MySQL & Perl for the Web

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book on the condition that I would write a review of it. That said, what follows is my opinion. This book provides a good "from the ground up" guide for using Perl to do just about anything you'd want to do on your web site, including run an eCommerce site. You need to know a bit of Perl before you start, but even if you don't the examples start out simple enough that you should be able to pick it up as you go, provided you have some programming background. Should you get stuck, there are plenty of pointers to online resources, as well as an appendix to show you how to set up the software used in this book. The book starts out with the basics: setting up MySQL and Apache to get at your data via the web, including Perl DBI basics. You then get started by writing a simple to-do list application, and in the process create modules that you will use (and build on) later in the book. Mod_perl is covered, and then progressively more complex form based applications are presented. Many useful techniques are discussed. Once you're just about tired of all the tedium of form based applications, automated form-handling techniques are introduced that use meta-data about the table structures to automatically generate (and validate) input data. Techniques for session management get a chapter as well, presenting very good information on the pros and cons of different session management techniques (IP, cookie, URL key, etc). Security and privacy get a very good chapter. Not only are issues presented regarding keeping user's information confidential, but cautions are also presented regarding keeping the server secure. SQL injection attacks are discussed, as are defenses against them. Hint: use MySQL's quote() function. The book closes with a chapter on writing an eCommerce application. All the techniques used in the book are brought together in one application, and it is shown (very well) how they all relate to each other. While the resulting eCommerce application is extremely simple in regards to what it can do, it effectively shows the reader the power of MySQL and Perl together, and provides an excellent reference when writing applications of one's own. I am a system administrator, and have done a good chunk of web site design (mostly the technical side) and programming. I've been using Perl since 1996, and MySQL with that since 2000 (used mSQL before that). So, yes, I had quite a bit of Perl and DB experience before I read the book. I say that to say this: I still learned things. There were tips and techniques in there that I hadn't thought of, and will make my job just a bit easier the next time I use Perl to write a MySQL based application. Even if you have some Perl and MySQL experience under your belt, the book will still be useful.

I found Mysql and Perl for the Web to be a great companion for Paul's MySQL book. After reading through Mysql and Perl for the Web, I finally feel I have enough working knowledge to start my first large project using MySQL & Perl (this is my first foray into using Perl). My only other "addition" was purchasing a complete referance for Perl.As with his MySQL book, Paul writing style was extremely easy to follow (especally considering my lack of Perl experience).I felt the examples, especially those in Chapter 6, "Automating the Form-Handling process", to be almost invaluable. This was actually one of the best example/tutorial I have come across for Form-Handling.I could go on & on about specific areas that helped me, but suffice it to say, if your going to be doing any work with SQL & Perl, this is a MUST HAVE book.

MySQL and Perl for the Web by Paul DuBois is one of those slap your forehead, "I wish I had this X months ago" books. A splendid book that fills a real void. Though not for total beginners - have Paul's excellent previous book "MySQL", as well as the some reference like the Camel book handy if you have little or no background in MySQL or Perl - it is written in a concise, easy to read manner that allows one to fully understand what each application does and how the examples could be the basis for use in their own code. In addition, it's a fine repository of tips, and not all are limited to MySQL and Perl. For example, the section on configuring Apache for secure connections using mod_ssl and OpenSSL, could easily save a newbie seeking SSL knowledge hours of research over many sites and through many README's.Each chapter builds on the examples of the previous, from the simple to the complex. The book covers, amongst other subjects ...Form generation and designProcessing formsUsing e-mail to enhance your web siteStoring and retrieving images The use of MySQL to power your formsEffective MySQL table designAutomating form handlingGenerating form elements from tablesForms navigation Forms error handlingAdvanced MySQL statementsIndexing and searching your dataIntermediate to advanced Perl usageSession ManagementMaintenance techniques with sessionsSecurity and privacy, both remotely and locallyWriting secure applicationsE-commerce applications Implementing different payment collection techniquesIn other words, it touches on just about every aspect someone looking to leverage MySQL and Perl for web development could want, all in a single source. I learned a lot from this book and think it's easily worth the price.

If you know some Perl and some MySQL, please, DO by "MySQL and Perl for the Web" by Paul DeBois and figure out how those fancy web applications out there are made and learnhow to be able to write one. Paul's "MySQL and Perl for the Web" touches upon some topicsthat NONE OF THE BOOKS out there ever covered in so much details. The style and examples are amazing. He makes use of Perl5's ObjectOriented features which itself tells you that it's a professional textbook for professional web-programmers. The book teaches you neither Perl nor MySQL from basics. It assumes you already have some basic knowledge of Perl and MySQL.So it starts off at the most fun part without waisting neither his northe readers' time. Here I'll go over the chapters in case the table of contentsdon't tell you much (they didn't to me).Chapter 1 and chapter 2 go over some basic things that you needin order to understand and/or try out the examples in the book. Chapter 2 goes over configurting your MySQL and Apache. I believe if you are on a hosting service, this should've been done for you already.It also teaches you to write "A Simple Web-Based Application - To-do List Maintenance". Although the application doesn't require a lot ofbrains to create, but it does cover some basic concepts thatyou'll be using all the time in web-programming.Chapter 3 gives some information on "Improving Performance with mod_perl"and how to write scripts that work in mod_perl compiled servers.Chapter 4, "Generating and Proccessing Forms" goes over "Form Anatomy"and does introduce some concepts of "Form Desgin Issues"Chapter 5, "Writing form-Based applications" is probably the wealthiestchapter of the book. Following sections are available under this chapter:"Product registration", "Using Email from Within Applications", "Running a Giveaway contest", "Conducting a Poll", "Storing and Retriving Images", "Electronic Greeting Cards - Send a Friend a Greeting". This chapter lasts over 80 pages. Chapter 6, "Automating the Form-Handling process" introduces someconcepts that you can make use of in order to automate the form handlingprocess through the use of MySQL's table metadata, which is availablethrough DESC table_name ( or SHOW COLUMNS FROM table_name ) query. Using his concept I introduced a new module to CPAN.org, MySQL::TableInfo.Chapter 7, "Performing Searches" covers "Writing a Form-Based Serch Application" and "Extending" it. It also introduces the concept of "Link-Based Navigation". It also teaches you how to split the results of the searchover several pages; suppose you have a result of 100 rows in your search, andyou show only 20 results at a page, and provide [previos] and [next] linksso that users could navigate over your pages. Neat, isn't it? Cahpter 8, "Session Management" was the one I have been wating for so long. It goes over some "State Maintenance Techqniques" used in web applications, thenintroduces the most favorite one, "Active Client Identification" method.The sections the chapt