One Part Java and One Part Database= New Edition of JDBC Guide


Sebastopol, CA--Java and databases make a powerful combination. Getting
the two sides to work together, however, takes some effort--largely
because Java deals in objects while most databases do not. Java
Database Connectivity (JDBC) is the Java API that allows Java to access
relational databases without regard to which database software is
used.

O'Reilly's just-released second edition of "Database Programming with
JDBC and Java" describes the Java interfaces that make portable
object-oriented access to relational databases possible and offers a
robust model for writing applications that are easy to maintain.

The author, George Reese, introduces the JDBC and RMI packages and uses
them to develop three-tier applications (applications divided into a
user interface, an object- oriented logic component, and an information
store). "Since the first edition was released, Java and enterprise
computing have become synonymous," says Reese. "JDBC is the very heart
of Java's enterprise strategy. While most books teach you the JDBC API,
my book aims at teaching you how to use the JDBC API in real enterprise
programming. It does this using the latest tools from Java's J2EE
platform."

One key contribution of this newest O'Reilly release is a set of
patterns that let developers isolate critical tasks like object
creation, information storage and retrieval, and the committing or
aborting of transactions.

"Database programming has traditionally been a technological Tower of
Babel. We are faced with dozens of available database products, and
each one talks to our applications in its own private language. If your
application needs to talk to a new database engine, you have to teach
it (and yourself) a new language. As Java programmers, however, we
should not be worrying about such translation issues. Java is supposed
to bring us the ability to 'write once, compile once, and run
anywhere,' so it should bring it to us with database programming as
well. Java's JDBC API gives us a shared language through which our
applications can talk to database engines," says Reese.

"'Database Programming with JDBC and Java' is not just about JDBC," he
explains.  "You can use it to learn JDBC, but do not expect 300 pages
covering the JDBC API.  JDBC is not complex enough to use 300 pages
unless you use a really big type face.  Putting JDBC into a two-tier or
three-tier Java environment, however, is a very complex thing. The
first half of the book thus focuses on teaching people JDBC. If all you
want is a book on JDBC, the first half is what you are looking for. The
second half takes you that extra step and addresses the complexities of
real world database programming with JDBC and Java."

The second edition, completely updated for JDBC 2.0, includes reference
listings for JDBC and the most important RMI classes. It also includes
more basics of JDBC and SQL, with more examples, and a deeper
discussion about the architecture of a robust, maintainable database
application. This new edition also explains the relationship between
JDBC and Enterprise JavaBeans.


What critics and readers said about the first edition:
 
Reader's Choice Special Mention Award from 'Visual Basic Programmers Journal' 

"I know it sounds like a cliche, but... 'if you only buy one JDBC book,
then this should be the one'! It's **vastly** better than the other 5
that I (unfortunately) purchased before seeing this one, and it's full
of real world stuff." --Thomas J. Lukasik, Buffalo Dataware

"This book is outstanding. If you want an excellent framework for
three-tier distributed applications that access a database, this book
cannot be topped."-- David Friedrich

"This book will help you become more effective at developing Java
database programs.  The author expertly teaches the reader to use Java
to access relational databases." --Geoff Choo, Director Solutions
WEBzine

"Most people who write about OOP programming have never actually done
any of it in the 'real' world. This is painfully obvious since none of
their 'customer' examples never bother to discuss topics  like Locking
and Transactions. However, this book does begin to address these topics
in some detail, which is rare."--Sid Soni

"Worth its weight in gold!!  Highly recommended as an introduction to
Distributed Computing with JavaMany thanks to the author for such a
wonderful book." --Arman Shah

----------------------
Chapter 9, Persistence, is available free online at:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/jdbc2/chapter/ch09.html

For more information about the book, including Table of Contents, index, 
author bio, and samples, see:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/jdbc2/

For a cover graphic in jpeg format, go to:
ftp://ftp.ora.com/pub/graphics/book_covers/hi-res/1565926161.jpg


Database Programming with JDBC and Java, Second Edition
By George Reese
Second Edition September 2000 
1-56592-616-1, 352 pages, $34.95 
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
http://www.oreilly.com