Rating: 
Summary: A Top 10 Tech Book - You WILL Learn PHP and MySQL!
Review: I was first introduced to this book on SitePoint.com (one of the BEST websites for web developers) when I downloaded the first four chapters. They were EXCELLENT and got me up and running with PHP and MySQL (on a Win2K box) in no time. This is simply one of the best tech books I own.Kevin has done a fantastic job of clearly explaining AND teaching PHP and MySQL. He somehow found a way to cram as much useful information as possible into this small book but managed to organize it in a tech-friendly way. You WILL learn these technologies AND build a PHP/MySQL website by the time you finish (if not earlier). Even his chapter on installing the technologies is as good as it gets. How many times have you followed a set of installation steps and when you were finished had something work EXACTLY the way you thought it would? Well, Kevin does just that in this book. Sure, this may not be the largest book you'll ever buy but it WILL be one of the best! Buy it and enjoy!! ...
Rating:
Summary: A Top 10 Tech Book - You WILL Learn PHP and MySQL!
Review: I was first introduced to this book...when I downloaded the first four chapters. They were EXCELLENT and got me up and running with PHP and MySQL (on a Win2K box) in no time. This is simply one of the best tech books I own. Kevin has done a fantastic job of clearly explaining AND teaching PHP and MySQL. He somehow found a way to cram as much useful information as possible into this small book but managed to organize it in a tech-friendly way. You WILL learn these technologies AND build a PHP/MySQL website by the time you finish (if not earlier). Even his chapter on installing the technologies is as good as it gets. How many times have you followed a set of installation steps and when you were finished had something work EXACTLY the way you thought it would? Well, Kevin does just that in this book. Sure, this may not be the largest book you'll ever buy but it WILL be one of the best! Buy it and enjoy!! ...
Rating: 
Summary: For a limited audience
Review: I wouldn't say this is for the total newbie, although basic explanations of the various component software (web servers, MySql, and PHP) are good. But it is a handy reference and tutorial for anyone who has some knowledge or understanding of databases and programming, and wants to know more about using PHP with MySql. The tutorial format is somewhat weak on details, which are supposed to be supplemented by the SitePoint website (which I didn't check). I found the greatest value, however, in the explanations of the programming techniques and tricks. Given the complexities of working with a database and PHP, this book will surely disappoint newbies who are looking for a "Learn MySQL and PHP in 24 hours" type of book. For those venturing fearlessly into the waters, it's worth the price.
Rating:
Summary: For a limited audience
Review: I wouldn't say this is for the total newbie, although basic explanations of the various component software (web servers, MySql, and PHP) are good. But it is a handy reference and tutorial for anyone who has some knowledge or understanding of databases and programming, and wants to know more about using PHP with MySql. The tutorial format is somewhat weak on details, which are supposed to be supplemented by the SitePoint website (which I didn't check). I found the greatest value, however, in the explanations of the programming techniques and tricks. Given the complexities of working with a database and PHP, this book will surely disappoint newbies who are looking for a "Learn MySQL and PHP in 24 hours" type of book. For those venturing fearlessly into the waters, it's worth the price.
Rating: 
Summary: Dives in too quickly for intended audience
Review: I'm an experienced HTML coder, whose only thorough programming training is in Actionscript (for Flash). Ready to tackle dynamic HTML pages as well as flash pages, I bought this book, only to find that it gives so little attention to basic programming concepts that I'm pretty sure I would have been very confused if I had not known Actionscript beforehand. Who is this good for? Someone experienced with HTML and familiar with Javascript, C, or another language with similar syntax. It is not for the beginning web designer who doesn't know how a "for" loops works. With my experience, I was able to work through this book and learn a few things; however, my bias for "beginner books" and "teach yourself books" remains towards those that truly ease you into the topic
Rating:
Summary: Marja, Read this
Review: If Marja (from Amsterdam) knew any thing about PHP or programming for that matter he or she would know that it is not nessecary to declare variables before calling them in PHP! Kevin's book is auwsome; I learned so much from it, infact I couldn't have built my last ten sites with out it.
Rating: 
Summary: OK for Beginners
Review: If you are anything beyond a beginner, don't waste your money on this book. It is a meager 231 pages, pale in comparison to most books on programming. A more appropriate price would be [less]. Unfortunately, I was impatient waiting for the O'Reilly Web Database Applications with PHP & MySQL to be published, so I purchased this book. I wish I had my [money back].
Rating:
Summary: Second edition
Review: Just a "heads-up": Hopefully you are looking at the Amz site for the SECOND edition, said to have come out March 2003, ISBN 0-957-92181-0. In that case there may have been significant enhancements to cover some objections mentioned below (which, by their dates must refer to first edition). I've not been able to find in a book store to evaluate it (hoping SOMEBODY out there will), but the SitePoint site says about this edition: *Fully updated for PHP 4.3
*Installation instructions for Mac OS X
* Full index provided
* New WIDER book size
* Enhanced fonts
* Lay-flat spine
* All content revisited. Note also that at the publisher's site you can DL the First 4 chapters free - which, I guess, will need to be my next stopping point if none of you can find a physical copy to review either.
Rating:
Summary: Note that reviews below canNOT reflect SECOND edition
Review: Just a "heads-up": Hopefully you are looking at the Amz site for the SECOND edition, said to have come out March 2003, ISBN 0-957-92181-0. In that case there may have been significant enhancements to cover some objections mentioned below (which, by their dates must refer to first edition). I've not been able to find in a book store to evaluate it (hoping SOMEBODY out there will), but the SitePoint site says about this edition: *Fully updated for PHP 4.3
*Installation instructions for Mac OS X
* Full index provided
* New WIDER book size
* Enhanced fonts
* Lay-flat spine
* All content revisited. Note also that at the publisher's site you can DL the First 4 chapters free - which, I guess, will need to be my next stopping point if none of you can find a physical copy to review either.
Rating:
Summary: I couldn't imagine a more practical book!
Review: Kavin Yank's stile and teaching abilities are remarkable. This book teaches you both PHP and MySql simultaneously in an informal, straight to the point and fluent way. I started reading it in the Internet and ended buying the book. Now I have a working site, complete with many features and 14 different database tables. I couldn't have come this far, this fast, without Yank's book.
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