reviewed by Bradley Crockett

ySQL Cookbook is a great book for anyone developing a user interface to a MySQL database. Database Management Systems such as MySQL are generally designed strictly to manage data. A user-friendly interface is usually developed separately. There are exceptions (such as Microsoft Access), but systems that focus on data only are much more robust.

The user interface to these systems is implemented with some sort of application software. This can take the form of a program on the user's computer (such as a Visual Basic application) or server software (such as a web server interface). In both cases, getting the user interface and the database to work together is a substantial programming effort. MySQL Cookbook provides a great resource for those attempting this task using MySQL and a programming language.

Programming languages usually come with tools for working with databases. About a dozen languages come with tools for working with MySQL. MySQL cookbook explains and provides examples for four of these languages: Perl, PHP, Python, and Java--with a heavy emphasis on Perl. (BB&C uses MySQL and PHP for it's user interface for the membership database.)

I'm usually wary of 'cookbook-type' books. When looked MySQL Cookbook I was somewhat skeptical of it. Although I've had some success with Peachpit's 'Visual Quickstart' series, I've generally found books that rely heavily on examples to be weak on explanations of fundamental concepts. Most '...By Example' titles seem to omit explanations (or entire sections) to save space.

MySQL Cookbook, however, is quite complete. It covers the basics of Structured Query Language in a MySQL context. It also covers the more specific topics of language-specific functions, and it documents working around MySQL's limitations very well. It doesn't skimp on explanations, and it's not afraid to discuss MySQL's weaknesses. In many ways, it is more complete than MySQL's own documentation.

I especially like the organization of the text. Topics are grouped according to tasks (such as 'Working With Strings' or 'Generating Summaries'). The material is presented in such a way that the heavy use of Perl-specific examples is not really an issue. With this layout, the table of contents suddenly becomes as useful as the index.

There are many great resources available to accompany this text. All are on-line (no CD with this book), which I think is great because it can be kept up to date. I did find one dead link, however.

Weighing in at 992 pages, MySQL Cookbook is also wide enough so that the pages lie flat on your desk.

MySQL Cookbook by Paul DuBois,
published by O'Reilly in October 2002,
ISBN 0596001452.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/mysqlckbk/index.html.
Author's Web site with examples: http://www.kitebird.com/mysql-cookbook/