Programming Books

If you will entering the world of virtual environments, 3D graphics and worlds, virtual reality and even augmented reality, this book will give you ALL the background information you need. It summarizes everything from software, hardware devices, interaction and everything that deals with the Third dimension.

The book present a very good perspective that how is walking the tecnology of 3DUI, and limits that are growing down versus time.

A fortnight ago, at the Siggraph 2004 convention in Los Angeles, Addison-Wesley had a booth with many of their graphics books. This book was garnering a fair amount of interest. Now that I've had a chance to read it, I can see why.

It is a lucid explanation of how to design three dimensional user interfaces. The authors summarise a vast body of work done in past decades. Plus, unlike perhaps some books that might focus on only US research, they show the global scope of the effort.

Being a text on 3D graphics, you might expect considerable maths. There is indeed some, including a brief description of quarternions. But the amount of maths is deliberately downplayed. Enough is used to impart a basic flavour in certain sections. However, the general tenor of the book is at a higher level of design.

Many serious issues remain unresolved. The book shows you what these are. Very helpful if you are in this field. Especially for newcomers.

If you are interested in knowing 3D UI, you should buy this book. It covers almost every technologies designed or developed in recent years. This book consists of about 13 chapters. In each chapter, it explained the different aspect of 3D UI interfaces following chronological patterns. So, if you want to follow or know technological paradigms, it can be one of useful books you should reference.

I hope nobody takes academic in the negative sense. This is fascinating book that provides an overview of all of the different hardware and software techniques in the 3D user interface world. And it does a very capable job of using a combination of images and text to describe the technologies. It's academic in two regards; first, it's written like a paper, and second that it has little in terms of practical implementation.

Frankly I doubt you could go far beyond the academic in an overview of a field that is this broad and this early in it's development. What this book does do is provide some real incentive to enthusiasts and developers to evaluate and combine these technologies. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who is in the field or has an interest in it.

The information is great, and she has a unique angle, but I would like to see a second edition that is about 1/3 the length. Much of the content is repeated many times over and it could be condensed and re-organized.

Buy this with Don't Make Me Think to round out your knowledge.

Title: Access by Design
Author: Sarah Horton
Publisher: New Riders
ISBN: 0-321-31140-X
Pages: 264 pages
Reviewer: Sam Wilson
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

"Access by Design" by Sarah Horton is valuable and worthwhile because it nicely exposes the genetic link of accessibility to its more popular cousins - functionality and usability. Accessibility is one of the most touted yet often underutilized tools in the web worker's repertoire. Misperceived as only a tool for reaching the hearing or visually impaired audience and doomed to the "nice to have" list on many projects, accessible design too often takes a back seat to design relying heavily on images and sophisticated layout.

The approach of Sarah Horton's book is appropriately to make the concepts of accessibility accessible to the web workers whose opportunity it is to make their work maximally digestible. Each essential element of a site's guts is discussed first in theory then in practice. Color, text, structure; HTML specific elements like lists, tables, and forms... are aptly discussed in their shades of underlying purpose and then explored and elucidated with germane examples both good and bad. These examples particularly make the book fun if only just to flip through. Refreshingly the author takes on the likes of Microsoft and Audible.com, using the razor of analysis and good taste to dissect her specimens and demonstrate attractive graphic design and good web design are not necessarily the same thing.

In conclusion, I highly recommend "Access by Design" on the merits of its conscientious but practical promotion of accessibility combined with its focus on functionality and usability. The timely arrival of well-written books like Horton's builds on the rising tide of Web 2.0 attention. The oh-so-two-oh design goals of taming the wily information wilderness - transforming clutter into neat packets of visually appealing and streamlined content - can sometimes seem a bit overdone to many. "Access by Design" does not come across preachy or pedantic. I would challenge any web developer or artist (as I have challenged myself) to investigate the practical advice found in solid works like this one. It's time we understood accessibility's benefits to not just the visually and hearing impaired, but its benefits for everyone who reads, views, interacts with or otherwise enjoys the web browsing.

Access by Design doesn't waste time or words getting right to the point: accessible Web design isn't about those who have an impairment, but rather about everyone using the Web. Access, by Sarah Horton's definition, is the goal of every visitor to a site, and a designer achieves this goal for visitors by ensuring that nothing in a site is tied to a restrictive approach.

The fad of rendering type and using Flash for menus has gone mostly away, thankfully. Horton's guide shows how to accomplish something that looks good, works correctly, and can be used by practically everyone from those with the fanciest equipment and highest-speed broadband connection to villagers in a remote town in Africa (or America) to visually impaired readers relying on software that reads them page elements.

Access by Design is organized into tight, well-constructed chapters each of which focuses on a key area of design, such as forms, color, and layout.

Those who work under the requirements of U.S. government law for accessibility Web sites and those who want to build sites that everyone can effectively use would find this book a useful addition to the library. It's a quick read, but also a reference guide you'll refer to over and over again.

Title: Access by Design
Author: Sarah Horton
Publisher: New Riders
ISBN: 0-321-31140-X
Reviewer: Sam Wilson
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

"Access by Design" by Sarah Horton is valuable and worthwhile because it nicely exposes the genetic link of accessibility to its more popular cousins -- functionality and usability. Accessibility is one of the most touted yet often underutilized tools in the web worker's repertoire. Misperceived as only a tool for reaching the hearing or visually impaired audience and doomed to the "nice to have" list on many projects, accessible design too often takes a back seat to design relying heavily on images and sophisticated layout.

The approach of Sarah Horton's book is appropriately to make the concepts of accessibility accessible to the web workers whose opportunity it is to make their work maximally digestible. Each essential element of a site's guts is discussed first in theory then in practice. Color, text, structure; HTML specific elements like lists, tables, and forms ... are aptly discussed in their shades of underlying purpose and then explored and elucidated with germane examples both good and bad. These examples particularly make the book fun if only just to flip through. Refreshingly the author takes on the likes of Microsoft and Audible.com, using the razor of analysis and good taste to dissect her specimens and demonstrate attractive graphic design and good web design are not necessarily the same thing.

In conclusion, I highly recommend "Access by Design" on the merits of its conscientious but practical promotion of accessibility combined with its focus on functionality and usability. The timely arrival of well-written books like Horton's builds on the rising tide of Web 2.0 attention. The oh-so-two-oh design goals of taming the wily information wilderness--transforming clutter into neat packets of visually appealing and streamlined content--can sometimes seem a bit overdone to many. "Access by Design" does not come across preachy or pedantic. I would challenge any web developer or artist (as I have challenged myself) to investigate the practical advice found in solid works like this one. It's time we understood accessibility's benefits to not just the visually and hearing impaired, but its benefits for everyone who reads, views, interacts with or otherwise enjoys the web browsing.

I've read every book I can find on web site accessibility, and this is my favorite. Sarah Horton does a superb job of explaining the "what" and "why" of good web design principles. If we adhere to these principles, our web sites will be usable and accessible for everyone, regardless of disability or the device they use to access the web. This book is clear, concise, and to the point, and, in my opinion, a must read for all professional web designers!

Many years ago I needed to learn ASP/ADO. I saw a lot of learning in front of me. But I was thrilled to find this book. It gave me the simple, clear explanations I needed to get rolling with ADO in short order. It's still one I keep handy, even thought I now use this technology to make my living. I have several big/thick ADO books, but this one is a quick reference that I still turn to often, as well as highly recommend to ADO (database connectivity) newbies for both web and Microsoft Office linking.

An excellent reference for the novise to advanced programmer. If you need a good overview of how to connect to a SQL Server or Access DB using VB, then you have got to get this book!

This was a very good book but it was not perfect. The code contained some coding errors, but what was worst was that I could not establish an internet connection to Rob's SQL server. Due to the connection problem I could not run those examples, which comprised about a third of the book. I e-mailed Rob, but Rob apparently is too good for his readers to reply back to. I would have given the book 5 stars if it weren't for these problems. The book certainly was not for beginners as it rightly claims. I actually had to read it twice. Any coding errors I was able to solve with some work. The book does offer a lot to learn though.

I bought this book looking for an introduction to ADO and DB programming in general with no prior ADO experience. I read the first 4 chapters for an introduction, and I have used the rest of the book for information on how to complete specific tasks. I have successfully created ADO applications using VB, Access, and ASP, using this book and online help as references. This is probably not the most complete book available for ADO programming, but if you have not used ADO in the past, you will not find a better introduction than this book!

This book is genuinely about ADO Programming without self promotion. Rob starts his book with the basic elements that lead up to ADO technology and steps up to very sophisticated programming procedures/techniques using ADO with Sql Server, MS Access 2000, Excel 2000, ASP and the Web in a very efficient and easy to understand manner. Of the features which set this book apart from others are the numerous runtime examples on Rob's website of procedures using ADO within VB/ASP scripts, and also the companion cd which includes all the of the programming code for each of the ADO examples on the website and all of the examples in the book. The information contained in this book has significantly enhanced my understanding of and coding abilities with ADO in a very short period of time, particularly in the web environment. I would highly recommend this book to any serious developer of data processing applications using ADO technology; especially for web applications.

nocesito el software de cobol orientado a objetos. le agradezco me escriba a la brevedad posible y me envie las condiciones de pago

I have been a programmer since April 1969. Even though I have programmed in most popular languages (c / c++ / smalltalk, java , algol, python, PL/1, many different assemblers etc), COBOL is still the MOST used language in the corporate world. As IBM says, "80% of the world's data is still on mainframes, 80% of the world's programs are still written in COBOL. I am contracting to a large corporation now, and they are having to retrain their young java programmers in how to write (NEW not legacy) COBOL applications!

With that background, I now get to the point (finally)! Buy this book. It is excellent. Also buy COBOL Unleashed; it too is invaluable.

...

Very well put together, clear, concise. Not a beginners book by any stretch (assuming there are still people learning COBOL) ? But, its a great reference book and like the last review, it helps you remember all the stuff you'd forgotten over the years doing COBOL. Intermediate to Advanced level....

As a C++ programmer working on a product with 2 COBOL components (2/90), I found this text to be an indispensable COBOL reference. The author classifies language constructs into essential, sometimes used, rarely used, and archaic. The text is comprehensive including reserved words, program constructs, tables, indexed files, dates, Y2000, report writer, and client-server architecture (one exception is limited coverage of CISCs transaction processing). Both PC and mainframe COBOL environments are covered. Organizing COBOL code into paragraphs, sections, subprograms, functions, and classes (object-oriented is not yet standardized) is demonstrated.

The text illustrates each COBOL feature with either a code fragment or a sample program. A well-conceived programming style for COBOL is recommended using structured programming. A coherent discussion of archaic programming styles helped me comprehend areas of our COBOL code where periods are used instead of END-IF statements.

1) Positive aspects. Complete (as far as I can judge, because I never read it from cover to cover), detailed and nevertheless concise enough to be my daily quick-reference. The book covers mainframe as well as pc-Cobol. 2) Neutral aspect. Not recommendable as a course book and not recommendable for beginners, I would say. But quite well fit to rehearse parts of Cobol knowledge that slipped away from my memory. So the title of the book is quite appropriate. 3) Negative aspect. Only one way of spacing for subscripts is presented, without further comment. But it is the pc-Cobol way of spacing, it doesn't work that way under MVS. Which is a very slight shortcoming however, to my opinion.

Hey they are right; it covers Oracle 7 perfectly but there is Oracle 8 and now Oracle 8i. But for the basics, well this is a great starter. It will explain how to tune Oracle and why; after that get another and explore

When I used to work at Oracle, these books were our bibles. I had to learn a great deal about Oracle in a very short time (I knew extremely little about technology, and didn't know a database from a ring ding). These books are remarkably thorough, and go into a lot of detail. The added benefit is that they are extremely widely read by Oracle developers (both working for Oracle and not), that they get TONS of feedback, so any inaccuracies, development or new ideas/tricks get back to the publisher and often get incorporated in new editions. The Oracle series is general is a great foundation to start with for Oracle knowledge. The thick white Oracle PL/SQL guide is also extremely good, and comes with the server software. I believe that it is more easily available in soft copy, as Oracle is trying to limit the documentation that they distribute with their software.

This book offered a complete look at high performance computing for an Oracle7 database. It covers everything about Oracle7 server and hardware tuning. It the best high performance Oracle database book I've ever seen. I've used this book quite frequently when dealing and planning for performance issues. If an Oracle8 version of this book comes out - I will be one of the first to buy it.

No DBA's bookshelf is complete without this book. The authors covered some of the most important topics in oracle tuning and administration. This book gives the most complete and up to date information about underlying concepts and practical ways of using those theoritical concepts in day to day operations in oracle database tuning and administration.

The book is aimed at those interested in DBA issues however I recommend developers to shell out for the book just for the chapters on EXPLAIN PLAN and SQL Tuning Tips. My investment quickly paid back when I put the info to use recently for a major client.

It's simple, really: If you're programming with Rails you should buy this book. Let's face it, one recipe that shows you how to do something is all that it takes for this book to pay for itself.

Some of the recipes are meant to be looked at on an as-needed basis, e.g. searching using Solr, Sphinx, or Ferret, and sending email via Gmail. But most of the book can be simply read as a way to learn more about Rails, e.g. customizing error messages, testing with RSpec and Shoulda, and caching strategies and tools.

I just got my copy yesterday and am having trouble putting it down! This book reads better than a novel/story if you have even a remote interest in Ruby on Rails. Mike Clark has done an outstanding job of putting together really interesting recipes contributed by Ruby on Rails enthusiasts from all over the world and an equally good job of quality assurance. I really hope that he works on producing a sequel as soon as possible.

This book is a must have resource for anyone developing Rails applications. Mike Clark, the Ruby community and the Pragmatic Programmers have once again delivered a set of recipies you'll find immediately usable. I'm already using four in an application I'm working on, all of which have helped me reduce code, increase readability and reduce maintenance.

The book is thoughtfully organized with each recipie being both well written and concise.

No matter what type of Rails application you are writing, or your level of experience, I think you'll find something in this book to make you say "Thats a great idea" and rush to the keyboard to try it out.

This is not only a phenomenal reference, but it is great for whetting your appetite when embarking into new Rails territory -- the book is full of ideas, that Rails devs of all levels can benefit from. Reading this book gave me an additional perspective on items I practice and those I am learning -- specifically enjoyed the parts on REST, CC payment processing, scalability, testing. Highly recommend.

I've been reading through this book since my copy arrived a week or so ago, and have already "baked" five of the recipes into my Rails applications. I expect that there will be many more solutions found as I progress through the book.

The recipes in the book are clear and concise, and have been easy to implement in my own applications. A broad range of topics are covered, so there will certainly be something for everyone. I've also found that while the recipes are directly applicable, a number of them also teach "patterns" that you can use in a variety of contexts, not just to achieve exactly what's described in the recipe.

Many recipes are related thematically, or build upon each other, making for great teaching. For example, there are four recipes covering how to search for text in fields stored in the database, from extremely simple (a nice way to implement LIKE searches across a couple fields) to three progressively more robust solutions using external full-text search engines (Ferret, Sphinx, and Solr). This sequence really illustrated the trade-offs you can make, in terms of complexity vs. flexibility and power, when implementing search, and was instrumental in my selection of the Sphinx engine and the Ultrasphinx plug-in for doing searches in my projects. Without the clear sequence of recipes, which illustrated implementations of similar searches, I would have had to spend hours on the Internet, searching tutorials and blog posts for details, and the results wouldn't have been as directly comparable. The time savings here alone justifies the cost of the book.

If I was going to write about a limitation of the book, it would have to be the length. At ~450 pages, it's not a slim volume. But with the range of material covered (reflecting the growing complexity of the Rails ecosystem), it's hard to cover any specific topic area in depth. Even with the nicely-covered search topic, I could envision even more recipes. (Advanced search and savable searches come to mind.)

But wanting more is just quibbling. It's not a reason to not buy this book, it's a reason to start asking for Volume 2!

When I first learned about computers, only a few of them existed in the world. Since then, something extraordinary has happened in computing about every ten years, like Aestiva's web-programming language HTML/OS which is the subject of this book. It grabbed my attention and turned my professional life in a new direction. ADVANCED WEB SITES MADE EASY teaches all major concepts of this exciting technology with many well chosen examples. It contains code and building blocks that can readily be used as the core of web-based applications. Included with the book is free access to a web site featuring solutions to the exercises, a user forum, book corrections, all the book's code in downloadable form, and your own copy of HTML/OS free for 30 days.

As you work your way through the book, you'll get a good understanding of this powerful and flexible language. Chapter after chapter teaches you how easy it is to make sophisticated use of it by adding just a few lines of BASIC-like code to your HTML documents. You'll also begin to think in a new way about web computing. HTML/OS frees you from the hassles of systems integration. Whether you just want to add dynamic features to an existing site, design complex web sites, or develop web-based software, you'll never have to worry about compatibility. It runs on all platforms and includes a built-in database engine.

You'll be well equipped to build advanced web sites with this clearly written book, its companion web site, the HTML/OS manual, and the Aestiva User Center with its many ready-made examples of commercial applications and utilities, collection of sample code, and extensive knowledge base.

"Advanced Web Sites Made Easy" is a remarkable book. I read lots of third-party technical books, and this one really stands out.

It's well written, the explanations are clear, the examples are not only useable code but paced so as to be make learning progressive, and there's no fluff or patronizing chattiness. What's amazing is how often the chapters answered the questions I was having AS I was having them.

I feel really lucky that this book was available when I came to HTML/OS. It's great software (I almost don't want other web developers to know how good it is) but the official documentation and help just aren't enough.

I especially appreciate the opening and closing sections, which give some historical pespective on this kind of software development, and illuminate some potential business uses that were obscure to me as a web developer.

Kudos on a really fine piece of technical writing.

i was not web programmer before and i found this book in aestiva H2O web site, it was my first advanced web programming and was really easy to achive perfect results

the only thing the author may need to add is a CD-Rom, book some time have long code parts or at least a web location where you can copy and paste the codes

also book did not mention that aestiva has released free and smaller copy of HTML/OS called H2O Gold, and because this release if free, it will encourage newbies to start learning HTML/OS rather than the $800 for HTMLOS PRO, the book is very usefull too if you just want to use H2O only.

last advice, if you totally new to web programming then get this book with a free copy of H2O and you really done, do not bother yourself again with complicated PHP and PERL things

The Aestiva HTML/OS program makes creating interactive websites with databases, search on demand systems, and other usually complicated programming tasks quite easy. I have NO programming experience. Aestiva's near-English commands and simple coding structure mean that I have built and helped to build dozens of sites. The syntax is easy to pick up (learn by doing) and the online lessons that come with each copy make the learning FAST. If you want more control of your website and less dependence on gurus I urge you to read this book.

ADVANCED WEB SITES MADE EASY is simple, clear and easy to understand with lots of examples and exercises. It travels deep in advanced HTML/OS programming for the more advanced programmers.
I have been working with Aestiva HTML/OS for 5 years; I have used PHP, ASP, Cold Fusion and many other similar products. I haven't found anything else that can come close to the performance, flexibility and easiness of use of Aestiva's engine. It's a tool to be use by beginners as well as veteran professionals in the Internet industry, like myself.
This book is a must for all web developers....

I am nearly halfway through "Adventures With Time Lines" and find the information presented valuable. As a coach I have used time line processes with my clients and have had very satisfying results. I am a certified NLP Practitioner and suggest that the information may be a little difficult for someone without any NLP training at all. However, taking the time to understand and process the information will not only help your clients but also give you insight on how you yourself code time.

You don't need high-powered jets to crash through time zones. Knowing how to use your brain through "Time-line" does it. Foreword by Tad James and Preface by Wyatt Woodsmall. These two co-authored "Time-line Therapy and the Basis of Personality" in 1988. Bodenhamer and Hall again successfully synthesize and transform traditional NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming) materials and bring them to new frontiers of understanding and applications. The ways we code and experience "time" have close connections with our personalities, our thoughts and feelings, states and experiences, beliefs and values, sense of reality and self. Cultures also differ in their sense of time. The book gives an in-depth exploration. We learn how to elicit time-lines and use them to get unstuck from old dated emotions: guilt, grief, fear, anxiety, trauma and abuse... We can also use "Time" as a resource for creating a bright and compelling future, a "life well lived" (borrowed from Benjamin Franklin). Time is not a thing. We don't manage time, but only ourselves... There is also more advanced material. Background in NLP is helpful. [The author's new book, a complete manual for the NLP Practitioner Certification, "The User's Manual for the Brain" includes the introductory section of the present book as the last chapter.] Many chapters are worth repeated study. You'll appreciate the authors' creative uses of NLP, language and "Time-lines". [The book is written in E-prime, without the verb, to be.]

even though I'm just 1/4 though the book, the ideas presented within this work have allowed me to change my perception of time, which is interesting and exciting, and also opens new doors towards self-motivation as one re-maps personal time.

Not only is this book my favorite book on Time-Lines, but I consider Time-Lines the most valuable NLP process. Time Line techniques have helped me to create virtual healing miracles, by going back to the past before the problematic situation began and going through the time-line to the present and future, as if the problem never existed. Health problems which were diagnosed as terminal and without hope for recovery - were gone in only few days of working with Time-Lines.

It will be well-worth your time to learn how to work with time-lines whether you desire to use them for your own benefit or to assist others, if you are a therapist.

This book will thoroughly guide you through Time Line Patterns and Processes, and many different adventures you can have with time-lines - whether you desire to resolve emotional issues from the past, accelerate learning of new skills, re-create your life (or if you prefer the programming which is impressed upon your subconscious mind / neurology), accelerate spiritual growth (I have had some out of this world spiritual experiences thanks to working with Time-Lines).

You'll also learn how to work with logical levels, use advanced Time-Line Patterns, how to use linguistic time-lining and much more - you'll have extra fun when you learn to use time-lines through conversation.

Get this book - you'll be grateful you did!

A great book but only for those amongst the readers that have an advanced understanding of NLP (Neuro linguistic programming) and Timeline Therapy. Additionally, it is useful to have read other books by Michael Hall and Bodenhamer, in order to get a handle on their writing style (which sometimes is a bit confusing).

When having to solve problems regarding algorithms, this book is one of the frequently used books. It shows besides the interesting details also the larger overview, which certainly adds to your better understanding.

I found this book at a university book shop back when I was 14 years old and bought it to learn more about certain algorithms. The reason I bought it was because it looked like it would provide very concrete advice on how to achieve an implementation while not requiring more advanced mathematics than I knew at the time.

Now, many years later I have to say that I can't think of any algorithm book I've come across that manages to balance theory and concrete solutions so well; and I own quite a few books on algorithms. (Some might object to the fact that the book uses Pascal as the implementation language, but I think I've seen this book tailored for other languages too).

Also, for a general book on algorithms, Sedgewick managed to pick a very good mix of topics to cover. According to a friend of mine (whom happens to know Sedgewick personally), the book just represents a cross-section of what Sedgewick himself was interested in.

This book was very useful to me when I was a teenager starting to understand bread and butter algorithms, and it continues to be a good reference still to this day. I would recommend you buy this book if you need a good book on fundamental algorithms.

(Also, the typography is very sober and clean, and the illustrations to most of the problems are very clear)

This text covers the most useful material presented in Knuth's seminal series, but is much more readable in Pascal than in Knuth's notation, which was based on programming language concepts of the late 60's.

The example code is actually run by the typesetting system to generate the graphs showing the operation or efficiency of the algorithm, so you have a high confidence factor in the example code. Too bad it's in Pascal -- which is probably why this book is out of print.

I was very surprised at the low ratings awarded by reviewers to the paperback edition of Sedgewick's "Algorithms in C" -- yet there were good reviews of the hardcover edition. Evidently the example C code didn't meet the high standards of the Pascal version.

Sedgewick provides a very clear and intuitive exposition of the essence of many algorithms.

The book covers a breadth of topics, from sorting and searching, to computational geometry and mathematical algorithms. It is an extremely well-written book. Each algorithm has been carefully implemented in Pascal (you may also want to have a look at the editions of the book for C++ and other languages). It is an excellent book, both for practitioners and programmers, as well as an introduction to the theory of algorithms!
Highly recommended!

This book presents an interesting challenge. It talks about algorithms yet it does not present algorithms, nor does it define algorithm as anything more than a "problem-solving method suitable for implementation as computer programs[p.4]." Instead, it exhibits programs which are the implementations of algorithms and discusses them as if the algorithm is apparent. The reader is left with the challenge of learning to discriminate between what is essential about an algorithm, and how to preserve that in an implementation, versus what is inessential to the algorithm and introduced on account of the implementation and the use of particular programming tools.

I am concerned that this approach, while well-motivated, is not successful. My evidence is in the criticisms of this and later editions that dwell on the choice of programming language and on stylistic matters in the use of the chosen language. This places too much emphasis on code. Although code rules these days, I remain unconvinced that this simplification is a good thing. For me, one of the great insights in development of software is identification of layers of abstraction for conquering the organization of complex application programs. Separating design, algorithm and implementation is a critical first step toward that mastery.

Meanwhile, "Algorithms" serves up a handy set of recipes for a variety of basic computing situations. The 45 sections cover fundamental methods of widespread application in computing and software development. The presentations are straightforward and illuminating. The compilation bears re-examination every time one sits down to identify key methods for a new application.

I recommend supplementing this material with the practical methods of Kernighan and Plauger's "Software Tools" and the insightful explorations of Bentley's "Programming Pearls." Most of all I encourage development of enough sense of the material in Donald Knuth's "Art of Computer Programming" to be able to read the discussions of algorithms and problems there, even if you never use the particular implementations.

He's got an amazing grasp of the subject and very easy, organized way to present it. I'm enjoying learning what could otherwise be a very dry subject.

I bought this book along with Mac OS X Server Essentials. While that book is good on the GUI interface, this book shows in good detail what is really going on under the hood and behind the scenes. I have a much better understanding of Open Directory and LDAP in general as well as Kerberos and Single Sign in logic. Many of the other services offered under OS X Server 10.4 are also explained well. The command line information is good while not being so in depth as to lose the reader. You should have a basic familiarity with UNIX command line before trying to understand the concepts presented. The section on security is very good and presents a broad range of options to the administrator.

This book is a one-to-one version of the course material found in the Directory Services Integration and Administration v10.4 course, the Security Best Practices v10.4 course and more. The exercises are well thought out and easy to do. Not so easy to remember are the 800+ pages, but it is not meant to teach you all you need to know about being an SysAdmin. It is enough to get you through these two exams, which give you 7 credits and the ACSA. And it is enough to set you off into a job as Junior SysAdmin or, as in my case, a supporter with server duties.

Ideally, one should visit both official courses - not so much because more is offered in the actual courses than in the book, but rather because one can ask pointed questions of the teacher, that one cannot ask if something in the book is not clear.

As in most such books, it represents a beginning - the rest is a matter of acquiring experience. Do not expect this book to give you all the answers. I doubt if that would be possible. But it will give a whole lot of things to look out for and a whole lot of new input, especially if you have been doing some SysAdmin-ing and now want a look-see as to how the fulltime SysAdmins do it.

I read this book from cover to cover in order to prepare for two of the ACSA certification exams Apple offers, including the Directory Services Integration and Administration and Best Security Practices exams. If one is interested in the topics then one can learn an amazing amount of details and facts, otherwise difficult to come by in such an easily readable style.

However, I should warn, the book is not perfect in that the quality of the exposition can vary greatly from chapter to chapter. If I recall correctly, one of the first chapters explaining the basics of the KDC service and the concepts of Realms and principals contained grammatical errors so severe that they compromised the validity of the topic. Furthermore, some very interesting topics, such as cross realm authentication are barely touched upon.
Also, the information herein will not really help one troubleshoot a problematic service/server, but it will give you the background information, provided you are actively absorbing the information, which will allow you to analyze and think through troubleshooting scenarios.

However, any of these pitfalls are made up through such step by step explanations of the background processes behind promoting a server to an OD master, for example. I wish more OS books would cover such information either in this way or even at all.

Regardless, the book definitely did an amazing job of preparing me for the exams. I received very high scores on both exams (a 96 on the Directory Services and an 88 on the Security exam) and learned numerous interesting facts in every chapter.

At last, I would surely recommend this book for anyone thinking of getting an ACSA or someone just curious about the Unix side, along with its many possibilities, of OS X.[.....]

As another review states, this book is the guide for the relevant Apple ACSA courses. It succinctly provides you with an understanding of the basic information needed to attack the certification exams.

I do also recommend that you find the time and funds to actually take the classes. The folks in Cupertino have put a lot of work into creating great courses that offer you the crucial opportunity to learn by doing. The content and examples you work through during the courses are relevant to a wide range of applications, from small business to multi-national corporation as well as K-12, higher education, and research.

Schoun himself is one of the top independent providers of Apple training and has had no small hand in the development of the courses. I've had the pleasure of taking classes from him on several occasions and recommend his work highly.