Oracle: A Database Developer's Guide

Ulka Rodgers has provided a unique book that stands out from the run-of-the-mill "how to" books overpopulating the technology shelves today. While the "how to" is addressed, so is the "what, when, and why to". If you are a database developer who receives very specific requests, and you simply need to know how commands work so you can put together the most efficient code, this book is not for you. If you are a database developer who needs to determine the best course of action to achieve success in a variety of situations, take a good look at this book.The book takes you step by step through the development of a world class database environment. It provides insights that will help you make the right decisions each step of the way, from the first decisions regarding methodology and approach, to the final decisions regarding system performance. The book delves into the latest technology areas one needs to know about to succeed such as the internet and data warehouse technology. I find it to be invaluable as a learning tool whenever I enter into unfamiliar territory.The book is structured to impart knowledge that Ulka Rodgers has gained through her extensive experience. As such, it is the type of book you want to read and enjoy. It is the type of book that has so much to offer, you may want read sections more than once.I don't mean to take away from the "how to" value this book provides. There are tips and techniques as well as detailed examples throughout the book that I find extremely useful. The coverage is thorough. But tips and techniques, although important, do not make a project succeed. What Ulka Rodgers has done here is provided a road map that, if followed properly, will clearly have a significant positive impact on your likelihood of success.

Ulka Rogers approaches this topic from the perspective of a seasoned practitioner. The topics of this text are covered in an intelligent, informed manner. Developing Oracle applications is a challenging endeavor and requires the consideration of many factors. These factors are thoroughly explained in the book. This book has one of the best coverages of Designer/2000 and its use in design and construction.This is a large topic and no corner, from data design to data warehousing, is left uncovered by the author. Many of the sections cover deep issues related to difficult project challenges, ranging from requirements creep, architecture to object-oriented design. Ulka succinctly has made many points that every project manager should consider conveying to their management. I will use this book for both the technical design and the management aspects. Because it is self-contained, this is one of the best values in Oracle literature today. Where most technical books cover only one or two points, this book is full of ideas and concepts. You can buy the other books, including the Osborn series, but if you need only one Oracle book from which to get practical advice, this is the one.

Overall, Oracle - A Database Developer's Guide 2nd Edition is clear and well written. It is the type of book that you might want to read a chapter of in an evening of your spare time. The book is written from the perspective of someone with a great deal of experience managing projects and building real-world systems. This experience is reflected in what Ms. Rodgers wants to tell her readers about systems development. A useful comprehensive example is woven throughout the book. This device works very well to reinforce the real world applications of the material discussed.The book is directed at the CIO or project manager of an organization, who may not know any more about Oracle than what they read in the trade papers. The Oracle environment is very complex. Ms. Rodgers has provided us with a guided tour of this environment, shrewdly pointing out the lovely vistas as well as the swamps. Given this scope, the book succeeds admirably; although it is impossible to cover this range of topics in depth in a mere 400 pages. The book is an excellent overview. Any one of its chapters could easily be expanded into its own book.If you are a senior project manager and want a different perspective on approaching an Oracle development project, this book has value. For those new to the industry who want to get a sense of why projects work and why many fail, the book also has merit. If you are merely looking for SQL tuning tips or the best init.ora parameter to accomplish a specific task, this is not the right resource for you. However, there are numerous useful tidbits of information scattered throughout the book.Ultimately, in reviewing a book, I always ask myself two questions: 1. Was it worth the cover price? 2. Was it worth the time it took to read? In both cases, for Ms. Rodgers book, the answer is a resounding "Yes."