ColdFusion is a powerful platform for creating and deploying dynamic web applications. Developers like ColdFusion because its simple, tag-based language makes it easy to handle simple tasks, like processing form data and querying databases. ColdFusion is easy to learn, yet powerful enough to deliver highly scalable, robust applications. Programming ColdFusion covers everything you need to know to create effective web applications with ColdFusion and includes numerous examples that you can use for your own applications. The book starts with ColdFusion basics and quickly progresses to topics like sharing application data, accessing databases, and maintaining state information. It also provides chapters on advanced database techniques, working with the Verity search engine, and interacting with other data sources, including LDAP directories, email servers, and other web servers. Finally, the book explores more advanced topics, such as creating custom tags, sharing data with WDDX, and calling external objects.

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Programming ColdFusion Review,  August 22 2002
Submitted by David Pai   [Respond | View]

“Programming ColdFusion” is an excellent reference source for those wanting to understand how to develop ColdFusion web applications. In the preface, Brooks-Bilson identifies his primary audience as current ColdFusion developers while also stating that all other web developers interested in web application development using ColdFusion will also find this book useful. I would have to disagree with this. Brooks-Bilson hits his primary target audience but misses the beginning web developer and a lot of the existing web developers that may wish to move towards a ColdFusion development environment. The book assumes a certain level of tacit knowledge about web development, in particular using ColdFusion.

In general, I found this book is very well written with clear descriptions of the various features and how to use them. The major failing is that while many examples are used to describe the various features of the ColdFusion tags, there is no unifying web application development. The addition of an application development that would span the features throughout this book, would go a long way towards increasing the target audience to include web developers from non-ColdFusion backgrounds and beginning web developers. The inclusion of a unifying example would go a long way towards driving home the points being developed and the advantages of using ColdFusion. If I take a simple example liking using the CFIF tag. Coming from a primarily ASP web development background, this is the same as using the IF function in Vbscript. What is the advantage towards my using CFIF vs. Vbscript? There were many places where the author showed examples of individual features where I basically had the same response.

In summary, this book appears to be an excellent reference for the active ColdFusion application developer and not a resource for the beginning developer or for a developer experienced in a different web application technology. One limitation of this book is the assumption that the reader is already convinced that ColdFusion is the way to go. There is no discussion about the benefits of ColdFusion over competing. Another limitation is that since this book only covers the individual aspects of ColdFusion, how one would tie these all together into an integrated application is not really discussed. In all fairness, Brooks-Bilson does address his primary target audience of practicing ColdFusion web application developers.




Programming ColdFusion Review,  May 23 2002
Submitted by Richard Fong   [Respond | View]

This is a very good for both the experienced and beginner CF developer. I've used/read both Ben Forta's and Mastering CF and Programming ColdFusion is the one for me. It is now my main CF reference book.

The book is well written and the examples/code are excellent...clear and concise. I've always been a fan of O'Reilly books and this is another great book.

RF

8`-)


Programming ColdFusion Review,  February 28 2002
Submitted by paul stewart   [Respond | View]

Does whats says on the can! Oh sorry i mean the back cover, where it states "This is the only book on Coldfusion an experienced web programmer needs." Oh so true, and you don't even need to be that experienced. I wasn't, but i am now, if you know what i mean. (-:


Programming ColdFusion Review,  January 15 2002
Submitted by Dino Nardini   [Respond | View]

I've been relying on the Forta books for years now, which are pretty good. When I went to pickup his new CF 5 book I saw the O'Reilly book sitting on the shelf and starting flipping through it. Well, 30 minutes later I realized that I had started reading the entire book and decided to purchase it before I was thrown out of the store :)

I have found this book an indespensable reference. The chapters are laid out very well and the examples are the best real-world samples I have seen. The book nicely balances between tutorial and reference. I have actually started reading it from cover to cover, which is a first for me. Usually I just skim the stuff I need.

Say no more. I'm glad that there are more references available for CF these days.

I started my O'Reilly collection years ago with the Llama and Camel books and have come to respect the name as top quality. Rob has done the name justice with his new CF book. Kudos!




Programming ColdFusion Review,  November 13 2001
Submitted by Stefan Elliott   [Respond | View]

An excellent book for the beginner to the experienced ColdFusion developer.

With clear and concise chapters that take you through the learning process from Introducing ColdFusion 5.0 to the Advanced Techniques in 24 chapters, with 916 pages of a well written book.

Although the book doesn't come with a CD-ROM with the code examples, as many other books do, it should not deter you from making this book an essential part in your library, and at your side for easy referencing, as the code examples (therefore should be correct code from the site) can be obtained from the O'Reilly site at:

The O'Reilly 'Programming ColdFusion 5' - Web Page.

Additionally, have you ever mislaid the CD-ROM, or found the code examples on a CD-ROM don't work, therefore by having them available on the Internet, should ensure that the code works, as they can be updated by the publishers easily.

The author has obviously spent a great amount of time in his research, and experience, in writing such an easy to follow book, therefore we can understand if the book is never put upon the bookshelf, but instead remains with you at all times.

With a solid knowledge of web development and HTML, the beginner can quite easily become a knowledgeable ColdFusion Developer.

The experienced developers will also find this book a very valueable asset, and may rate this book as highly as we do.

Therefore congratulations go to Rob Brooks-Bilson (author), and O'Reilly (the publishers), on a well written book.

Stefan Elliott
Group Chairman & CEO of:
A1 WebSite Developers UK Ltd (www.wsd.co.uk)
&
4runner Developers Ltd (www.four-runner.com)
Founder of The Southern UK ColdFusion User Group


Programming ColdFusion Review,  November 07 2001
Submitted by chris Lyon   [Respond | View]

A good book.

the examples are specific and lack the gee-whiz approach of a lot of cold-fusion books I have seen.

It answered three very specific issues I had very quickly and the examples seem to work which isn't always true of competing books.

The index seems o.k. but as with a lot of O'Reilly books is a little light.

A general whinge, and I know I don't have to read it, but O'Reilly's books acknowledgements sections deserve pulling out as a book all of there own. what ever happened to 'For Mum'?




Programming ColdFusion Review,  September 12 2001
Submitted by DIGITALUnderworld   [Respond | View]

O'Rielly's "Programming ColdFusion" is the best ColdFusion Resources I have come across. I have several (if not all books in print) ColdFusion books and this one has the best examples. The examples are samples that can be used in everyday programming. The only shortcoming I came across was the lack of complete code examples. The snippets are extremely useful, but you must have familiarity with programming ColdFusion to implement the examples fully.


Programming ColdFusion Review,  August 22 2001
Submitted by Chuck Boothroyd   [Respond | View]

This is an outstanding book for developers. I have found some neat coding tips and it is a very usable tool for web development with out the fluff. I ordered this Book in Oct, 2000 (it was held back to include CF 5.0 features) It was worth the wait.


Programming ColdFusion Review,  August 21 2001
Submitted by Prentiss Jones   [Respond | View]

A Fantastic Resource!

Rob's book blows the three other ColdFusion books I have completely out of the water. His writing style is clear, concise, and understandable. His examples are to-the-point and immediately usable. The section on the application framework saved me my job - literally. Thanks, Rob

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