Rating: 
Summary: Another Great Book From Larry Ullman
Review: Over the years I have been reading Larry's books. I have been hooked from his first book. This book like his others start out with the basics and then jumps into the advanced stuff. It also contains a lot of real world examples that someone could use for thier site right now. As always I truely recommend this book to people that are beginners thru advanced. I have always used his books as reference guides as well. This is a must buy and is worth every cent.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book - one big beef
Review: This book has one major fault which brings down its readability. It has the code in a box, but then describes the code in step-by-step instructions. This step-by-step repeats major portions of the code, so you're getting the same thing twice, spread out over various pages. Real ugly. The step-by-step approach works well for Castro's HTML book, but not for a real programming book.
Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: This book is well worth the money. It does a great job of covering the use of php, mysql, and web deisgn in general. I knew a little bit before starting with this but it has increased my knowledge greatly. I only noticed a couple of typos in the code, nothing I coudn't figure out in a couple of minutes. If you can only buy one book, this is it!
Rating:
Summary: BUY THIS BOOK! It's worth 50 STARS (if not more!)
Review: This book is, to say the very least, the finest computer book I have read in a very, very long time. I have spent the last three months trying to learn how to use PHP and MySQL to build a website with a simple content management system, however, due to the grossly unethical practice that publishing companies have of releasing books that are filled with editing and other errors, along with authors who are completely unable to write even a simple complete sentence that may be understood by their readers, I had nearly given up. Specifically, I have already WASTED money on the following books:Creating Interactive Websites with PHP and Web Services by Eric Rosebrock - this book crashes around page 100 - it COULD have been a good book but is filled with errors that make it unusable. The publisher, Sybex, refuses to publish a real errata sheet and the book is NOT supported on the author's web site. Isn't that nice? PHP MySQL Website Programming: Problem - Design - Solution by Chris Lea, Mike Buzzard, Jessey White-Cinis, and Dilip Thomas. Good luck if you can get past just page 30! Considering this book has been out for some time, there is NO REAL support or errata sheet for it. The "sample site" that one is allegedly able to build by working through this book is filled with questions such as "Has anyone made it all the way to the end of this book?" Need I say more? What a joke. MySQL/PHP Database Applications, SECOND EDITION. Gosh, considering this is the SECOND edition of this book, one might think an errata sheet and other help might be available. Forget that though - Wiley gets your money, you get plastered with errors so you can't get through the book. PHP and MySQL Web Development by Luke Welling and Laura - Another USELESS second edition. Not only does the code in this book NOT WORK but the examples that you can download doesn't match what's in the book! Not only that but, as to be expected, there is no errata sheet and the authors web site that is allegedly there to "support" this book has nothing but an advertisement for it with the promise that the "site is under development." Wonder if it will ever be "developed." As noted, ALL of the books above are USELESS. On a fluke, I decide to try one more - Larry Ullman's PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Web Sites by Peachpit Press. While a second edition is allegedly going to be released soon, I have the first edition. To be honest, I was ABSOLUTELY AMAZED that: 1. The code in this book WORKS!
2. The book is SUPPORTED by both the publisher and the author. The author's support site for the book actually contains an extensive list of errata for the very minor errors in it (unlike ALL of the books listed above which DON'T have an errata list). Furthermore, I haven't needed to check the errata because the errors in this book are so minor.
3. The author actually ANSWERS questions to problems on his site.
4. The author is capable of explaining everything, very clearly, and yet conveys a LOT of great information.
5. This book is CHEAPER than all of the one's listed above (and yet it is the ONLY one worth spending your money on). I have been so, completely, feed up with the incompetent and unethical practices of so many book publishers that I was beginning to wonder if there were ANY books that really taught you how to create a dynamic website. Well, there's one - Peachpit Press. No, I don't work for them and don't know the author - I'm merely a DISGUSTED customer who is tired of spending money on useless books. RUN, don't walk to buy this book. You will be very, very glad you did.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for everyone
Review: This is a excellent book, very easy to follow and learn php! plus mysql! With the help of loads of examples and demo script to explain useful functions in php. It's the first time I see the writer will answer the question on their web site! You can ask him if you got any problem with php and mysql, responese time is excellent! This is a A++ recommanded book. I have recommanded all of my friend who interested in computer programming to buy it. PS : computer program experience not required!
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This is a great book for a beginner. I had no experience with PHP or mySQL before reading this book, but in 1 week i finished the book, and within 3 days later, had a complete online parts inventory management system setup. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to start out in PHP/mySQL.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT book, albeit slightly advanced.
Review: This is a GREAT book. It is straight forward and very easy to follow. Larry explains the MySQL queries and PHP coding very clearly. His examples walk you through creating your own scripts. He also explains every script very well in the book. His website is a great addition to this book. He has all of the scripts up on the site, as well as a forum for help with scripts. However, the only gripe I have is that it is not written for a beginner. It does kind of require experience with a programming language. I, myself, know JavaScript and had a few troubles with the scripts. However, a beginner could still pick up this book and learn everything. It might take longer and more thought, but it would still be possible. There are some parts in this book that are unclear, also. Some of the scripts were hard to decipher with his explination. However, these problems were easily overcome with help from my webhost. Overall, this is a GREAT book. I would recommend it to anyone who has at least some background with programming. I would also recommend it to any beginner who has the patience to sit and contemplate the different concepts. The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars, was that it might be hard for the beginner to pick up.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome book, great support and real world code samples!
Review: This is a great book. The author's clear, concise writing style and practical code samples make this book as informative as it is enjoyable. If only all tutorials/tech books were written like this one! I'll definitely check out future books by Mr. Ullman before I consider others.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This is a really good book on PHP/MYSQL. It really helps the beginner go from A-B very quickley and easily. I think the scripts are pretty awesome and well commented
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional Book
Review: This is a superb book for all levels of programming ability. I have had to use many reference and "how-to" books in the past, and this one is head-and-shoulders above all the rest.
It covers pretty much all the main things you need to know about PHP/MySQL -- enough that it allowed me to set up a huge Web site for a new client using PHP/MySQL technology. I am not a programmer per say, either - I just had minimal programming background when I picked up this book.
In addition to its thorough content and lack of errors (I can't tell you how many other programming books I have encountered that have crucial typos in the actual code examples!), this book is extremely well organized and well written. It was such a pleasure to read that I took it with me on vacation - and actually read it! PHP/MySQL is a great technology, and this books brings it all together nicely.
As a bonus - all the codes used in the book are available for free download, and, even better, you can communicate with the author (and other PHP/MySQL programmers) via an online forum! Larry Ullman helped me troubleshoot a problem I was having with MySQL - and the simple advice he offered has become useful in other situations as well.
I can't recommend this book enough. I am extremely critical of books and writing in general (my formal educational background is in copy editing!), but I can honestly say that this is the only PHP/MySQL book I own, and the only one I need!
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