Are you a professional or novice to PHP and PostgreSQL 8? If you are, then this book is definitely for you. Authors W. Jason Gilmore and Robert H. Treat, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that offers users an impressive platform for building high-powered Web applications.

Gilmore and Treat, begin by acquainting you with the basics of PHP offering insight into its roots, popularity, and users. Then, the authors show you how to install and configure PHP, as well as, the Apache Web server. Next, they cover the various aspects from the basics of the PHP language and class libraries to topics like authentication, security, session handlers and e-mail functionality. The authors also focus on PHP Extension and Application Repository (PEAR). They continue by addressing PostgreSQL, including tables and data types, views, functions, indexes and triggers. Then, the authors present the more pertinent PHP functionality to access PostgreSQL. Next, they show you how to install and configure your local test bed. The authors continue by describing the server strain that PG can handle. Then, they show you how to use Smarty and PearDB. Next, the authors also cover the integration between PostgreSQL and PHP; the interface with PostgreSQL from PHP; and how to write reusable queries. Finally, the authors go further by covering the installation and configuration of PostgreSQL.

This most excellent book is not for beginners. Nevertheless, you will find plenty of tips and notes focusing shortcuts to complete both new and familiar tasks.

What's annoying about this book is that I bought it to learn more about PHP and PostgreSQL but the authors decide to use Smarty and PearDB throughout instead. If I wanted to learn those two I would have bought books about them. Smarty and PearDB is used in every single piece of code they do which is extremely annoying. I don't want to learn Smarty or PearDB. If you're trying to learn PHP and PostgreSQL don't buy this book. If you want to learn Smarty and PearDB this book might be for you.

To me, this book was a disappointment. I had expected much more in the way of integration between PostgreSQL and PHP. Some of the questions that I had expected an answer for, was like: What is considered 'best practice' as to how to interface with PostgreSQL from PHP? How to write reusable queries?

Instead, the book is divided in two disparate parts: One is about installing and configuring PHP, along with a rewrite of parts of the online PHP manual; the second part is about installing and configuring PostgreSQL, along with a rewrite of parts of the online PostgreSQL manual. None of which, I dare say, I found particularly useful.

On my system, a Gentoo Linux computer, most of the installation of both PostgreSQL and PHP is covered by the simple command "emerge php postgresql". So, what do I need this book for?

I found some nuggets in the PHP section about array functions that I wasn't aware of, but mostly it was all old hat. I simply don't need yet another instruction on how to install PostgreSQL and PHP on my computer. I've figured that out a long time ago.

To me, this book was a disappointment. I had expected much more in the way of integration between PostgreSQL and PHP. Some of the questions that I had expected an answer for, was like: What is considered 'best practice' as to how to interface with PostgreSQL from PHP? How to write reusable queries?

Instead, the book is divided in two disparate parts: One is about installing and configuring PHP, along with a rewrite of parts of the online PHP manual; the second part is about installing and configuring PostgreSQL, along with a rewrite of parts of the online PostgreSQL manual. None of which, I dare say, I found particularly useful.

On my system, a Gentoo Linux computer, most of the installation of both PostgreSQL and PHP is covered by the simple command "emerge php postgresql". So, what do I need this book for?

I found some nuggets in the PHP section about array functions that I wasn't aware of, but mostly it was all old hat. I simply don't need yet another instruction on how to install PostgreSQL and PHP on my computer. I've figured that out a long time ago.