beginning php 5 and mysql 5
Beginning PHP 5 and MySQL 5 is massive. Being nearly 1000 pages, it covers virtually all parts of the PHP scripting language.
This book starts with some general concepts and history of PHP as well as how to install and configure it. The core PHP language and features are taught through the next couple of chapters until PEAR is introduced. Once the reader is familiar with PEAR, some external and useful PHP libraries are blended into the reading. This section of the book ends with some advanced topics such as templates, sessions, security, and data objects.
The next section is all about MySQL-related topics. After going over the basic concepts and usage of MySQL, integration with PHP is described. As with the PHP section, several advanced topics are also included such as views, triggers, and transactions.
As you can see, there are plenty of different topics covered throughout the book -- all very complete and informative and bundled into one single point of reference. Unfortunately, I didn't agree with the writing style of that single bundle. I found this book to be too much of a reference manual than teaching aid. To show the reader practical examples of the topic being explained, there was a ton of sample code scattered throughout the book -- but only in context to the topic at hand. I think a whole section -- or at least a few chapters -- covering nothing but example applications and projects would have been very helpful.
I can't fault this book on coverage of material -- the wide range of topics will broaden any newcomer's view to the world of PHP and MySQL. If the reference-manual feel could be toned down and replaced with more practical, lesson-based coverage, this could definitely be a great book to help the novice PHP programmer turn into a professional. I give it a 6/10.
