4 comments about Understanding MySQL Internals (Understanding).

1. MySQL is assuming increased importance as an enterprise database and has become the de-facto standard with web hosting companies. A number of books have appeared in recent years, covering various aspects of MySQL. In Understanding MySQL Internals, Sasha Pachev, a MySQL-focused consultant and former member of the MySQL development team, takes us on a tour of how MySQL works and how it is built.
   
   Starting with an overview of MySQL history and architecture, the book quickly moves us through working with the source code to build and run the product in a debugger. Drawing on his deep experience with the software, Mr. Pachev explains the coding conventions used to develop MySQL and why you should use them when modifying the software yourself.
   
   The author delineates the different functional "modules" (a term he coined himself to better explain the database, technically speaking there are no defined modules in MySQL's architecture) of MySQL and how they interrelate. Herein lies the key to how this book teaches the reader the vast intricacy of such a complex piece of software. The author recognizes the subject is huge and the source code changing. What he does in the book is serve as our tour guide, driving us through the various areas and explaining as much relevant information as he reasonably can. He constantly illustrates key pieces of source code and data structures; but perhaps more importantly he makes reference to the actual source files utilized by each functional component of the system, while encouraging us to explore further on our own. His approach is very much "top down".
   
   As he takes us on this tour, the author explains many of the design decisions behind the various MySQL components, often imparting the historical perspective behind them. I appreciate how, throughout the book, the author shares some of his "inside information" about MySQL's development. There is also a section where he examines the code stability of each module and speculates on what the future may hold for each module. The author's writing style is clear and easy to read. I found Understanding MySQL Internals interesting and fun, and surprisingly easy to read for a book covering such a sophisticated piece of software. The author also does a good job explaining the engineering trade-offs of different MySQL configurations. Speaking of configuration, the book shows you how to add your own configuration option to the mysqld daemon.
   
   Chapter 7, the largest chapter in the book, is 41 pages long. It covers the MySQL storage engine interface. This chapter explains how to integrate your own custom storage engine into MySQL and contains the source code for two custom storage engine examples (one for MySQL 4.1, the other for version 5.1). You can download this source code from O'Reilly's web site. Despite this one long chapter, the book is surprising short, only 234 pages.
   
   I believe this book has value outside of MySQL. It does a good job showing how MySQL is essentially a well designed piece of software: a high-performance, reliable Unix server. The book also touches on the multi-platform aspects of MySQL design. Those of you designing other types of server software may benefit from studying how MySQL is constructed.
   
   This book isn't for everyone, but if you are serious about MySQL in particular or database software design in general then this title certainly deserves a look.



2. Sasha Pachev's UNDERSTANDING MYSQL INTERNALS: DISCOVERING AND IMPROVING A GREAT DATABASE provides clear insights into one of the most popular open source codes on the market. It comes from a former member of the MySQL development team, so offers the author's own insights into the program's creation and use, covering everything from communication protocols between client and server to the parser and optimizer that execute SQL commands, advantages and disadvantages of using threads, and more technical insights.



3. Sasha knows the mysql code well, and he has done a fantastic job of presenting it. This is an important book for anyone who would like an enhanced understanding of mysql, including DBAs who might need a detailed understanding of locking or replication to. And it's a must-have for anyone working on a storage engine.



4. An excellent overview of the MySQL codebase, philosophy, and the design decisions that have made MySQL what it is today. Even though I have never touched the MySQL source before (it can be a daunting beast for the uninitiated), Sasha's explanations made me comfortable with the 'internals' and finally lifted the 'magic veil' off the engine. 'MySQL internals' has a perfect balance of high-level explanations, and low-level code samples to help you understand the inner workings of the database.
   
   After reading this book you should be comfortable enough to tackle the source, and you'll also have deep understanding of the storage engines and how to configure them, how the query parser works, how the optimizer decides on the execution plan, and much more. This is a must read for any DBA, or a programmer who wants to see a great example of a high-performance, reliable UNIX server.

1 comments about Database Systems: Design, Implementation, and Management, Eighth Edition.

1. Book does not come with the student content that it is suppose to come with. It is supposed to come with online appendices A though L and downloads for files used in each chapter. I would not advise to by a 130 dollar incomplete book. It was release in December of 2007 unprepared for people to use because it makes references to sites and files that don't exist but are supposed to. Signed Cheated patron. I want my money back.

2 comments about Foundations of SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence.

1. This book is indispensable. It will help expand my limited knowledge in the business intelligence space from FICO scoring and SAS programs to a wider universe.



2. I am new to BI. I needed a book to explain BI and the toolset in the SQL Server 2005. As I have been developing applciations for the last 8 years using Microsoft only technologies therefore I wanted to use SQL Server 2005 for BI path. I found this book very valuable for a new commer to BI like me.
   
   I have gone through only some of the chapters but it has started to make sense. The explanation is very clear and it shows that the writer knows the subject very well. Good arrangement of chapters. Not a boring book. I think after reading this book and going through all the excercises one would have a very good understanding of the subject and how to use to SQL server 2005 BI toolset.
   
   I would say this book puts you above the intermediate level from where you can understand the more complex books. Essential for someone wanting to choose BI as career path. Top work Lynn.

5 comments about Oracle PL/SQL For Dummies.

1. This book has a lot of good technical data, but it's not well organized for learning, more of a reference. Also, it assumes you are already an experienced SQL programmer.



2. I am very pleased w/ the purchase of the book. If your goal is to learn PL/SQL quickly and comprehensively, this is the book to buy. It covers all the fundamentals you need to know about PL/SQL and it is excellently written. I have been a developer for 20 years in many languages. Learning new languages from overly technical books and writters, I find, often times make your learning process slow and ineffective. I took this class at Oracle, but there were topics that the training manual and the instructor did not do a good job presenting. This book clarified many of the topics I that were presented in class in a simpler, clearer, and more effective manner. I highly recommend it.



3. Fantastic text for beginners in PL/SQL. Clearly laid out concepts and samples, and hints at naming conventions and other standards to be used. A very solid introduction to the language.



4. This is absolutely, hands-down, the worst computer-related book I've ever had the misfortune to read. It's also the first "For Dummies" book I've read, so it may be the fault of the series rather than the book.
   
   The book is poorly written and poorly edited. There are errors in the code examples and numerous inconsistencies in the text. The book doesn't really say anything except, to paraphrase, "There are many things that you should know, but they're beyond the scope of this book. Check somewhere else."
   
   I bought this book based on the recommendations on this page-- my mistake. I'll never buy a "For Dummies" book again.



5. Easily one of the best programming books I've ever bought, in my life. I can't tell you how many strange programming assignments I have been able to pull off because of this book. From cursors to clobs and whatnot. Everyone in the office thinks I'm a wizard because of this book. It is also a very good reference book with great examples anyone can pick up easily. I agree, with one of the reviewers, not really really a beginners book, but if you write PL/SQL for about 3 months this should be an indispensable resource.

2 comments about Professional SQL Server 2005 Performance Tuning (Programmer to Programmer).

1. I was inheriting a poorly performing 240 Gigabyte database. With just a few chapters, I had the server performing well within the client's specs. The coverage of the features of 2005 are excellent and helps anyone who wants to show that 2005 is competitive with any other enterprise database system.



2. I have been trying to read something that could give me a kick start in performance monitoring and tuning. And, I must say this book has been a great help. I have read many other books but but this book has been - by far- much easier to comprehend and implement. Hats-off to all writters and editors.

5 comments about Microsoft SQL Server(TM) 2005: Database Essentials Step by Step (Step By Step (Microsoft)).

1. This book is oriented towards people with absolutely no prior SQL experience. The first 3 chapters are nothing more than how to install and configure Sql 2005 server. There is a decent background on database design. Overall, its just an ok book. You can learn what this book contains just by spending a little time on the web.



2. A very good material for beginers. I would have like to found this material when I first took a DB class...



3. I have yet to find a book by Microsoft Press that is well-written, and this one is the worst of them all. It was certainly a waste of my money. There are many other books on SQL 2005 that are far better.



4. There is nothing in this book that you can not find in another more organized book.



5. overview of all aspects but not as clear as could be, lot's of pre-knowledge about visual basic is assumed and not that clearly organized. There are a lot better books out there.

5 comments about SQL Server 2005 Bible.

1. This book is an excellent SQL Server 2005 Reference. There are millions of Code snippets to be used immediatly. The author refers mainly to AdventureWorks, the sample included at SQL 2005. The style of writing is not too serious and the author takes time to introduce - when needed - some database fundamentals. I personally think that this book is ideal for those who don't need a step-by-step book, but an complete reference with not too specialized topics. Of course - if you are specialized in a specific area, there are obvious books around covers topics much more deeper. But 99.5% of everything you find in this book.



2. I have the author's SQL Server 2000 book and this book, and it is definitely a major upgrade: 350 more pages, 23 more chapters.
   
   OBXKites is still in here, and David still gets his drivers license on 11/30/2005, but there are as many new topics as there are new features in 2005.
   I can imagine that a bible series book is responsible for taking the reader from their "genesis" of being a novice to their "revelation" of advanced topics.
   
   This can be a daunting task for one volume, especially when the subject is as vast as SQL Server! To accomplish this, the book has 10 chapters dedicated to variations of the Select Command. [...]
   
   Nielsen's chapter introductions give you the feel that you're sitting down with a real person, so you know he's going to explain things instead of listing the syntax.
   
   And experienced insight is what I crave when learning a new language. For instance, instead of slogging through all the features of cursors and finding out for myself that they're inefficient, Nielsen explains that while MSDN says "[SQL Server] implements a performance optimization called a fast forward-only cursor", the reality is that SQL Server is a set-based language and cursors should be used as a last-resort. He then shows how to convert a complex cursor to set-based code.
   
   The chapter on indexing explains how indexes work and offers sound advice on how to plan effective indexes - probably the most effective way to optimize an application before having to start changing table structures.
   
   Business Intelligence is the latest requirement for potential employers, so any book that has a chapter on how to use the BI Suite in 2005 is a must-read. There are 3 chapters on Analysis services (including Data Mining and MDX), 2 on RS, 1 on IS, and even one on BI using Excel.



3. Just finished reading the book , I do recommend it , either for professionals or beginners ! , for professionals , it does have any in depth knowledge we can gain from , all topics are not very basic and shallow, describing distributed transactions in 2 pages for example, very good indexing and performance chapter 50, For beginners there are no books compare in value , the book is written for SQL Server 2005. it is a SQL Server 2005 bible.. that it's true...



4. I guess I didn't buy this book from the perspective of a programmer, but rather a strict DBA. That is, I don't do much programming... I only manage the database server and help programmers when they need something done on the server. For this reason, I don't have some of the complaints of those who were concerned about lacking information from a developer's perspective.
   
   As a DBA, I feel this is one of the best two books written on SQL Server 2005. I also used Tom Carpenter's 70-431 study guide to prepare for that exam and, while it's not as lengthy as this book, it is my other in that pool of two.
   
   Certainly, if I could only get one book, it would be this one. There are things in Tom Carpenter's book that are not in this book, but since Mr. Carpenter's book is intended to prepare for an exam, there are also things in Mr. Nielsen's book that are not in the other. Overall, there is more detailed information and lengthy explanations in teh SQL Server 2005 Bible. It and Mr. Carpenter's book sit on my shelf alone in the SQL Server 2005 category. I highly recommend the SQL Server 2005 Bible and hope you wear yours out like I am beginning to do with mine.



5. There are really three kinds of database professionals:
   
   -Administrators
   -Architects/Designers
   -Developers
   
   Now, some people play all three roles or two of the three roles. This book is definitely not the best book for people who are strictly developers as is reflected by some of the reviews at this site. Of course, the book is not intended for that class of database professional (in fact, they are really not database professionals if they are strictly developers, but are more developers who have to have a database for their application).
   
   For those who play the role of the Administrator only - and there are thousands of you out there because I teach many of you in my classes - or a combination of administrator/designer this is the best single book you will find. (That's right, the author of another book on SQL Server is suggesting that his book is not the best single book... my book helps you specifically in preparing for the 70-431 exam and is not intended to have the breadth of coverage of this book.) Some developers just don't realize that most small businesses with an IT staff of less than twenty do not have dedicated database people and this book is for those people in those businesses. They are not going to write a lot of applications, if any, from the ground up, but they must support SQL Server databases that have been developed by others.
   
   They need to understand backups and restorations, data export, data import, data tranformation (ETL), security, performance issues and other administrative tasks. All if this is covered sufficiently in the SQL Server 2005 Bible.
   
   I must say that I have not always been a fan of the "Bible" series, but this book has been great since the SQL Server 2000 level when I started recommending it.
   
   I hope this helps you make your decision.

3 comments about MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-442): Designing and Optimizing Data Access by Using Microsoft SQL Server(TM) 2005 (Self-Paced Training Kits).

1. This book is the training manual for taking Microsofts 70-442 certification examination on SQL Server 2005. And like other training manuals, it gives an excellent introduction to the exam and provides the information that you'll need to pass the test. It includes sample tests, a time limited version of SQL Server 2005 to help with the examples, all the usual things.
   
   This book, however, goes beyond the normal cram for an exam book in that it provides descriptions and explanations that go well beyond what will be asked on the test. This provides a basic understanding of SQL Server that goes well beyond what will be asked on the test.
   
   For instance Appendix B runs for 70 pages and covers the internal architecture of the SQL Server product with special notes as to its operation on the new multi core CPUs, the use of CLR programming techniques (part of the .NET environment) and a lot more.
   
   This is a book aimed at the expert. The SQL code examples are way above the trivial level. You may find that you'll need another book on SQL programming for the 2005 product to help explain what this book is covering fairly briefly.



2. Having studied similar material by both Sybex and MS Press for other Microsoft's SQL 2005 exams, I found this particular book a good preparation guide for the 70-442 exam.
   
   As you would expect, it covers the appropriate material and presents its material in an easy to follow and relevant manner. Having just sat the 070-442 exam today, I can strongly advise that just reading this book alone is not enough preparation. Having a thorough understanding of the different locking mechanisms, Multiple Active Result Sets (MARS) and transaction isolation levels, as well as using the supplementary material frequently quoted in this book (website articles, practice lessons and the companion CD included) are an essential must for anyone planning to sit the 070-442 exam.
   
   The companion CD included contains practice questions, a PDF version of the book (great for searching), as well as excerpts from the other four MS Press Inside/Programming SQL books.
   
   Having prepared by also studying other SQL material (namely the Inside-SQL series), I kept forgetting this was the official Microsoft exam guide - the style and format is less like a classroom/lab and more like an informative text with hands on examples. As a negative, the end of section review question are very light on, and the one scenario question at the end of each chapter is also extremely brief and not at all indicative of the exam. But that's precisely why you need the companion CD to fill the void.
   
   Another negative - there were some exam questions on topics that never received a mention in this study guide: "Begin Transaction WITH MARK", and using "savepoints" as examples. That alone prevents me from awarding 5 stars.
   
   Overall, this is an excellent resource, but supplemental study on the sections that emphasize "This is on the exam" is definitely required, as well as the areas mentioned above.



3. This is a good book that covers all you need to know for this exam.

5 comments about Pro MySQL (Expert's Voice in Open Source).

1. Highly indicated reading for any database designer involved in developing a major application or in optimizing database operations using MySQL, this intermediate/advanced level book assumes the reader has a general knowledge of database operations and some familiarity with MySQL database system. However, should such awareness be lacking, the book is sprinkled generously with additional source of information to remedy the deficiency. From conceptualizing and elaborating a database to fit business needs to implementing it in an efficient manner, the author takes the reader deep into the inner workings of MySQL in order to optimize database operations. Tools for benchmarking and profiling, which are essentials to indicate where coding performance could be improved, are explored in an insightful manner.
   As much as it is possible to make a book on data processing, much less database innards interesting and captivating reading, the author has done an excellent job in this regard.
   Overall, a must reading for any MySQL developer looking into enhancing his/her skills.



2. For people like me who have a good understanding of MYSQL, the next logical step would be this book. I already know about stored procedures, transactions and the basics of triggers, but I want to learn more about these topics in more "real-world" scenarios in how to develop larger, enterprise-wide applications. Also I want to know more about other advanced topics that I may not even know to think about. If this sounds like you as well, then read on...
   
   The author starts in with reviewing how business requirements and the software development cycle can be part of database development. This a great chapter for people like me who would like to learn how different approaches are taken from different IT perspectives in a team environment (business analysts, application developers, and project managers) This chapter gives you a good understanding of how the other side thinks.
   
   The next chapter focuses on the importance of proper indexing and strategies as pertaining to data storage. Because once your databases reach to the multiple gigabits of storage space, you need to very focused on how long each request takes. A few seconds here and there begin to add up and can cause serious issues if not taken into consideration early in your database design. Like me who only deals with small to an occasional medium-size database I never really had to think about this before.
   
   The next chapter focuses on transaction processing in MYSQL which is one of the more difficult concepts for many and I am in the process now of reading it. I really like the author's explanations and examples. Each point is explained thoroughly and in an easy to read manner.
   
   The rest of the book goes into more advanced topics (system architecture, benchmarking and profiling, security, replication and clustering) as well as giving more detail and explanation to topics that may only be briefly covered in other MYSQL books (stored procedures, functions, and views).
   
   If you already know the basics of MYSQL and want to really advance your knowledge with "real-world" scenarios, this is the book for you.



3. This book is a great expert overview of all that is current in MySQL 5. This covers both the SQL interaction with the database and the management. There are aspects that users often don't use in any SQL platform, and it is a shame. The effort expended to learn stored procedures and custom functions is greatly rewarded in code creation and support. This is another book I rate as ROI super positive.



4. No, I am not associated with the authors in any way. I was looking for a book for MySQL that was beyond "this is a database, here is how you select".
   
   I wanted something more challenging that covered topics like clustering, backups, etc.
   
   This book dives deep into MySQL database use and design, including detailed information on indexes, optimizations, etc.
   
   Very good read. I totally recommend this book.
   
   cbmeeks



5. I've managed to get about halfway through this book so far. It's NOT an easy read. Coverage and detail are excellent, however, and if you're interested in plumbing the depths of how MySql works, I would recommend this book as a solid reference for improving your overall knowledge.

5 comments about MySQL Administrator's Guide and Language Reference (2nd Edition).

1. The MySQL Administrator's Guide by MySQL Press is the ultimate reference for anyone installing, upgrading or maintaining the MySQL database server. I found this guide to be completely invaluable when using MySQL, even before I had downloaded the software. The Guide uses clear, easy to read, formatting which makes shell instructions stand out from MySQL statements. A detailed index takes no time to show you where in 600 pages your answer lies. And you can bet you'll find the answer in this Guide. Beginners beware, however, this is no introduction to MySQL. Readers should have a clear understanding of their system, along with experience of MySQL, although an insight into MySQL AB and MySQL's history is included in Chapter 1.

   As I began reading through this Guide, I couldn't help notice immediately how it sets itself apart from similar books. The MySQL Admin Guide has a detail which you will not find anywhere else. Such is to be expected from the company who make the software, and this book certainly shows the high quality of MySQL. After reading through this book, I can't help but agree with Kaj Arno (Vice President Software Engineering, MySQL AB) who is quoted on the back page; "'It is not possible to find a more thorough and more current reference in print, anywhere'". One of the best example I can make of this fact is in Chapter 2 which focuses on Installing MySQL. Not only does this Guide list all the option of a source distribution, all the ins and outs of installing MySQL on all likely platforms - Windows, Mac OS X, NetWare, Linux and other general Unix systems - this guide also deals with Upgrading and Downgrading the most recent version of the MySQL database server. And of course, to ensure that the entire knowledge is in print, Perl installation notes are included too. What other book covers the often troublesome installation process in almost 150 pages of detail?

   And that's only the second chapter. Throughout the book you're assured to find comprehensive information straight from the people who know it best. You may think that this book simply offers too much information, and for most people I would have to agree. It is unlikely to bother a system administrator how MySQL server optimizes the WHERE clause, or how to avoid table scans. Even if someone was interested in understanding something like this, they'd have the opportunity of looking at the MySQL Reference Manual online. So why buy the print version? The printed Guide not only allows for offline viewing, it also includes information which has not been included in the Reference Manual, such as how details are stored and the many feature of MySQL's MaxDB. If your not content with only having part of the story, you'll want to get this Guide.

   The MySQL Administrator's Guide is the ideal book for system administrators who want to get the most out of their MySQL server. With all the advice on installing, maintaining and administering that you'll ever need to know, this Guide by MySQL AB is ideal for those who long for a comprehensive printed reference.




2. This is a good book gives out the details in an easy to understand format.



3. Good stuff. But the MySQL Administrator's guide (2nd edition) and Language reference is out and on Amazon. That contains the same book in a later edition with the language reference on CD on top of it. Buy that instead.



4. This is an excellent book, but it is written for MySql 5. Check your version before buying.



5. Excellent delivery service and the condition of the book was new. The price was also excellent.