc. etc. you should have no problem following this. For beginners, however, it is definitely not the place to start. You will need to read-up a bit more on Web Services in general and some of the options and practices out there.
   
   The repetition in the book isn't so bad. It drives home a lot of good points and covers quite a bit of in-depth information (sometimes too much, but it has come in handy when talking with other professionals/engineers).
   
   To work with Web Services and not have at least glanced over this book would be a huge mistake. Just be careful: it may take you a while to get through. It does get a little boring from time to time.



4. This book fills a gap that has existed for a long time. It clearly explains the advantages of RESTful architecture, It cuts through the SOAP vs. REST nonsense and helps you to understand some of the most important and poorly understood concepts of the web's architecture.



5. This book is an outstanding exposition of what makes a web service RESTful, as opposed to RPC-based, why RESTful is important, and how achieve RESTful-ness. The exposition is clear and the examples are helpful and to the point. Best of all, it's a gripping read, and how often can you say that about a book on software methodology and architecture?

5 comments about Professional C# 2008 (Wrox Professional Guides).

1. If you are looking for a brief introduction to C# this is not your book. But if you are seriously interested in improving your skills in any area, this is definitely the book to have on your shelf.
   Great job.



2. If you are looking for one book which covers the ENTIRE applications of C# Language, then this is the only book you need to buy. Covers every different type of application that can be developed with C#. good examples all the way. As the title says, it is real PROFESSIONAL Book. 5 stars for sure. Worth every cent.



3. Although I am an advance C# programmer. I found this book excellent in the way it presents staff. It is well written and organized.



4. I'm a VB.NET developer expanding my skill set. This book was great in not only covering C# but the .NET framework 3.5 as a whole. They even included some of the differences in the language features. This was all I needed!



5. Recieved book in excellent condition! The book is very organized and very constructive in teaching me what I need to learn in a step-by-step manner. I very much recommend this book!

5 comments about C++ Primer Plus (5th Edition).

1. C++ Primer Plus (5th edition), by Stephen Prata, is an excellent book for learning the fundamentals of C++. It's practical, informative, easy, complete, and enjoyable!
   
   Here's an outstanding bonus you get: The author teaches you to program using the generic programming concept. In other words, the book shows you how to write C++ code that is portable (requires little to no modification to run on different operating systems); powerful (gets the job done error free); easy to maintain (spend your time designing and coding--not trouble shooting); and educational (gives you lessons in structrual and object-oriented programming methods).
   
   But that's not all!...
   
   The author demonstrates a genuine committment to developing your knowledge, skills, and abilities by providing background information on C++. In fact, the author even discusses the similarities and differences between C and C++ so you can better understanding the language.
   
   If you want a superb foundational education in C++; one that isn't intimidating; one that is useful; one that is fun, then this book is for you.
   
   Beyound a shadow of a doubt...I highly recommend this book to beginners and intermediate programmers. Even expert programmers unfamiliar with the generic programming concept will richly benefit! Finally, I highly suggest to teachers who teach C++ consider adapting this book for their programming course. Your students will praise you for your savvy decision!



2. I can't really say much about the Primer Plus books. Other than they are the best training texts ever written. This is the first C++ book I added to my library but have purchased others such as C/C#/Java2/vb.net They all stand out above the rest. Mainly because they are in depth and get the job done.
   
   Only cons would be it could use a little larger print. However, thats just me and my bad eyes!



3. I started first with "C Primer Plus, 5th Edition" by the same author and was already convinced about the quality of the information presented by Stephen Prata. This is why I had not doubts when I bought "C++ Primer Plus, 5th Edition" and, guess what ? Again, what an excellent book ! Well written, a lot of very useful examples, a lot of humor, as usual.
   
   If you already have a background in C, this book will be easier to follow.
   However, some parts are more difficult to understand because of the complexity of C++. In my opinion, C++ is a complete different way of thinking, and not only because of the OOP.
   But do not panic, Stephen Prata is there and will present you complex functionnalities in a such way that you will get them rapidly !
   
   So, if you are looking for a quality book about C++, you have found it !



4. My son's a grad student in Digital Production Arts (DPA) at Clemson University and has a BFA in Fine Arts. Because the DPA program is by nature computer programming-intensive, he has to take several prerequisite programming courses. I bought him the C Primer when he was struggling with that course and it made a huge difference. So I bought him the C++ Primer Plus because it was by the same author. For those for whom computer programming does not come naturally, these books by Stephen Prata are a lifesaver. I highly recommend them.



5. This book teaches you C++ from the ground up. If you want to learn C++, get the latest edition of this book, whatever it may be (it may be this book at the moment.)

5 comments about Learning Web Design: A Beginner's Guide to (X)HTML, StyleSheets, and Web Graphics.

1. This book provides a very thorough survey of building web pages using XHTML guidelines. The book progresses logically and intuitively, however that is one of it's main drawbacks. In my opinion the book would benefit from being more hands on. As it stands, there is a distinct lack of application after understanding. It would serve the book better to use a fusion of CSS along with XHTML so that one could learn both types of documents at the same time in order to develop an understanding of how the two work together.
   
   That being said, I learned a ton from this book and am now able to make my own web pages. I consult the book often when need requires and find it very useful and easy to use.



2. This book is a great beginning guide to web design. The book does not overload you and sticks with the basics, but offers you other resources to dive deeper into various topics.
   
   This book also gives you great examples to follow and exercises to do on your own. I found that doing the exercises helped me gain a better understanding of the various web design techniques.
   
   This book has given me a huge head start with xhtml, css, and web graphics. I started with zero understanding of web design and now I have the tools to make a good looking functional website.



3. I am a programmer by trade, but find it useful to be aware of, if not proficient in, web technologies. I purchased this book because I have been dabbling in web design for a long time now, but never as a primary task. This book is useful as a review of the current web standards and techniques, as well as an introduction for individuals who may be new to the topics discussed therein. The chapters are succinct, providing the reader all the necessary information to become informed without wasting time on details that may be distracting for review or overwhelming for beginners. I highly recommend this book.



4. This is an excellent book if you are a novice looking to learn HTML and CSS.
   The book is easy to read and follow, and includes a companion website which has downloadable code examples with which you can practice.
   I purchased this book with the intention of using it as an easy CSS reference, but ended up learning some excellent HTML skills, as well.
   
   This is, by far, the most useful and easy-to-read book on web design that I have seen / purchased so far.



5. I rate this book with 5 stars for being a solid introduction to (X)HTML and CSS and for being clear, easy to follow, and colourful.
   
   I disagree with the previous reviewer BB, who said the book was not for beginners and rated it with one star. He mentions Jennifer N. Robbins uses vocabulary she hasn't defined before. Well, if he's talking about terms like web browser, web server, or link, I might agree with him/her, but hey, those words are common vocabulary words for any Internet user. Perhaps if he had pointed out specific words, I might have said a bit more on his review.
   
   Let me convince you: I'm not a native English speaker and I got the information perfectly well.
   
   It is a shame this book has fallen into 4.5 stars just because of one 1 star rating review informing about problematic issues with no sort of justification or examples proving what the reviewer is complaining about.
   
   In any case, we have to respect his/her opinion, though I didn't take his comments or rating into account when deciding whether to buy the book or not; the book turned out just fine, as I had expected based on the other reviews.
   
   Jennifer Robins has done a great job introducing the reader to virtually all html elements (I guess all, but a professional might notice a few of them are missing).
   
   The contents are colourful as hell, well organised, and they follow a static format scheme that allows for easy readability; the author uses sidebars every now and then to point out key information; the book shows she has a clear mind on how to get a beginner to digest the information presented.
   
   I think the technique she used to introduce us to the different aspects of html/css is just the more appropiate for a starter book. She goes over every aspect, then she writes a sample code about that specific one, and then she shows the resulting page. Once again, she'll colour-code the html code, and then either encase the result in a box, or take a screenshot.
   
   Where I want to get to here is, you aren't going to find a ten pages long html code combining every single element she's gone over and beating the crap out of everyone who tries to read it and point out each section in the resulting html page.
   
   That being said, and bearing in mind the other reviews, I guess nothing else can be said about this great piece of work.