Web Books

This book is here to help the beginner in Apache, PHP, Perl and MySQL. If you have always fancy in setting up your own web server but have no idea of how to do it, this book is for you.

The author teaches you step-by-step from installing Apache web server, PHP and Perl to writing applications like database-enabled web applications using Perl, PHP and MySQL. He also touches a small portion of SSI (Server-sise Includes).

This book is indeed very good for beginners. However, please be warned that you may get frustrated by the typos and mistakes found in this book. Refer to the previous post, he mentioned some configuration issues which are helpful. Other than that, this book is definitely worth reading as you may learn a lot especially when you have no idea of what and how to use Apache, PHP, Perl, and MySQL.

For advanced readers, you may want to look into other books :)

I want to congratulate the author for writing such an excellent book for beginners to open-source software like Apache, PHP and mySQL. On windows platform does not bother me as it is the predominant operating system platform and easier to relate to, although I do hope the second version of this book might include a Linux-version.

The CD software includes the latest version of PHP, MySQL, Apache and Perl, although personally I think Perl should be less covered since PHP is much better. Also the section of IIS installation with PHP kind of distract the attention from Apache in the whole book.

Some typo errors in the book's codes, as well as installation errors not mentioned in the book could frustrate non-technical people: e.g. Not able to set up on my Windows XP (Home) for virtual host / Server Side Include / OpenSSL / Preventing Directory listing...also on PHPMyadmin (Chap 8), the book missed out a step to uncomment in PHP.INI the line extension=php_mysql.dll in order to get the nice result of Fig 8.30, otherwise you would contantly get this error "cannot load mysql extension'.

Overall the book is recommended to read through in one session (I spent 3 hours in one single night), then follow by practices in few other sessions on Apache, PHP and MySQL in sequence.

It has been an enriching and enjoyment experience for me. I highly recommend to all new commers in web-database application developers.

Eric Hunley's USING OPEN SOURCE WEB SOFTWARE WITH WINDOWS addresses some common issues with open source documentation, from Linux/UNIX focuses not easily accessible to Widows users to adapting these focuses to Windows environments. Chapters tell exactly how to adapt open source software to Windows environments, using four of the most popular Internet programs as examples. The focus on how to reduce costs in the process is also a welcome one.

While there is an awful lot of software available on the net, this book concentrates on software related to setting up web sites on systems running the Windows operating system. This includes the Apache web server, PHP to provide web/database interconnectivity, MySQL database, and Perl to provide more flexibility to your web sites. The CD-ROM included with the book includes copies of all of this software, so here is really all that you need to put up dynamic web sites.

I gues the question I would have to ask is that if you are using a system for a single application such as being a web server, why wouldn't you go all the way and use a Linux operating system under it, it would be faster, more reliable and less expensive. But if you gotta use Windows, here's all you need.

This is an amazing book packed with useful information and presented in a manner that is easy to understand. I was so impressed that I bought four books which I supplied to my children. Now where all connected!

Read this book if you want to learn anything about the Internet. The book covers the topic of the Internet in a complete fashion. My husband, who is a seasoned Internet user, and I, an Internet newcomer, book came away with information. Great book!!!!

The book answered most of my questions and took lowered my frustration level. I thought this book would be a dry how-to guide but it wasn't. It was filled with information and was fun to read.

I'm an Internet novice but I'm not a dummy! This book started out with an explanation I could understand of what the Internet is . I couldn't put it down. The chapter on Changing Careers on the Internet was my favorite. I also loved the fact that so many great Web sites were listed in each chapter. I read the whole book in a weekend...now I'm going to go back and do some of the exercises.

Just leafing through this book I got so many good ideas. The CD that comes with the book is good, and it helped to see some of the stuff in action. The advice on good composition and selecting colors was really helpful, because I'm not always sure if my designs are going to be OK with anyone but me. Now I know some of the "rules" and also know when it's OK to break them. The ideas for how different people and businesses can use web sites was also an eye-opener, and it's clear that this author really knows a lot about marketing and graphic design, not just about the web. It's an all-around great book, and I recommend it to everyone who has or wants a great web site.

In working with computer and teaching web design for over the past three years there is always new ways to learn something you never knew before. This book has provided me with new ideas and techniques but overall there's not anything that makes it standout from the rest of the pack.

In the 270 pages topics like design, e-commerce, layout, web tools, text and page building, graphics, color and structure, table, frames and layers as well as multimedia, hyperlinks and lists are usually what come with any design book.

Also this book in not in color and the areas like CSS, DHTML and image maps were not included. While the cd-rom does allow you to learn at you own pace overall this book made for the beginner rather than for the true designer

I bought Ms. Ulrich's Using Excel 2000 last year, and found her writing to be very readable, and her knowledge to be extensive. When I saw this book, Web Design Virtual Classroom, I was surprised to see she was writing about a creative topic, and had to check it out --- and I'm very glad I did. The book is great, again in her very friendly, readable style, and the CD is informative too. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs to design a web site for business or personal use, and to anyone trying to figure out which software to use and how to go about the whole web design process. Her insights and practical advice are terrific, and I really learned a lot about a subject I thought I already knew.

Laurie Ulrich has written a thoughtful introduction to web design.
This book covers the most popular methods of creating websites (Dreamweaver, GoLive, Frontpage, and hand-coding HTML) and helps you evaluate which might be best for you. It goes on to help you understand some of the basic ways each can accomplish specific tasks. Without going into extraneous details (which would require several books to cover), Ms. Ulrich gives a broad and lucid overview of how to make sense of these programs to create well-conceived website design.
This is actually her stong point in this book - the conception of how to create the kind of website which will best express and realize the goal you desire. She helps you visualize (with the help of many good examples) what might or might not work for you, and how to evaluate it for yourself.
After having read the excellent "Dreamweaver 4 -Virtual Classroom" which she co-authored with Robert Fuller, and several other Dreamweaver books, I had some of the technical abilities to create cool stuff. However I hadn't had any overview of design, and felt a little overwhelmed by the possibilities. "Web Design - Virtual Classroom" cleared a lot up for me, and I now feel a lot more confident about being able to create sites that won't look like a Jackson Pollock hangover.

I teach "Internet Marketing" at New York University. I always recommend that anyone active or interested in e-commerce should at least learn the ins and outs of web design. Even if you don't want to be a web designer, you should at least have a basic understanding of how websites are built. This book serves two great purposes:

1. If you want to actively pursue web design, this book will serve as a great reference and introduction.
2. If you just need to understand how websites are built, this book will serve as a great way to introduce you to web design so you can talk intelligently about HTML and web design.

I have more books than I need on Dreamweaver, CSS, PHP, and web design. And very few have been read thoroughly. But I intend to study this book from cover to cover. Here is what I like about this book:

1. The first couple chapters have helped me figure out what to put on the web site. It accomplishes this with a systematic approach that stresses what the visitor wants to see. (This is the kind of information I was searching for because I am weak in this area.)

2. The remaining chapters cover material with which I have experience, which makes it easy to absorb. But I can compare my previous understanding and decide if I need adjust my thinking. You don't need to spend much time with this book before gaining a deep respect for this author's practical knowledge and common sense approach.

3. I like her enumerated steps throughout her book. It's not wishy-washy. I thinks this comes from teaching the subject to classes.

4. I like the abundant number of references to useful web sites. Even though the book is about 500 pages, it cannot go deeply into every topic, but the author points you in right direction with references and advice.

This is book packed with a lot of good information and advice without getting into too much detail. I have plenty of other books that get into the nitty gritty.

Jenkins' book is part of what appears to be a new series from Wiley, with the theme of the L line express. This book offers a quick boot up into making your own website. The examples focus on a small commercial website. Well, at least initially, it's going to be a small website.

There is a balanced discussion between the design of a single web page and the overall layout of the entire website. For the former, graphics plays a big part, as you might expect. Two important packages, Illustrator and Photoshop, are considered, in which you can make the graphics. Both have more than adequate capabilities to do so. The text also teaches the basics about the different, common graphics formats - gif, jpeg and png. It suggests that you experiment with viewing the same underlying image, rendered in those formats and viewed in different browsers. These days, there should only be minor nuances. But if you are selling products where an accurate rendition matters, then it's a good step, to choose the best format.

Then the book also goes into how best to design the whole website. Vital to avoid confusing the visitor. The skills here are different from the visual layout aspects of single pages. If your background is in visual design, this part of the book can be especially useful. It teaches different and complementary skills that you should master.

This is a very good and well organized book on end-to-end web development. Although it is 500 pages, you can use it as a reference and skip around as well.

One of the major strengths as another reviewer points out is the presentation of the design phase i.e. who is the audience and how to appeal to them. This material is often lacking from other books.

While you may need other books to supplement this reference with respect to advanced coding, this will be all most people will need. Sue Jenkins is also the author of The Dreamweaver All-in-One Reference for Dummies, which is also an excellent, thorough presentation of what you need to know in plain and easy to understand language.

I read this awhile ago and am just going through a bunch of old books I have around still that I read and reviewing them :) This was I believe my very first 'programming' book I ever read and it brings back fond memories. This book will teach you things like what a variable is and a function...basic stuff but years later it is still helpful! I'd highly recommend it as javaScript hasn't even changed that much since this book was published I even reread it.

Very good book as in introduction to JavaScript. Clear and concise descriptions and examples, that actually work! This isn't a good book for the experienced programmer looking for a desk reference (though it's not too bad in that regards), but is a great book for someone wanting to get started with JavaScript.

This is a neat book. First, it is one of the best intros with useful examples. Part way through, Mr. Ford starts to show us 'Intelligent' apps like simple rule-based expert systems, search, and problem-solving. You can start the book knowing nothing about JS, and end up doing some quite sophisticated programming when you finish the book.

I looked at 10-15 books, and bought this one... it works! LISP and Prolog hackers take a look!

Ford begins with useful code samples to illustrate the basic grammar and syntax of JavaScript. In the second half of the book he provides an interesting introduction to programming techniques that could be adopted for use in any language. I teach a JavaScript course and this will be the text.

Web Dragons: Inside the Myths of Search Engine Technology explains everything you want to know about search engines (the so called "web dragons") and how they work. Before reading the book, you perhaps wonder why Witten and co-authors called search engines "web dragons". After reading the book, I'm sure you will understand why. Search engines are guardians of the world information and their power is formidable.

The approach is descriptive and historical rather than technical. Thus, the book is intended to a wide audience: people working with data, librarians, webmasters, but also search engine users who wants to know more about the tool they use everyday. The first author, Ian Witten, is involved in the data mining field (see for example the famous book Data Mining (Witten and Frank, 2005). The book thus makes many allusions to data mining applications. It is divided as follows:

* Setting the scene
* Literature and the web
* Meet the web
* How to search
* The web wars
* Who controls information?
* The dragons evolve

The two first chapters cover the history of search engines (starting from the very beginning: writing, etc.). You can easily skip these chapters (which maybe interesting to librarians for example) and start with the third one. There, you learn everything about the web, protocols, programming languages, etc. The strength of the book is to cover all these topics in a readable manner. You never face code or pseudo-code, only clear and interesting descriptions. The next chapter covers basics of search engine ranking (e.g. PageRank) in details and much more. Principal search engines are also introduced and explained. The following chapter (The web wars) explains the different ways of abusing such search engines (link boosting, term boosting, link farm, spam, etc.). The chapter is very interesting and instructing.

The next chapter (Who controls information?) points out the power of web dragons. They control world information and this raises privacy and copyright issues. Finally, the last chapter covers evolution of search engines. According to the authors, we are at the very beginning of information search. They focus on web communities that maybe the next step for search engine. As a conclusion, I recommend this book to anyone that is interested in how search engines work and especially how important they are for our society.

A true light in the chaos of web. The initial idea of web has been betrayed by modern search engines but it seems that anybody knows nothing it. This book tries to explain with a intriguing style the web search engine secrets and why most of us consider them "modern oracles".
I must notice that other books about search engine and in particular about Google too often yield into a sterile controversy; Web Dragons analyze most of very delicate questions with a pragmatic approach resulting in a really delicious reading suitable also for not technical people. Web Dragons will be a nice addition in every personal library.

This new book by Witten, Gori and Numerico covers the bases when it comes to understanding the good, the bad and the ugly about search engines and cyber-information access. Given the fundamental function that search engines provide for us: access to the Internet information treasure trove, Web Dragons provides insights into cyberspace not often made so accessible.
The book covers the spectrum including some in-context history and background on the workings of the internet, as well at the impact it is having on information, its availability and presentation. Of considerable interest and importance is its contribution to the discussion on cyber-ethics, control of information and who is guarding the guardians (dragons)!
The style is easy to read for both the novice and the well informed and will be a welcome addition to your library on web related books.

Anyone who has used a search engine - and who hasn't? - should read this book. It's a very approachable and coherent look at how search engines work, and their role in our information society. The theme of the books is sobering: for many people, access to the internet is through one site - a search engine that has become a "dragon" guarding access to a mine of information.

I particularly like the writing style; the (somewhat dry) humour and intriguing stories are engaging, and on-line tools that we use daily are shown in a new light. The book is suitable for the lay person, but is still engaging for the technically inclined. It provides details about how search engines really work using meaningful examples and illustrations, as well as the exposing the social implications.

Some of the important issues covered include the borderline between spam and content-targeted advertising, determining the authority of web pages compared with their popularity, and issues such as censorship, privacy and access to information. Topics range from the great library of Alexander to the most common misspellings of "Britney Spears" typed into Google.

This book looks set to become part of the computing canon, and would sit equally well on a shelf of technical books or a coffee table. You won't be able to use it to implement your next search engine - it doesn't go into that level of detail. But it's a thought-provoking read, and would be a great gift for the curious or technically inclined people in your life.

I already have books one and two in the Hyperlinkz series, so I was excited about getting book three. It's really good! Since I like computers, I like it because it involves a laptop. I think it's really cool that the kids can travel through the Internet that way. I'm looking forward to book four.

A little bit of history, a lot of fun. Ashley and Austin are up to the challenge of weaving through the musical web sites and resolving more than out of time and place issues. Again Robert Elmer brings us to a satisfactory conclusion and yet, whets our appetites for another crazy adventure.

From Fanny Crosby to a Macedonian Prison to the Ft. McHenry and our National Anthem, Ashley and Austin Webster take the reader on a musical adventure; and in the process, learn amazing facts. Robert Elmer's responsible enthusiasm for surfing ignites interest in learning through the use of imaginative fiction. In this Hyperlinkz series, time travel meets the Internet. A must read for all ages.

The HyperLinkz Series' "Web Jam" book (3rd in the series) is a delight! Clever, clever story line with an appeal to today's kids will challenge and entertain both boys and girls. The internet adventures of Austin and Ashley Webster catch the reader in a "don't want to put it down" mode as you whirl through the World Wide Web. Don't miss this one!

This is a great book on Wiccan magic. I thought her information for the Sabbat rituals kind of left some information out, however, the magical techniques that she put forth in this book made up for it.

I really did enjoy the information presented in this book and have used some of the rituals and spells a few different times.... She has some great material covered here.

This book is written for a Wiccan perspective. If you are a Wiccan and looking for some new or different approaches to your magic, this would be a good place for material!

Much Love & Many Blessings,
Thorn Nightwind

I have read a lot of books of rituals, and for the most part, have found them to be garden variety prosaic volumes with little to convince me to use them in my rituals. But WEB OF LIGHT is the exception. I found Morwyn's rituals vivid, inspiring, lyrical, and yet down-to-earth. This author moves me like no other. When I read her rituals and spells I find a deep connection with the Goddess.

I just ran across WEB OF LIGHT: RITES FOR WITCHES IN THE NEW AGE and consider it a real find. This book, 2nd in a 6-volume series on Wicca and Magick by High Priestess Morwyn, is chock full of secret rituals, enchantments, spells, and celebrations that have been handed down to her coven. Evidently not only has this coven been practicing for a long time, it also traces its roots back through the centuries, intertwining the traditions of Wicca and Ceremonial Magick in a harmoniously integrated whole. Priestess Morwyn is a good writer, too, who explains everything in vivid detail and easily apprehendable terms. I felt almost as if she were speaking to me personally. This book makes a valuable addition to my personal library, for I know I will refer to it often. A couple of times I had a question and was able to contac the author through her website dunravenhouse.com. She always gave me in depth answers to my questions. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I give this book 5 pentagrams!

this is a great book for those who are serious about learning Ceremonial Magick with a Wiccan background. I know that after I read all the initial Witchcraft/Wicca books, I found they were all saying the same things and I was looking for "the next step". This book is just that. If you are not serious about the craft, then this book may seem dry as it mostly outlines rituals. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to learn more about Ceremonial Magick in the true tradition.

This is a book which I was exactly looking for.Well written.

Clear, exaustive and perfect both for the novice with some time to devote to the subject and for the expert. A must have to understand in depth technical details without technicalities!

This book while a little old in the technology world was a fabulous introduction to an essential topic to anyone in e-commerce. Question: Any other books by this guy? Or is he still out there?All his sites are disabled!

I have read and truly appreciated this book. Showed it to some church leaders who are set to get themselves a copy! It is great the way you are walked through the process of setting up the web ministry and what worked and did not. In a nutshell, they say, we made these mistakes, don't make them! Must read for anyone considering a minitry website! Especially if you are in touch with the current century

This book provides a rare, behind-the-curtains look into a very successful church website ministry. It describes how they did it, what didn't work, what went well, what became too successful and died, and how you can learn from them to avoid mistakes.

Mark Stephenson has written a good book on internet ministry, as it relates to the average church website. Mark is on staff with Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, OH. They have an active, community oriented website built using Typo, an open source content management system that they have customized into the Web Empowered Church (WEC). The only fault I can find for this book is that it is very narrow in solutions, with the WEC pushed as the best solution to churches communicating their message on the internet. After reading the book, the slant makes sense but I hoped it would be a broader scope. Nevertheless, Mark does a good job of covering why a church should have an rocking website and has many suggestions for what should go on there. It's a very non-technical read and is approachable from any experience level. I will use it in acquainting members of our church and ministry teams to web ministry.

I've been doing church websites for over 10 years, and wish I had the benefit of the teachings and tools presented in this book when I started. Many of the things the book talks about are lessons I learned through trial and error over this period. Many other issues, such as use of a Content Management System, were technical challenges that I thought were unobtainable, but now seem very possible. I found this to be a easy read and a worthwhile use of my time. Outstanding!