Book Review - Learning MySQL by Seyed M.M. "Saied" Tahaghoghi And Hugh E. Williams

Part of: The RAM Review

Learning MySQL is geared toward those people who don't know a lot about deploying and using a database management system, or about developing applications that use a database. By using MySQL, the leader of open source database management systems, along with the PHP and Perl programming languages and this book, the authors attempt to provide a readable introduction to managing data.

The book has 18 chapters divided into six parts. To work with this book you will need a computer that is running Window, Linux or the Mac OS X operating system; a web server, the one introduced here is the Apache web server; and the PHP and Perl languages for programming specific tasks to MySQL. Each of these is available for free on the web, and described in the book in the introduction.

Part one provides the overview of the book's content and focus. The authors describe how MySQL fits into the realm of information management tools and technologies. They explain how to set up your system and how to configure the software on differing systems. Finally they introduce the text-based interface to MySQL Server and how you can use it to control almost every aspect of the program.

Part two, Using MySQL, begins with the how-to of proper database design. You will learn how to determine what features your database will need and how items relate to each other. You will learn how to read data from existing databases, how to create new databases, what queries are, how to use them and how to nest them. You will find out about importing and exporting data as well as internal information on how MySQL process a query. You will also be given an overview of how to prevent unauthorized access to your data.

Part three, Advanced Topics, will teach you how to back-up your data and how to recover from a loss if your hardware does crash. You will learn how to use configuration files to fine tune the behavior of your MySQL server. It is here that you will also discover performance tips that can improve your overall performance.

Part four, Web Database Applications with PHP, will explore the world of database applications beginning with an introduction of the PHP language and how it can be used to work with your MySQL database. Then the authors, by designing a wedding gift registry, will show you the basics of designing your application.

Continued on the next page Page 1 — Page 2

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  • 1 - A reader

    May 29, 2007 at 3:45 pm

    The language is called "Perl" not "Pearl". Sadly, an error like this puts the credibility of your whole review in question.

  • 2 - T. Michael Testi

    May 29, 2007 at 4:49 pm

    A Reader,
    Sadly, an error like this puts the credibility of your whole review in question.

    I would agree with you if
    1) This was a review of a book on the Perl programming language, and
    2) I had not said If like me, you are not a PGP/Perl programmer...

    Yes I did spell it incorrectly and it has been fixed, but the book is about Learning MySQL, I stand by the review, and even signed my name to it!

    What credibility goes to signing a post "A Reader"

    T.

  • 3 - dean anx

    Oct 22, 2007 at 11:56 am

    Hi,

    In the article you are saying:
    "PGP/Perl programmer ..."

    I think, you mean to say "PHP/Perl programming."
    PGP stands for "pretty good privacy"!

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