The Definitive Guide to Using, Programming, and Administering MySQL 5.0 and 5.1

 

MySQL is an open source relational database management system that has experienced a phenomenal growth in popularity and use. Known for its speed and ease of use, MySQL has proven itself to be particularly well-suited for developing database-backed websites and applications.

 

In MySQL, Paul DuBois provides a comprehensive guide to using and administering MySQL effectively and productively. He describes everything from the basics of getting information into a database and formulating queries, to using MySQL with PHP or Perl to generate dynamic web pages, to writing your own programs that access MySQL databases, to administering MySQL servers.

 

The fourth edition of this bestselling book has been meticulously revised and updated to thoroughly cover the latest features and capabilities of MySQL 5.0, as well as to add new coverage of features introduced with MySQL 5.1.

 

“One of the best technical books I have read on any subject.”

–Gregory Haley, C Vu, The Association of C & C++ Users

 

“A top-notch user’s guide and reference manual, and in my opinion, the only book you’ll need for the daily operation and maintenance of MySQL databases.”

–Eugene Kim, Web Techniques

 

Introduction 1

 

Part I: General MySQL Use

Chapter 1: Getting Started with MySQL 13

Chapter 2: Using SQL to Manage Data 101

Chapter 3: Data Types 201

Chapter 4: Stored Programs 289

Chapter 5: Query Optimization 303

 

Part II: Using MySQL Programming Interfaces

Chapter 6: Introduction to MySQL Programming 341

Chapter 7: Writing MySQL Programs Using C 359

Chapter 8: Writing MySQL Programs Using Perl DBI 435

Chapter 9: Writing MySQL Programs Using PHP 527

 

Part III: MySQL Administration

Chapter 10: Introduction to MySQL Administration 579

Chapter 11: The MySQL Data Directory 585

Chapter 12: General MySQL Administration 609

Chapter 13: Access Control and Security 699

Chapter 14: Database Maintenance, Backups, and Replication 737

 

Part IV: Appendixes

Appendix A: Obtaining and Installing Software 777

Appendix B: Data Type Reference 797

Appendix C: Operator and Function Reference 813

Appendix D: System, Status, and User Variable Reference 889

Appendix E: SQL Syntax Reference 937

Appendix F: MySQL Program Reference 1037

 

Note: Appendixes G, H, and I are located online and are accessible either by registering this book at informit.com/register or by visiting www.kitebird.com/mysql-book.

Appendix G: C API Reference 1121

Appendix H: Perl DBI API Reference 1177

Appendix I: PHP API Reference 1207

 

Index 1225

 

Average Customer Review: ( 40 customer reviews )
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That said, the majority of the book is written in a well explained fashion, even the reference part at the end has lengthy explanations, so you will always find what you need. The reference section would be the ideal place to look at for type info, function parameters, etc. if the book would not be that heavy, but the precise explanations would not be possible otherwise.

This book tries to be everything for everybody, which is hard to accomplish. The first section provides an introduction to SQL, but there is also significant info for system administrators and a huge amount of pages on programming with C, Perl and PHP in connection with MySQL. If you are a beginner, and you are not interested in having your own server, or writing C programs, then this book might not be the best choice. However, if you would like to have a broad overview with details wherever you need, this book is advisable.

21 of 23 found the following review helpful:

Great as a reference / advanced textAug 23, 2004
By A. justo Perez
I was already developing mysql & php sites and apps when i purchased this book, so it was a good buy as a reference text, but if you intent to learn Mysql, there are better books than this one.

It is deep, slow to read, with rather small text size. For the beginner, i think it's not a good starter. But on the other hand it has almost everything you would want to know about Mysql, with lots of examples and quite well explained.

I learned Mysql and PHP from Sam's "Php and Mysql web development", and i couldn't recommend that one enough. It's a GREAT text for the beginner. I found myself writing Php/Mysql web sites in less than 3 months, starting from nothing.

14 of 15 found the following review helpful:

Outstanding organization and lucid proseJul 11, 2003

I had little experience with database creation and maintenance prior to my current project. In fact, I had been putting off getting involved in any database projects for fear of the learning curve. I'm midway through the project now, and DuBois' guide has been indespensible throughout.

Highlights:
* chapter organization -- starts with a tutorial on basic usage of MySql, and relegates installation guidance to an appendix. Too often such texts mix usage and administation in a chaotic jumble.
* comprehensive index -- I've yet to fail in finding a topic at the first entry I've searched.
* appendices (MySQL operators and datatypes, SQL, C and Perl api references) -- due to the size of this volume, these handy reference sections can be hard to thumb to, unless you glue in some post-its like I did, but they're worth finding for quick, clear descriptions of total Mysql usage.
* prose -- Terse (despite the volumes' 1200 pages), clear, and well-organized.
* author's background -- DuBois' close involvment in the ongoing efforts of the MySql project have given him a vast knowledge of the arcane differences in versions and operating systems as well as upcoming features. The 2nd edition is very uptodate at of mid-summer 2003.

MySql, BTW, has not disappointed.

9 of 9 found the following review helpful:

This is a reference book, by the same person who writes the online documentation.Jan 06, 2011
By Gregory A. Gum "Greg"
While this book is a comprehensive, I found it to be more of a reference book than otherwise. It covers pretty much the same material as what is found in the online docs. Which isn't surprising as the book author is an employee of MySQL and writes the online documentation. The book is valuable as a reference, but it weighs in at 1200 pages which is more than I am going to sit down and read as a narrative.

The first chapter is a tutorial, but after that, it's all reference material. If that is what you are looking for, great. But if your looking for beginner/intermediate material, this is not it. The book does not cover MYSQL Workbench at all which is what the newcomer to MySQL normally uses to get started. Nobody wants to learn MySQL just from a command prompt, but this is the approach the book takes.

Greg

13 of 15 found the following review helpful:

Truly outstanding bookSep 26, 2003

Recently I had to write a mysql demo for a tradshow. I had
never worked with mySQL before. I got this book and was
able to complete a full fledged demo in a matter of three
days, working part time. The book is very well organized,
easy to read and understand and best of all the examples
work without modifications. I highly recommend this book
for beginners. I would have done so for all levels but
I'm not an advanced user of mySQL.

If you're thinking of getting started on mySQL this is the
book.

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