"XML in a Nutshell, Second Edition" Released by O'Reilly
For Immediate Release
July 1, 2002
For more information, a review copy, cover art, or an interview with
the authors, contact:
Kathryn Barrett (707) 827-7094 or kathrynb@oreilly.com
TERRA FIRMA IN AN EVER-CHANGING XML LANDSCAPE:
O'REILLY UPDATES "XML IN A NUTSHELL"
Sebastopol, CA--So rapidly evolving is the world of XML that it shifted
from its position as a new technology to an established technology
while many people were still trying to understand just what it was.
"XML has become the lingua franca of data formats," says Elliotte Rusty
Harold, coauthor with W. Scott Means of the just-released second
edition of "XML in a Nutshell" (O'Reilly, US $39.95). "While there are
still many non-XML legacy applications out there, most new applications
are choosing to use XML as their native data format. Sun's StarOffice
5.0 is just one public example, but there's even more work going on in
the non-shrink-wrapped, custom business software in enterprises of all
sizes."
XML, the Extensible Markup Language, is a W3C-endorsed standard for
document markup. It defines a generic syntax used to mark up data with
simple, human-readable tags, and it provides a standard format for
computer documents. Because of its flexibility, XML has become the
syntax of choice for newly designed document formats across almost all
computer applications. As Harold and Means tell us, "XML is simply the
most robust, reliable, and flexible document syntax ever invented."
The new edition of "XML in a Nutshell" provides developers with a
comprehensive guide to all aspects of XML, from the most basic syntax
rules, to the details of DTD and schema creation, to the APIs used to
read and write XML documents in a variety of programming languages.
With updated sections on standards still in development, and extra
coverage of Unicode, the book provides an easy-to-use reference to the
fundamental rules to which all XML documents and authors must adhere.
"XML in a Nutshell, Second Edition" helps readers quickly develop an
understanding of well-formed XML, namespaces, Unicode and W3C XML
Schema. The authors tackle the key technologies used mainly for
narrative XML documents, such as web pages, books, and articles,
offering readers a working knowledge of XSLT, Xpath, XLink, XPointer,
CSS, and XSL-FO. The book also covers the technologies use for building
data-intensive XML applications and for processing XML documents of any
kind. The core of the book, as with any "Nutshell" book, is the
quick-reference guide that details syntax rules and usage examples for
key XML technologies.
This book is an essential guide for developers who need to create
XML-based file formats and data structures for use in XML documents. As
Harold says: "'XML in a Nutshell' is the best introduction to XML out
there. Very few XML books even attempt to cover this much material. It
is the most concentrated, cost-effective way to educate yourself about
XML."
What the critics said about the first edition:
"Best of 2001: Customers' Picks," amazon.com
"This book is the one you won't want to let out of your sight."
--IT Training, August, 2001
"A solid and useful reference for XML developers. The value of 'XML in
a Nutshell' should be readily apparent to XML developers. The material
is well organized and concise. It's a quintessential Nutshell book,
upholding a tradition of utility and quality. Readers who've already
been exposed to the presented material will likely keep this book close
at hand."--chromatic, slashdot.com, September 13, 2001
"These ('Learning XML' and 'XML in a Nutshell') are the most accessible
books on XML that I have come across and I would certainly use
'Learning XML' as a recommended text for any course on it that I gave.
If you work with XML, or are going to, then you probably ought to have
both these books"--Lindsay Marshall, news@UK, June 2001
"Not just a reference...a remarkable comprehensive book. Harold and
Means' book offers two advantages over the others: It's clearer than
previous books...and it's the most recent, and hence up-to-date book
currently on the market."--Eugene Eric Kim, Web Techniques, July 2001
"If you're using XML on a regular basis, then you should have this
reference book on your desk. There is a lot to know about XML, but with
this excellent reference manual, you don't have to know it, just where
to look it up. Once you're comfortable with XML, you will want this
book as part of your library."--Jennifer Kyrnin, Focus on HTML/XML
Additional resources:
"XML in a Nutshell, Second Edition" is also available on
Safari Books Online, see: http://safari.oreilly.com
Chapter 9, "XPath," is available free online at:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/xmlnut2/chapter/index.html
For more information about the book, including Table of Contents,
index, author bios, and samples, see:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/xmlnut2/
For a cover graphic in jpeg format, go to:
ftp://ftp.ora.com/pub/graphics/book_covers/hi-res/0596002920.jpg
XML in a Nutshell, Second Edition
By Elliotte Rusty Harold & W. Scott Means
ISBN 0-596-00292-0, 613 pages, $39.95 (US), $61.95 (CAN)
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000
http://www.oreilly.com
About O'Reilly
O'Reilly & Associates is the premier information source for
leading-edge computer technologies. The company's books, conferences,
and web sites bring to light the knowledge of technology innovators.
O'Reilly books, known for the animals on their covers, occupy a
treasured place on the shelves of the developers building the next
generation of software. O'Reilly conferences and summits bring alpha
geeks and forward-thinking business leaders together to shape the
revolutionary ideas that spark new industries. From the Internet to
XML, open source, .NET, Java, and web services, O'Reilly puts
technologies on the map. For more information: http://www.oreilly.com
# # #
O'Reilly is a registered trademark of O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
