XML Pocket Reference

XML Pocket Reference is a true ode to the concept of "Pocket Reference". It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or an experienced developer, this book that is just a bit larger than your remote control will satisfy your expectations.The first 10 pages of this 97 pages booklet will get you quickly up and running with the terminology, good enough to understand the structure and to be able to discuss the concept with colleagues. As in most O'Reilly books, the writer expects you to have some experience in programming as it discusses the concept and syntax quickly and without major examples.The rest of the booklet is a reference to XML elements and attributes, document type definitions and the extensible stylesheet language. This section is a great reference as everything is easy to find and well indexed. For beginners this part of the "book" is a great but sometimes complex tutorial as every section is supported by quick samples of code.When I bought this book, I was sceptic with the idea that this book was going to get me developing XML within 1 day. But O'Reilly proved that I was wrong. In less than a day I had my first XML page up and running, and now I use this book to give me the basics for every concept I try to implement.One reviewer was right when he said on O'Reilly's site that you don't need a 500-page book to learn or develop XML.

This is a great effort from O'Reilly. As a developer I find it discouraging to be handed a 1200 page book on every topic. I now spend lots of time finding a small book with the right stuff and no filler. It pays off in a major way and this book is a great illustration of just that. The author gives the staright facts and suggestions on use without the fluff and pages of what he thinks about it. Buy it. Read it. Develop something useful. Get on with life.

O'reilly books rarely miss the mark for being to the point references, and this is no exception. You'll get a better understanding of XML here than from books 10 times as long, and you get it without the geek humor. Plus it won't break your wallet. Without hesitation.

I thought that I would just give the bottom line on this great little XML Pocket Reference by Oreilly. This book is a perfect quick read for getting yourself up and running on XML as well as being a good quick reference. I bought the book expecting it to only be useful when looking up a XML term while programming and was pleasantly surprised to find that it doubled as a (bare minimum) tutorial for XML. This is a great and inexpensive book for the expert needing a reference guide that is easy to carry around as well as for a beginner that just wants to read a quick and uncomplicated guide to XML.