Jeremyopolis » Reviews http://jrsandberg.com An History Of Nerdly Activities Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:32:43 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Python in a Nutshell – Review http://jrsandberg.com/2010/03/python-in-a-nutshell-review/ http://jrsandberg.com/2010/03/python-in-a-nutshell-review/#comments Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:58:43 +0000 Jeremy http://jrsandberg.com/?p=143 Python in a Nutshell has been a great addition to my library. This book is clearly meant as a reference rather than something to be read completely through. However, when you look something up, it is well worth the time to read the whole chapter or section on that subject. There is always a concise, pertinent and in-depth explanation of every subject I have looked up. Python in a Nutshell is also great at explaining Python’s unique conventions and specifics.

Another great aspect is that concepts are explained using correct programing language terminology. This means words like closure and scope are used correctly to enhance explanations. Yet, this book will not be useful to everyone. Unless you already know a programing language or two, this book does not give a beginners explanation of flow control statements or loops or anything in Python. If you are a beginner, you will be better off learning from a tutorial or a beginner book. This book will come in handy later, when you need to reference parts of Python you have never used.

Overall, this book is a great buy. If you are already an avid programmer or intend to become one in the future, you will not be sad having this book about Python on your shelf.

]]> http://jrsandberg.com/2010/03/python-in-a-nutshell-review/feed/ 0 Accelerated GWT – a review http://jrsandberg.com/2009/01/accelerated-gwt-a-review/ http://jrsandberg.com/2009/01/accelerated-gwt-a-review/#comments Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:30:36 +0000 Jeremy http://jrsandberg.com/?p=13 Accelerated GWT from Apress by Vipul Gupta has shown me that you can’t judge a book by its cover but you can judge a book by its title.  As clearly indicated by the title, this book isn’t professional GWT or advanced, it is accelerated, which when you really stop to think about it means ” to cause faster or greater activity, development, progress, advancement.” (Dictionary.com)  Acceleration is exactly what this book is about: it covers pretty much every topic that is basic to GWT and it covers them very well.

That being said, the back cover caused me to judge this book incorrectly.  The “Apress Roadmap” on the back indicates that Accelerated GWT should come after Beginning Google Web Toolkit and I disagree.  I think Accelerating GWT should be on par with a beginning book.  While the topics it covers are very diverse and dispersed it is only 300 pages long and thus doesn’t cover any of the chosen topics in depth.

Overall I really enjoyed the book’s content even if it was sparse at times.  I think this book is a great tool to get up and running using GWT in no time but if you are looking for advanced information on any topics then consider purchasing another book.

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