"Web Database Applications with PHP and MySQL, 2nd Ed." Released by O'Reilly

For Immediate Release
For more information, a review copy, cover art, or an interview with
the authors, contact:
Kathryn Barrett (707) 827-7094 or kathrynb@oreilly.com
	
PHP and MySQL--The Building Blocks of Effective Database-Driven Sites
O'Reilly Releases "Web Database Applications with PHP and MySQL, Second
Edition"

Sebastopol, CA--Virtually any site you find on the Internet today that
offers more than static HTML is built upon a well-designed database and a
suite of applications that allow a web front end to interact with it.  The
newly updated second edition of "Web Database Applications with PHP &
MySQL" (O'Reilly, US $44.95), by Hugh E. Williams and David Lane, shows
developers how to combine two of the most important building blocks of
such sites to create compelling web sites of their own. Both open source
technologies, MySQL is a database query language and PHP a server-side,
cross-platform, HTML-embedded scripting language used to create dynamic
web content. Together, PHP and MySQL are a formidable team, combining the
attractions of affordability, a gentle learning curve, and the flexibility
to create what you envision.

Although there are many books available on using PHP and MySQL, "Web
Database Applications with PHP and MySQL, Second Edition" is unique in
focusing specifically on creating dynamic content for the Web using these
tools.  Authors Williams and Lane realized there was a need for the book
after surveying the other resources available. "We found that the PHP and
MySQL manuals, as well as most books, train people to use particular
tools," they observed. "But almost no resources explained the principles
of programming for the Web. We realized that web administrators and
programmers needed to know more than what PHP functions to use and how to
write SQL queries. That's where this book comes in: it'll help you learn
about web database development, as well as understand the principles."

"Web Database Applications with PHP and MySQL" goes into detail on
practical issues such as validating input (do you know what a proper
credit card number looks like?), logging in users, and using templates to
give your dynamic web pages a standard look.  Then the book shows how
JavaScript and PHP can be used in tandem to make a user's experience
faster, with improved usability. It shows the correct way to handle errors
in user input so that a site looks professional, and it introduces the
vast collection of tools available in PEAR (PHP Extension and Application
Repository) and shows how to use some of the more popular tools.

"You don't need to know how to program to use this book, but you do need
to understand basic HTML," explain Williams and Lane. "Our introduction to
PHP doesn't assume you are familiar with web scripting or are a
programmer, but we do assume you understand the basic HTML constructs and
are familiar with the popular web browsers. If you can use a text editor
to author an HTML document that contains a form and a table, you have
sufficient HTML skills to use this book."

"Web Database Applications with PHP and MySQL, Second Edition" introduces
PHP 5 and MySQL 4.1 features, while still providing techniques that can be
used on older versions of the software. This new edition has been updated
and redesigned around the rich offerings of PEAR. Several of these,
including the Template package and the database-independent query API, are
fully integrated into examples throughout the book and described in detail.

To provide developers with a hands-on example of a web database
application, the book introduces Hugh and Dave's Online Wines, a complete
but fictional online retail site that allows users to browse, search a
database, add items to a shopping cart, manage their membership, and
purchase wines. Using this site as an example, developers learn how to
implement searching and browsing, store user data, validate user input,
manage transactions, and maintain security.

Topics covered in the book include:

-Introductions to PHP, SQL, and MySQL administration
-Session management, including the use of a custom database for improved
efficiency
-User input validation, security, and authentication
-The PEAR repository, with details on the use of PEAR DB and Template
classes
-Production of PDF reports

If you're a web developer wanting to build a small- to medium-scale web
database application that will run on modest hardware and process more
than a million hits a day, "Web Applications with PHP and MySQL, Second
Edition" is a complete tutorial that will show you how.

Praise for the previous edition:

"Even though it's designed primarily for web developers who want to use
PHP and MySQL, those who want to learn how to develop web applications
should find it a valuable resource for self-teaching. Everything about
this book lives up to the reputation of O'Reilly publications: well
written, well-presented, supported by a web site, and of the highest
typographical standard."
--Major Keary, Book News, 2002 No. 10

"'Web Database Applications with PHP and MySQL'...combines language
tutorials with application design advice to yield a comprehensive picture
of its subjects at a reasonable price. Williams and Lane--both Australian
academics who use an online wine store in many of their examples--deserve
tremendous kudos for their way of presenting recommended coding
strategies.''
--David Wall, Amazon.com, July 2002

"The authors' approach to teaching these tools was admirable. E-commerce
is one of the most popular applications on the Web and the development of
such an engine employees a great many skills in terms of programming and
database design. Important elements such as security, multiple users,
managing inventory users, and multiple pricing thankfully received ample
book time.''
--Paul Schneider, CompuNotes, September 2002

Further reviews can be found at:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/webdbapps/reviews.html

Additional Resources:

Chapter 11, "Authentication and Security," is available online at:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/webdbapps2/chapter/index.html

For more information about the book, including table of contents, index,
author bios, and samples, see:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/webdbapps2/

For a cover graphic in JPEG format, go to:
ftp://ftp.ora.com/pub/graphics/book_covers/hi-res/0596005431.jpg

Web Database Applications with PHP and MySQL, Second Edition
Hugh E. Williams, David Lane
ISBN 0-596-00543-1, 795 pages, $44.95 US, $65.95 CA
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000
http://www.oreilly.com

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