Learning PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Dynamic Websites, by Robin Nixon

August 28, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: book review, Javascript, Non-fiction, PHP, web design 

This excellent book by Learning PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Dynamic WebsitesRobin Nixon has a broader scope than the more recent Plug-in PHP – 100 power solutions, by Robin Nixon. Here the goal is to teach people who already knows HTML the basics of the other languages required for producing modern, interactive and dynamic web pages – that is, PHP, Javascript and MySQL. If you learn to master these, you have the tools in place to produce a Web 2.0 site and be totally up to date; you’ll be ready to crank out responsive, data-driven websites!

Nixon is well versed in these techniques, and does a great job in showing how the powerful combination of PHP and MySQL workds together and how adding JavaScript can contribute to the creation of rich Internet applications and websites.

Learning PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript explains each technology separately, shows you how to combine them, and introduces valuable web programming concepts, including objects, XHTML, cookies, and session management. You’ll practice what you’ve learned with review questions in each chapter, and find a sample social networking platform built with the elements introduced in this book.

Using this book you will learn to:

  • Understand PHP essentials and the basics of object-oriented programming
  • Master MySQL, from database structure to complex queries
  • Create web pages with PHP and MySQL by integrating forms and other HTML features
  • Learn about JavaScript, from functions and event handling to accessing the Document Object Model
  • Use libraries and packages, including the Smarty web template system, PEAR program repository, and the Yahoo! User Interface Library
  • Make Ajax calls and turn your website into a highly dynamic environment
  • Upload and manipulate files and images, validate user input, and secure your applications

I have spent lots of time with this book and have learned a lot from it. I have looked into several of the coding examples, and all of the ones I looked into worked. In addition to the great content, I also appreciated the crisp and clear presentational style, and do not hesitate to recommend it to others!

Links to books by Robin Nixon at Amazon US, Amazon UK, and Amazon CAN.

Tags: , , , ,

Jo Nesbo about The Snowman – YouTube video

August 6, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: About books, crime book, Harry Hole, Interview, Jo Nesbo, Norwegian writer, YouTube 

Jo Nesbo talks about his most recent crime fiction book, The Snowman (see review).

Links to books by Jo Nesbo at amazon US, amazon UK, and amazon CAN. See also Barnes & Noble: Nesbo

Tags: , ,

The CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award 2010

August 1, 2010 by · 1 Comment
Filed under: About books, CWA Dagger Award, Fiction, Prize winning novel, recommendation 

61 hours, Lee ChildThis is an award sponsored by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. A Loyal Spy, Simon Conway

The Steel Dagger is awarded for the best thriller published in the UK. So what is a thriller? A thriller, according to my dictionary, is an exciting, suspenseful play or story, such as a mystery story. So even though award this is sponsored by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, which most likely is an organization related to the author of the James Bond books, it is not limited to and does not even give preference to spy thrillers. This is strange, but of course something which the sponsor decides.

And, indeed, the definition used is very broad, according to CWA:Gone, Mo Hayder

“include, but are not limited to, spy fiction and/or action/ adventure stories. Ian Fleming said there was one essential criterion for a good thriller – that ‘one simply has to turn the page’; this is one of the main characteristics that the judges were looking for.” — The CWA Dagger

Slow Horses, Mick HerronPersonally, I am only somewhat OK with that. But only somewhat. The problem I see when I look at this and the other shortlists for this year’s daggers is that in practice this dagger overlaps considerably with the other daggers awarded by the CWA. And overlap means thing become muddled and unclear and open to multiple interpretations.

To me it looks a little bit odd and untidy – almost like the Steel Dagger is a little brother award. In order to avoid that appearance, I think CWA needs to distinguish much more clearly (e.g. by genre) among its various awards. At least, I would like to suggest they look into this.

The Dying Light, Henry Porter

Be that as it may, here are the shortlists for the 2010 CWA Steel Dagger:

Innocent, Scott TurowThese are all great books and authors. I have read five of them so far. My personal favorites are A Loyal Spy by Simon Conway and Slow Horses by Mich Herron, and I think they ought to win because they are spy thrillers – which is what I think this Dagger should be dedicated to. The Gentlemen's Hour, Don Winslow

My sentimental favorite is The Gentlemen’s Hour by Don Winslow – simply because it is such a wonderful read and such a neat, well-written and smart book. I like his surfer detective and the laid-back plegmatic style of his book.

(See also review of Gone by Mo Hayder.)

Tags: , , , ,