PostgreSQL Essential Reference

by Barry Stinson

PostgreSQL Essential Reference is a reference book for developers and system administrators who are already familiar with SQL database concepts but that need clear and concise documentation that is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0735711216
• ISBN13: 9780735711211
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Sams Publishing
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.5" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Very Helpful Book!

I've owned this book and another PostgreSQL book for the past month, and I find myself keeping this one very close to the computer.The writing is clear and the book provides just enough information to be useful in almost all settings, but not so verbose that you get side-tracked or confused about how to accomplish something.Mainly, I would suggest this book to those who already have SQL database experience (I'm using PostgreSQL for my first project, having come from MS SQL and Interbase background)Although some of the examples are a bit terse, I love the fact that so much is covered in such a small book ;)Particularly, I think the discussions of Triggers Vs. Rules was worth the price of the book for me. Already, I've been creating complex rule-sets and triggers with only a few weeks of use. It really highlights the features of PostgreSQL very well.

I have used this book over a month and I like it.

With help "INDEX" I can find necessary commandand small example about it in few seconds.There is so much information on those 371 pages:data types, operators, all functions with short examples,admin utils and common administration tasks (backup, restore, users, rights),server-side programming overview (PL/pgSQL, PL/Tcl, PL/Perl),client-side programming overview (Perl,Python, PHP, ODBC, ...),complete SQL command reference etc.Lots of small examples.If you need instruction how to use syslog for logging? Log rotating?You find the answer very quickly.Short, but interesting overview - PostgreSQL versus other RDBMs.It's a small book, but there is a lot of good information inside :)I use this book in my work and I recomend it.Excelent PostgreSQL reference. Professional work.

Excellent book

I'm just starting using of PostgreSQL in a WWW project and have found this book very helpful to me. Being administratorand developer simultaneously, I've gathered many informationon both subjects.Author gives many recipes on how to optimize performanceof your programs, how to create and use indices, functions(both standard and created by user in several programming languages), This book contains many information you won't be able to find in PostgreSQL's documentation. There's complete reference forstandard functions, types and SQL operators with excellent examples.This book has special chapter that describes advantages and lacks PostgreSQL in comparison with other RDBMSs. After reading this chapter I've become stronger in opinionthat PostgreSQL is the best RDBMS (at least among free ones).So, if you're using PostgreSQL (in any case - either as administrator or as developer), "PostgreSQL essential reference" by Barry Stinson will be excellent addition (and replacement inmany topics) for standard PostgreSQL's documentation.

The essential reference

I believe it should be named THE Essential Reference, for that is exactly what it is. No SQL for dunmmies explained with too many examples, but just a clear overview of the various options and possibilities of PostgreSQL. All the essential commands are there, explained with full syntax and caveats.The book is definitely not meant for dummies, it is more of a reference for medium to advanced users, and especially a must have for everybody who is used to a different rdbms. PostgreSQL does some things differently from most other databases, and this book is the easiest way to find out what differs where. Already (after 2 days) it saved me more time than a faster computer could save me in a month.

One of the best out there.....

I've been looking for a good reference book for PostgreSQL for some time now...finally one has been published! Most of the other books out there are either for the complete database novice -- or are too specialized. This book fills a very much needed void in the documentation for PG-SQL. It is clear and to the point, with plenty of examples of how to use specific commands.Overall, it is well worth the money if you have been put in charge administrating or developing a PG-SQL database. The section on 'Backup and Restore' alone has already saved me untold amounts of headache. Very good value in getting this book and I happily recommend it to anyone who needs to use PostgreSQL in a production environment.-Doug