The Definitive Guide to MySQL 5 at Dominant Systems Book Store

"For those with a need to know, and those with a desire to learn MySQL, this volume contains nearly everything you would want and expect, not only about MySQL itself but about the software that interacts with it or web servers." — John Suda, Slashdot Contributor

"I've seen the 2nd edition (of) this book and it's good stuff." — Arjen Lentz, MySQL Community Journal MySQL 5 is slated to be the most significant release in the product’s history. The Definitive Guide to MySQL 5, Third Edition, is the newest revision of Michael Kofler’s popular book. This is the first book to offer in-depth instruction about the new features of the world’s most popular open source database server. Updated to reflect changes in MySQL version 5, this book will expose you to MySQL’s impressive array of new features: views, stored procedures, triggers, and spatial data types. Whether you’re a novice or intermediate user, you will benefit from extensive coverage of core MySQL features like user administration, basic and advanced querying, and security. You will also be introduced to several standard and third-party tools, like MySQL Administrator, Query Browser, and the popular PHPMyAdmin tool.

Customer Reviews & Comments
I read and reviewed MySQL Press' MySQL Tutorial by Luke Welling and Laura Thomson two years ago. I thought Tutorial was a great, concise (267 pages including index) MySQL overview. I hoped The Definitive Guide to MySQL 5, 3rd Ed (DG, 748 pages) would extend my understanding of MySQL beyond the coverage in the Tutorial. Unfortunately, I found the Tutorial did a better job addressing important information than the DG. While there is some good information in the DG, I recommend staying with books published by MySQL Press. The biggest problem with the DG stems from this statement on p xxvii: "No previous knowledge of SQL or database design is assumed." The first seven chapters, however, frequently direct confused newbies to chapters 8-10, where database design and SQL syntax is introduced. An author who recognizes that he is losing readers should take a hard look at the organization of his book. DG is also far from a "definitive guide." I wanted to learn more about JOIN statements, but only 3 confusing pages (pp 197-9) cover JOINS -- compared to 7 in the much shorter Tutorial. Worse, here is how the author "introduces" the LEFT JOIN and ON statements: "One variant consists in creating a table list with LEFT JOIN and then forming the linking connection with ON." How is anyone (especially newbies) supposed to consider that informative? I was also interested in learning about MERGE tables, since I use them in an open source project. DG has nothing to say on the subject, although the Tutorial gives at least 2 pages. The DG also makes the unfortunate decision to omit the semicolon from the end of all MySQL commands. Sure, they may not be in the SQL standard, but every single other MySQL book I've seen uses them. That is especially important for new MySQL users. The DG also spent far too much time on areas I felt were best addressed elsewhere. I really don't care to learn how to install Apache, PHP, and Perl on various platforms. I also didn't need to read so much about integration with PHP. Other books with MySQL and PHP in the title are the right place to discuss that subject. I admit I skipped reading Part IV, on programming interfaces, along with ch 12 (GIS) and the SQL and API references (ch 21, 23). On the positive side, I had not read anything on stored procedures or triggers before (ch 13). I also picked up some tricks on security and logging from chs 11 and 14. I learned of some new administration tools in ch 5. I still wish the author had spent more time addressing SQL syntax and explaining what it meant, and less on peripheral issues. Performance and tuning are two subjects outside of core SQL syntax that should be in the book but are not discussed thoroughly. I should note that I thought the translator for DG did a great job. I didn't notice any real rough spots that may have been the result of poor translation. If the fourth edition of the DG receives a major overhaul, you might consider buying it. I am astounded by the number of positive reviews for this and previous editions, since I believe the DG does not address enough of the subjects that really matter to MySQL administrators. Apress does publish many outstanding books, such as Running IPv6 or several titles on Python. I recommend checking out those works.

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