Thursday, November 6, 2008
Coldfusion 8 Developer Tutorial
Product Description
Adobe ColdFusion is an application server, renowned for rapid development of dynamic websites, with a straightforward language (CFML), powerful methods for packaging and reusing your code, and AJAX support that will get developers deep into powerful web applications quickly. This book is the most intense guide to creating professional ColdFusion applications available. Packed with example code, and written in a friendly, easy-to-read style, this book is just want you need if you are serious about ColdFusion. This book will give you clear, concise and, of course, practical guidance to take you from the basics of ColdFusion 8 to the skills that will make you a ColdFusion developer to be reckoned with. ColdFusion expert John Farrar will teach you how about the basics of ColdFusion programming, application architecture, and object reuse, before showing you a range of topics including AJAX library integration, RESTful Web Services, PDF creation and manipulation, and dynamically generated presentation files that will make you the toast of your ColdFusion developer town.This book digs deep with the basics, with real-world examples of the how and whys, to get more done faster with ColdFusion 8. This book also covers the new features of ColdFusion 8 Update 1.
Product Details
* Amazon Sales Rank: #370802 in Books
* Published on: 2008-06-30
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 400 pages
Customer Reviews
Skip this Book1
As far as tech manuals go, this book is the worst I have ever come across. The writer makes statements like this on page 43:
"First, view Appendix A to set up your database and then set up your environment for this section. If you are not skilled with databases, then we have suggestions in Appendix B...."
Appendix A is a listing of websites for IDEs, Database Engines, Audio Software, and so on. It does not tell you how to set one up or even what one to use. Appendix B is worse! It is a listing of blog sites, conferences, general ColdFusion sites and so on. The point the author is trying to make is skip this book there is better information for free on the internet.
It gets worse. The code snippets that you are supposed to follow along with are so error riddled you will spend 5x the time just trying to find out what went wrong. Lines of code are duplicated and tags are missing openings or closings. The only saving grace (if you can call it that) is the code you download from the website is actually correct. Translation, it does not match what is written in the book.
The errors extend into the instruction aspect of the book to with such gems as: "Add the following highlighted lines to the .cfc and .cfc pages:" .cfc and .cfc huh?
The Errata web page lists NO Errors! Amazing, I thought someone would have submitted something. Good news is I get to be the first. I sent them an email over a week ago, still nothing on the site. No point sending them anymore since 1) they are not posting them, and 2) I am not paid to be their editor.
Excellent Content in This Book5
I really enjoyed reading most of this book. I say most, because I haven't gotten through it all - there's a lot of content here!
I was surprised by the range of material covered in one book. The CFC's section is excellent, AJAX, and such.
It looks like John Farrar spent quite a bit of time developing his content, and he delivers it in an easy-to-read fashion.
Thanks for a great ColdFusion book!
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