web programming

I am starting some web programming after about 5 years of system level software development. I find the text, especially the programming related chapters to be comprehensive and well explained for beginners. Obviously, individuals taking up web development professionally will have to refer to more literature concerning their tools and technologies but this is a good startup text. Some rearrangement of sections may be helpful to the readers, for instance, in JavaScript chapters the concept of variables is explained early but a discussion on data types is delayed considerably forcing the readers to make assumptions.

I don't understand the good reviews this book got. I was excited about this book and thought I scored a hit when I found it at my library. What a dud! If you are going to start an e-business, you need to find a place to host your site. NOT COVERED! You should expect a book this expensive to point out what to look for in a hosting site, tip you off to bad deals on hosting, expectations on pricing, pricing structures, etc. How on earth can you set up a site without this information? Will you have physical access to your server (should you)? or will you simply upload from a distance? What about hackers? Do you protect the site or do they protect. Is it possible to go it alone (i.e. host the site at your business with a T1 line)? What's involved with going it alone? How do you get a T1 line to your business? None of these things are covered. And the biggie most people want--Credit Card transactions. Not much here either. Cursory information you can glean off the web. There's some information on what happens to the data during a credit card transaction (reads like a TIME-LIFE book), but again, no information on how to choose a Merchant provider, or what to look for in such providers. CyberCash and a few big name players are listed with their web addresses, but you can get this info on the web yourself. Just try, as a startup, to sign on with cybercash. The fees will be outrageous. No ratios as to cost/cc transactions in line with your business is discussed, just dry reporting on how others do it. You come away saying to yourself, ok so that's what's going on (in a very general way), but there's nothing to tell you how to do it yourself. No guides whatsoever. No example business plan, nothing. There are some nice chapters on XML, DynamicHTML, ASP etc., but you can get this in more depth in other books and still pay less than this book. There are some really stupid things in here too. Like a history of computers? What the ... is this doing in here? An introduction to Internet Explorer? If you need an introduction to IE, you shouldn't be thinking about e-commerce yet. Marketing info and business info is provided to the level that you'd understand what people were talking about if you joined a firm that needed to do this. But you would not be in any position to actually do marketing, or e-business. If you read this book cover to cover you will come away with a lot of information, but still be unable to do e-business, e-commerce, or even run a busy website. Boy am I glad I didn't buy this book.

Hi. I currently own the 'e-Business & e-Commerce How-to-Program' book by the authors. If anyone out there currently owns the XML book by Dietel & Associates, and is interested in making a trade, please send me an email. The trade can be either permanent, or just a temporary swap. Which ever you prefer.

GenerationExcel@aol.com