Big Picture of the Who, What, and Where of Virtualization
John's rating:
  3.0
On Jul 17, 2011 John Brady wrote: Vitualization: A Manager's Guide
Vitualization: A Manager's Guide is a short (about 58 pages in the ebook version) offering from O'Reilly which is targeted towards "managers or subject matter experts outside of information technology (IT)". The text generally revolves around the author's model of virtualization, which breaks the topic into subareas like access virtualization, network virtualization, etc. Full Review >
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John's rating:
4.0
On Jul 6, 2011 John Brady wrote: An Introduction to MapReduce
An Introduction to MapReduce is a video offering from O'Reilly which provides a simple introduction to the use of map-reduce without a great deal of overhead. The product contains four video segments, starting with a description of the difficulties encountered when using simple scripting against large data sets and swiftly moving into the use of... Full Review >
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John's rating:
5.0
On Jul 3, 2011 John Brady wrote: Learning Perl, 6th Edition
Learning Perl, 6th Edition is an update to the classic beginner's text for the Perl language. Perl version 5.14 features are introduced, although older versions of Perl will suffice for most of the content. The book is intended to introduce the basic elements of Perl in a tutorial fashion. It does not teach programming, and... Full Review >
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Configuration Management at Scale
John's rating:
2.0
On Jul 1, 2011 John Brady wrote: Managing Infrastructure with Puppet
Managing Infrastructure with Puppet is an exceptionally short "book" from O'Reilly dealing with the configuration management framework "Puppet". With a pagecount of 31 in the ebook edition and a listed price of approximately $25.00, that's about eighty cents per page, so my expectations were extremely high regarding this work. Unfortunately, after installing the Puppet packages... Full Review >
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John's rating:
4.0
On Jun 24, 2011 John Brady wrote: Packet Guide to Core Network Protocols
Packet Guide to Core Network Protocols is a book that I wanted to like. The introduction indicates that this will be an exploration of network packets using Wireshark, and that the focus will be on the core protocols present on most modern networks, and that the intended audience encompasses anyone from network novice on up. Full Review >
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John's rating:
4.0
On Jun 15, 2011 John Brady wrote: Gamification Master Class (video)
Gabe Zichermann on Gamification is a video offering from O’Reilly Publishing dealing with the topic of gamification, or the use of gaming to engage application users in ways which drive traffic and commerce. The product consists of a series of video segments with a total view time of approximately three… Full Review >
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Get the Most Out of Your Database
John's rating:
4.0
On May 27, 2011 John Brady wrote: 50 Tips & Tricks for MongoDB Developers
50 Tips & Tricks for MongoDB Developers is a new offering from O’Reilly in the shorter (66 pages in the ebook format) but more current format they seem to have recently adopted. The audience for the book is described as those who know the basics of MongoDB, but need to… Full Review >
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John's rating:
5.0
On May 25, 2011 John Brady wrote: Introduction to Machine Learning with Web Data
An Introduction to Machine Learning with Web Data is a new video offering from O’Reilly with data scientist Hilary Mason delivering the content in seminar format. At slightly under three hours in length, broken into five segments, the video is a well-paced primer for those new to machine learning. The… Full Review >
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Everything You Need to Know That Wasn't on the CCNA Exam
John's rating:
5.0
On May 24, 2011 John Brady wrote: Network Warrior, Second Edition
Network Warrior, Second Edition is an update of the original (2007). The first volume was well worth reading, and this updated version is definitely on the “must read” list for anyone working with Cisco gear. Be aware that the book is Cisco-specific with regard to commands and vocabulary. In the… Full Review >
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John's rating:
3.0
On May 21, 2011 John Brady wrote: Node.js
Tom Hughes-Croucher on Node is a nine-part video tutorial which is described as showing the viewer how Node.js solves some scaling and speed issues, as well as guiding the viewer from the basics of installation through writing a first application in Node. After viewing the series, I can say that… Full Review >
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DNS for the Next-Generation Internet
John's rating:
4.0
On May 18, 2011 John Brady wrote: DNS & BIND on IPv6
DNS & BIND on IPv6 is a short (37 pages e-book, 52 pages print) text that could be considered an IPv6 appendix to the author’s book on DNS. It provides a brief introduction to IPv6 addressing, then moves directly into some of the new record types and configurations necessary to… Full Review >
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From installation to relevance tuning
John's rating:
4.0
On May 16, 2011 John Brady wrote: Introduction to Search with Sphinx
Introduction to Search with Sphinx is a short (127 pages in the e-book edition) text describing some of the potential uses for the Sphinx search server. After a brief exposition on the "world of text search", which defines some search-related terms and concepts, it's off to install Sphinx and perform required configuration, then delving into running searches, index maintenance and ranking results. Full Review >
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John's rating:
5.0
On Apr 28, 2011 John Brady wrote: Arduino Cookbook
The Arduino Cookbook covers a wide range of Arduino-related topics in “recipe” format, i.e., stating a problem and providing at least one solution. As the author states in the introduction, this book is slightly different from most technical cookbooks, because it does not assume a base skill level on the… Full Review >
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Six Embedded Projects with Open Source Hardware and Software
John's rating:
5.0
On Apr 21, 2011 John Brady wrote: Make: Arduino Bots and Gadgets
Make: Arduino Bots and Gadgets is a heavily illustrated guide to incorporating the Arduino platform into six projects which illustrate embedded systems concepts. The author’s stated ultimate goal is to teach the reader how to build prototypes, and in that they are largely successful. A secondary mission is to allow… Full Review >
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John's rating:
5.0
On Apr 20, 2011 John Brady wrote: Javascript: The Definitive Guide
Javascript: The Definitive Guide (Sixth Edition) is an excellent addition to the bookshelf of anyone who deals with Javascript on a regular basis. Those having some prior exposure to Javascript should gain useful insights into the language while reading this book. At over 1000 pages, the author has space and… Full Review >
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John's rating:
4.0
On Apr 18, 2011 John Brady wrote: Asterisk: The Definitive Guide
Asterisk: The Definitive Guide is a solid text with good information for users and potential users of the Asterisk software. While the preface indicates that the book takes a gentle approach to the Asterisk novice, the experience will be better if the reader is familiar with telephony terminology at a… Full Review >
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Replication, Clustering, and Administration
John's rating:
4.0
On Apr 14, 2011 John Brady wrote: Scaling CouchDB
Scaling CouchDB is a relatively short book (ebook version is about 58 pages) containing performance tips, descriptions of external tools which can be used in front of CouchDB to enhance load handling, and some short code examples. The text is terse, bordering on skeletal. This can be a plus, if… Full Review >
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John's rating:
4.0
On Apr 12, 2011 John Brady wrote: Microsoft Sharepoint Foundation 2010 Step by Step
Microsoft Sharepoint Foundation 2010 Step by Step is a typical entry in the Microsoft Step-by-Step series, a great guide for the novice who enjoys literal, step-by-step instruction. The book is less suitable for more advanced users or as a reference. To follow along with the exercises, access to a Sharepoint… Full Review >
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John's rating:
4.0
On Apr 6, 2011 John Brady wrote: Successful Project Management: Applying Best Practices and Real-World Techniques with Microsoft� Project
Successful Project Management: Applying Best Practices and Real-World Techniques with Microsoft Project has a slightly misleading title – you won’t really see MS Project used until chapter 4. This book is really about translating the Project Management Institute (PMI) methodology into a format which can be readily understood, with the… Full Review >
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Proven Recipes for Data Analysis, Statistics, and Graphics
John's rating:
5.0
On Apr 6, 2011 John Brady wrote: R Cookbook
The R Cookbook should be on your bookshelf if you work with R. The book is as self-described, a collection of tasks and how to accomplish those tasks in R (recipes). This is not a tutorial on language, but is definitely recommended for novices. Full Review >
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A Beginner's Guide
John's rating:
3.0
On Apr 5, 2011 John Brady wrote: Learn You a Haskell for Great Good
Learn You a Haskell for Great Good is aimed at programmers who have experience with other, imperative languages. The book starts out with a strong introduction, including an exhortation to “stick with it” if you find Haskell a rough learning experience. Your mileage may vary, but I understand why that… Full Review >
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John's rating:
4.0
On Apr 3, 2011 John Brady wrote: Programming Microsoft� ASP.NET 4
Programming Microsoft ASP.NET 4 is a well-written guide to the architecture and implementation of Microsoft’s ASP.NET platform. It would be most useful to experienced ASP.NET developers as it does not cover the basics of ASP.NET, and does require the use of a modern Microsoft operating system (Windows 7, etc) to… Full Review >
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A Case Study in Real-World Data Analysis
John's rating:
4.0
On Mar 29, 2011 John Brady wrote: Data Mashups in R
Data Mashups in R describes the use of the R language to create a “spatial mashup”, plotting foreclosure data on a map image after downloading and manipulating the underlying data. It presents a number of techniques that could be used in typical data analysis scenarios and examples of R packages… Full Review >
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A Playbook for Innovators, Rulebreakers, and Changemakers
John's rating:
4.0
On Mar 26, 2011 John Brady wrote: Gamestorming
Gamestorming is a book that I expected to hate. After a few experiences of poorly-run “games” in the corporate environment, the thought of forced interaction like this is a definite negative. With that in mind, I started to skim the book and was impressed by the authors breakdown of the… Full Review >
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Survive your Success
John's rating:
4.0
On Mar 14, 2011 John Brady wrote: Programming Amazon EC2
Programming Amazon EC2 is a hands-on guide to use of Amazon’s cloud platform, with a focus on showing the reader how to approach the various components of the EC2 ecosystem. The authors state early on that the goal is to give the reader “a sense of all AWS functionality”, so… Full Review >
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John's rating:
5.0
On Mar 4, 2011 John Brady wrote: Strata Conference 2011: Complete Video Compilation
The Strata Conference 2011: Complete Video Compilation presents almost fifty-three hours of video from the O’Reilly Strata Conference recently held in Silicon Valley (February 2011). While the price point is quite high (around $400), it’s a great value, and a good option for those who have an interest in data… Full Review >
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A Guide to Public Data
John's rating:
3.0
On Mar 1, 2011 John Brady wrote: Data Source Handbook
The Data Source Handbook is a *very* short book with ideas for using APIs to extract data from various web sites. This is definitely a book for developers only, as a knowledge of JSON, XML, scripting languages and utilities like curl are assumed. While reading through the book generated some… Full Review >
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John's rating:
4.0
On Mar 1, 2011 John Brady wrote: HTML5 Step by Step
HTML5 Step by Step is a good introduction to HTML for the complete novice. “Step by Step” is literally the approach taken in the book, with explicit instructions for each action to be taken. I would not hesitate to recommend this as a first text for the business or hobby… Full Review >
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John's rating:
4.0
On Feb 28, 2011 John Brady wrote: Mastering Git Video from O’Reilly
Mastering Git is a video title from O’Reilly which is a good value for developers who are new to Git and can learn well in a classroom-type environment. It would be best if the viewer has had exposure to other types of version-control systems, as that vocabulary and viewpoint is… Full Review >
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John's rating:
3.0
On Feb 20, 2011 John Brady wrote: Cassandra: The Definitive Guide
Cassandra: The Definitive Guide is one of the few in-depth books available on Cassandra at the moment. For that reason, it’s a good purchase in e-book format for those interested in Cassandra, and it provides a decent introduction to the approach to data used in the product. I would not… Full Review >
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A Guide to SQL Usage
John's rating:
3.0
On Feb 18, 2011 John Brady wrote: SQL Pocket Guide 3rd Edition
The SQL Pocket Guide, 3rd Edition is a book that would be most useful to SQL users who need to work in multiple database environments and do not have an internet connection available when creating queries. It’s well-organized by topic and provides working examples where relevant, but I don’t see… Full Review >
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Powerful Object-Oriented Programming
John's rating:
5.0
On Feb 17, 2011 John Brady wrote: Programming Python, 4th Edition
Programming Python, 4th Edition, is an excellent book for intermediate Python users (developers or scripters) who are working primarily with Python 3. The author assumes a knowledge of Python fundamentals and a willingness to consult the available Python documentation. This is not a reference book, but more of an extended… Full Review >
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Excerpts from the R Cookbook
John's rating:
4.0
On Feb 15, 2011 John Brady wrote: Getting Started with R
25 Recipes for Getting Started with R is a collection of short introductory tutorials (“recipes”) derived from the R Cookbook by the same author. The goal is to show the reader how to perform basic tasks in R, a language for statistical analysis. Starting with the obligatory “installing R”, the… Full Review >
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A Brain-Friendly Guide
John's rating:
5.0
On Feb 12, 2011 John Brady wrote: Head First Python Review
Head First Python is an introduction to the Python language for programmers with a background in other languages. By the end of the first chapter, you’ll have experienced lists, functions and iteration, while moving forward at a comfortable pace. You will not find detailed API descriptions and edge case discussions,… Full Review >
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Analyzing Text with the Natural Language Toolkit
John's rating:
3.0
On Jan 17, 2011 John Brady wrote: Natural Language Processing with Python
Natural Language Processing with Python is an extended tutorial using the Natural Language Toolkit (NLTK) Python library to explore Natural Language Processing (NLP) concepts. It’s probably best suited for readers who already have a background in NLP but who want to learn Python/NLTK; approaching the text as an experienced programmer… Full Review >
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A learner's guide to programming using the Python language
John's rating:
4.0
On Jan 9, 2011 John Brady wrote: Head First Programming
Head First Programming by David Griffiths and Paul Barry is an introduction to programming using the Python language. This book would be a good choice for someone new to writing code who learns best by example; Griffiths et al don’t spend any time on tedious discussions of language elements and… Full Review >
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John's rating:
3.0
On Jan 3, 2011 John Brady wrote: The Productive Programmer by Neal Ford
The Productive Programmer targets the developer audience, with the stated goal of discovering patterns and practices which make a developer more efficient. If you are not a developer, this is not the book you’re seeking. The first section of the book, which I found to be of greatest value, is… Full Review >
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A Hands-On Guide for Programmers and Data Scientists
John's rating:
4.0
On Jan 2, 2011 John Brady wrote: Data Analysis with Open Source Tools By Philipp K. Janert
Data Analysis with Open Source Tools is an excellent book for experienced analysts of data. The author is obviously enthusiastic about his topic and presents the information in a lucid, readable format. The book is not, however, a cookbook, or step-by-step guide to using a tool or suite for delving… Full Review >
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