Pro PHP XML and Web Services
By: Robert Richards
Published by Apress
I got this book because I consider myself a "specialist" in the area of Web Services. I've been studying and practicing all the various aspects of web service development for almost 3 years now and this is the first book I've found that does more than skim the surface.
By : Nathan Daniel
First up - the title; Pro PHP XML and Web Services. Honestly, I think you could split this book into two different books: (1) XML 101. (2)PHP Web Services. Beyond the two major sections of the book, the second half (Web Services) can be further split into two more pieces, XML Processing/Reading, XML Generation (or the specs on different API systems, such as XML-RPC, SOAP, etc.).
The first half of the book gives enormous detail on XML. In depth history, how to's, tons of code examples, overall giving me the feeling that I was reading a book on XML having nothing to do with PHP! The depth into which XML is explained is enough reason to pick this book up.
The focus is then shifted from straight XML to how to work with XML in PHP. It covers how to get PHP5 up and working to be able to parse, generate and do whatever you please with XML. It also covers XML validation and has an entire chapter dedicated to XML security.
In depth detail is given to the new PHP5 DOM, and various other XML parsing options. Given all the parsing options, there's even information (a chapter's worth) outlining the efficiency of each, where and when to use these parsers for maximum optimization. Ending this portion of the book is a chapter on XML and PEAR.
Once you get through the XML portion, and the parsing and generating portions of the book, you finally reach the actual web services portion. This section covers RSS/Atom feeds, what they are, how to use them, how to build them. There are also chapters covering WDDX, XML-RPC, REST, SOAP, UDDI, and Web Services built with PEAR (including but not limited to: Amazon, Google, and Yahoo - brief, but discusses how to get started).
The book ends with an array of various other technologies which can be utilized using XML and PHP (XMLWriter for PHP5 and AJAX to name a few).
Following the "written" portion of the book, the Appendix supplements as a nearly complete reference manual for everything mentioned throughout the book so even advanced developers would find at least this section useful. It also includes a section on XML and PHP6 for anyone who may already be looking to go there.
Overall, I would give this book a 9 out of 10. My only drawback is I'm a PHP4 guy still - yet to make the move to PHP5. Understandably, most PHP books are now using PHP5 and, this one is no exception.
If you've yet to migrate to PHP5 but want a good book on XML, I still suggest this one! If you've already migrated to PHP5 and are even thinking about XML anything, then you should definately consider adding this book to your library.
| DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware. |
More PHP Book Reviews Articles
More By Codewalkers
developerWorks - FREE Tools! |
Join this Rational Talks to You teleconference, featuring Paul Boustany and Mark Krasovich, to speak to the experts about becoming a Rational ClearCase power user. Get a chance to ask your questions and learn tips and tricks for using Rational ClearCase in Agile development FREE! Go There Now!
|
|
|
|
You probably have thousands of lines of COBOL code loaded with business intelligence and being used to run your business, along with an army of developers maintaining these applications. Learn how to prepare your applications and developers so you can keep that competitive edge and move to a service-oriented architecture with the IBM Rational Enterprise Modernization solutions. Replay is available for 9 months. FREE! Go There Now!
|
|
|
|
Download a free trial version of IBM Rational Developer for System i V7.1, which provides a complete development environment for traditional i5/OS application development. IBM Rational Developer for System i is a new eclipse-based workstation offering for i5/OS application development that provides a comprehensive Integrated Development Environment for edit/compile/debug of traditional RPG/COBOL/C/C++ i5/OS applications. FREE! Go There Now!
|
|
|
|
Manage, govern, and share services across your organization by using WebSphere Service Registry and Repository. Follow the hands-on exercises to learn how to navigate the Web interface to publish, find, reuse, and update services. FREE! Go There Now!
|
|
|
|
IBM Enterprise Modernization solutions help organizations evolve core IT systems towards modern architectures and technologies—reducing the burden of maintenance and freeing up resources to develop new business requirements and capabilities. With the IBM Enterprise Modernization Sandbox for System z you can evaluate IBM Enterprise Modernization solutions focused on five key areas: Assets, Architectures, Skills, Processes and Infrastructures, and Investment. Each solution is based upon real customer experiences and offers a proven path to get you started with your modernization projects. FREE! Go There Now!
|
|
|
|
XML has become a common way of storing business data as flat files and many data server vendors including IBM have provided ways to store this data within relational database systems. Increasingly collections of XML files are accessed like databases using an xQuery and other XML standard mechanisms. Businesses find the need to combine the traditional tabular structured data with XML formatted data. In this webcast, you’ll learn about IBM’s WebSphere Federation Server technology, which provides users with the ability to integrate these two data formats. FREE! Go There Now!
|
|
|
|
Because access to government information continues to be an area of concern for many U.S. citizens with disabilities, the U.S. government enacted Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act in 2001 to ensure that government agencies create accessible Web content, enabling all citizens to access the information they need. A fully accessible Web site makes Web content accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities, who may be accessing Web content via a variety of user agents. Common user agents include standard Web browsers, text-only browsers, assistive devices and mobile devices such as cell phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs). FREE! Go There Now!
|
|
|
|
This paper is about the critical role that a discipline called integrated requirements management can play in helping to ensure that your business goals and IT investments are continuously aligned—whether you are sourcing, integrating, building or maintaining software. It also looks at ways that automated IBM Rational® products can work together to help you use requirements in the very best way. FREE! Go There Now!
|
|
|
|
You can now evaluate IBM Rational Asset Manager V7.0 online without installing or configuring it on your own system! Rational Asset Manager helps create, modify, govern, find, and reuse any type of development assets, including SOA and systems development assets. Rational Asset Manager helps you reduce software development costs and improve quality by facilitating the reuse of all types of software development-related assets. Visit developerWorks to learn more about this product and register to explore its capabilities online. FREE! Go There Now!
|
|
|
|
The unprecedented scope of a service-oriented architecture (SOA) initiative brings to the forefront a number of management and governance issues that were sidestepped in the past. The key to a successful SOA implementation is managing and governing activities throughout the entire SOA delivery lifecycle by ensuring that services conform to the needs of all of the business’s stakeholders. Learn how service lifecycle management allows the business to ensure that the process by which services are defined, created, tested, deployed, optimized and retired is manageable, repeatable and auditable. FREE! Go There Now!
|
|
|
|
All FREE IBM® developerWorks Tools! |