Product Description

Get comprehensive coverage of all the powerful new features of MySQL, one of the fastest--and free--relational databases in use today. Written in conjunction with the MySQL development team, this expert resource covers transactional integrity, disaster recovery, scalability, support for mobile users, Web-based and client/server programming, and much more. (20041201)

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #702964 in Books
• Published on: 2003-12-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 544 pages

Review
From the Computer Media column by Rachel Singer Gordon

...perennially popular open-source companions for creating database-driven web sites. These guides cover MySQL, as well as its use with PHP and other languages...Complete Reference tries to be all things to all people, covering topics from an introduction to relational databases and installing and configuring MySQL to reference material for administrators, but is most appropriate for new and intermediate users. Sidebars and notes add info and link to additional resources, while a welcome thoroughness and clarity make this a good, basic purchase for all libraries. (Library Journal )

Book Info
Guide shows how to take advantage of MySQL's cross-platform support, independent storage engines, advanced permissions and security system, query caching, and more. Previous edition: c2001. Softcover.

From the Back Cover
The Most Authoritative Resource on the MySQL Database Available! Reviewed by the MySQL Development Team.

Get the most out of the MySQL database server--today’s most popular open source database--with help from this definitive guide. Take advantage of MySQL’s cross-platform support, independent storage engines, advanced permissions and security system, query caching, full-text indexing and searching, and much more. Reviewed by the MySQL database development team, MySQL: The Complete Reference explains in full detail how to use this customizable RDMS to support robust, reliable, mission-critical applications.

• Install, configure, and test a MySQL database on Linux/UNIX or Windows
• Use MySQL data types, statements, operators, and functions
• Manage databases and tables with the Data Definition Language (DDL)
• Add, delete, and query records using the Data Manipulation Language (DML)
• Take advantage of transactional support
• Implement MySQL’s five-tiered access control and privilege system
• Handle database optimization, backup, recovery, and replication
• Create applications in C, C++, Perl, Java, PHP, and other languages

Vikram Vaswani is the founder and CEO of Melonfire, a company specializing in Web design, development, and content creation for a variety of clients. He has also written extensively on open source technologies, including MySQL, Perl, Python, and PHP.

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Customer Reviews

Very helpful primer
Unlike most computer-related books, this one actually makes sense. The author has a no-nonsense approach to getting points across that most computer "authors" lack. It's very well organized and it's oriented to the beginner/intermediate audience. As a computer scientist myself, I found this book to quite welcoming and easy to find specific subjects in it. I was up and running in about three days. I created my first MySQL database and had it well-tuned in about a week or so, which is remarkable because I hadn't had any MySQL experience up to that point. Very solid, helpful book. Highly recommend.

Excellent resource, clearly written, examples throughout
I highly recommend anyone working with MySQL in any capacity to pick up a copy of MySQL: The Complete Reference; it's the most thorough, easy to follow, well laid out book on the subject I've seen (and I have several computer texts, many of which deal with MySQL in some way or other). Every facet of MySQL is covered: system admin, table types and structure, data types, basic to advanced SQL syntax. There are sections dealing with new features in v4.1 (still considered under development as of this writing) such as subqueries (which are going to be a huge help) and other new methods for handling data. My favorite parts of the book are the nested sidebars that have tricks and tips for doing things in one of several different ways, most of which I've never seen before.

The most impressive feature of the book, in my opinion, is the balance between visual examples and technical detail. Usually you find a computer text is strong in one or the other; the author Vikram Vaswani has done an excellent job in illustrating his talent to show the end user exactly what he / she needs to see to understand the task at hand, not to mention his depth of knowledge on the subject. The book has MySQL's logo on it for a reason, people.

I had personally put off purchasing a book on MySQL, instead relying on online documentation and tutorials. When I realized I wasn't moving in the right direction, I took a look at several available texts and chose this one. Even though I've been working with MySQL for over a year, after having read a majority of the book, I can honestly say I've easily doubled my understanding of syntax and the inner workings of MySQL in the past two weeks. Less than half an hour after reading the chapter on JOINS, I was able to construct a complex combination of self and left join that had been eluding me. I'm currently going through several tables and scripts, optimising table structure and syntax based on lessons learned. I only wish I bought two copies, as mine is already dogeared and worn from taking the trip back and forth from home to the office every day!

If you only take one thing away from this review, let it be this: you WILL learn MySQL from this book!!