Essential SQLAlchemy - New from O'Reilly

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author, contact:
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Essential SQLAlchemy - New from O'Reilly
Mapping Python to Databases
  
Sebastopol, CA--SQLAlchemy is far more than just another ORM.  True, it's
a powerful and flexible Python library that bridges the gap between
relational databases and traditional object-oriented programming--which
sounds pretty much like your average object-relational mapper--but most
new users only see a fraction of what's available in this excellent
library.  When fully understood, SQLAlchemy can make a Python programmer's
life much easier. In his new book, "Essential SQLAlchemy" (O'Reilly US
$34.99), author Rick Copeland shows readers how to master SQLAlchemy's
hidden power.

The SQLAlchemy library was created by Mike Bayer to provide a high-level,
Pythonic (idiomatically Python) interface to relational databases such as
Oracle, DB2, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLLite. "SQLAlchemy attempts to be
unobtrusive to your Python code, allowing you to map plain old Python
objects (POPOs) to database tables without substantially changing your
existing Python code," says Copeland. "It includes a database
server-independent SQL expression language and an object-relational mapper
that lets you use SQL to persist your application objects automatically."

According to Copeland, more and more Python programmers are getting into
database programming, particularly in the context of web development.
"SQLAlchemy is arguably the best library for using relational databases
from Python," Copeland says. "In comparison with SQLAlchemy, one popular
competing object-relational mapper was described by Jonathan Ellis at
PyCon 2007 as 'feeble.'

"It's already the default database layer in both the Pylons and
TubrboGears web frameworks," Copeland adds. "Understanding the library
better--which this book will help with--will make people more productive
and help them write more maintainable code."

"Essential SQLAlchemy" demonstrates how to use the library to create a
simple database application, walks you through simple queries, and
explains how to use SQLAlchemy to connect to multiple databases
simultaneously with the same Metadata. You also learn how to:

- Create custom types to be used in your schema, and when it's useful to
use custom rather than built-in types
- Run queries, updates, and deletes with SQLAlchemy's SQL expression
language
- Build an object mapper with SQLAlchemy, and understand the differences
between this and active record patterns used in other ORMs
- Create objects, save them to a session, and flush them to the database
- Use SQLAlchemy to model object oriented inheritance
- Provide a declarative, active record pattern for use with SQLAlchemy
using the Elixir extension
- Use the SQLSoup extension to provide an automatic metadata and object
model based on database reflection

In addition, you'll learn how and when to use other extensions to
SQLAlchemy, including AssociationProxy, OrderingList, and more.

"'Essential SQLAlchemy gives you both a good path to learning SQLAlchemy
for the first tiem as well as providing a valuable reference for even
veteran SQLAlchemy programmers," says Copeland.

"Essential SQLAlchemy" is the much-needed guide for every Python developer
using this code library. Instead of a feature-by-feature documentation,
the book takes an "essentials" approach that gives you exactly what you
need to become productive with SQLAlchemy right away.

For more information about the book, including table of contents, index,
author bio, and samples, see:
http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596516147/

Essential SQLAlchemy
Rick Copeland
ISBN: 978-0-596-51614-7, 215 pages, US $34.99
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000
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