Comments about O'Reilly Media Oracle PL/SQL Programming, 5th Edition:

Oh, yes, five stars.

It's main strength is as a tutorial. If you are completely ignorant about a particular area of PL/SQL, this book will bring you up to speed painlessly. Or you can skim it to refresh an area that you have not used for a while.

It complements the Oracle reference material very well and explains "why" as well as "how".

The main author, Steven Feurerstein, is particularly keen to demonstrate how to build code that is easy to maintain. He continually emphasises the advantages of good programming practice over "quick and dirty" solutions, which still plague the IT industry.

This is a great book to prepare for the Oracle PL/SQL certification exam 1Z0-144 (Program with PL/SQL). It will over-prepare you so that you can nail it. Steven's code style fits in with the code examples that you will see in the Oracle exam, so you will feel well at home there. His philosophy about "what are the advantages of so-and-so", which can be debatable, also fit in with what you will be asked in the exam.

This book also covers the bulk of the subjects for the Oracle 1Z0-146 Exam (Advanced PL/SQL). However, two key chapters for this exam are not actually in the book. You can register your book to see the extra chapters on the web. They are Chapter 27 (Calling Java from PL/SQL) and Chapter 28 (External Procedures).

On the down-side, it is a long book, sometimes needlessly so. For instance the chapter on Collections seemed to duplicate itself a lot. Perhaps it suffers from being added-to for new releases of Oracle rather than being re-written. A bit like what happens to our PL/SQL code over time.

Comments about O'Reilly Media Oracle PL/SQL Programming, 5th Edition:

This is well done written book with many comprehensive example and you could use extra stuff if you want to dig more in an subject on web site.

- It is a good reference.
- It give a good idea of new feature on latest release.(11g/10g)
- If you remember and use all this technique you will be a good programmer.

There are few small mistakes that should not lost the reader. I tried to point then in Errata section of this web site to have a better 6th edition and may be a better electronic revision.

For Expert: That could remember think we not use often because of the need.

Thank, to have increased my skill.

Comments about O'Reilly Media Oracle PL/SQL Programming, 5th Edition:

I really enjoyed reading this book! It is my main PL/SQL references. I learned good techniques and i already apply that knowledge at work.
I recommend this book especially to beginner and intermediate PL/SQL developers. But experts also can refresh their knowledge and also learn some new features in Oracle 11g PL/SQL.
I've already passed 1Z0-144 Oracle 11g PL/SQL certification exam using this book, now again using this book as a preparation guide to Oracle OCP 1Z0-146 PL/SQL certificatione exam.

Comments about O'Reilly Media Oracle PL/SQL Programming, 5th Edition:

This could be the most comprehensive single volume on PL/SQL available. The coverage of topics is excellent.

When programming in Oracle, it is great to have a single book to turn to when you need help, and the reader can be confident that good practice will be followed. (One of the authors is also the author of "Oracle PL/SQL Best Practices). The book is well organized grouping like topics together, providing lots of examples, providing source code, and links/listings to other resources.

In general, topics covered include the programming environment, control flow, data types, embedding SQL inside PL/SQL, advanced topics, and references.

One compliant would be the ordering of topics in the chapter showing variable binding. The chapter starts out showing non-bound variables (with examples) then later in the chapter shows a better way using bind variables. The problem with this approach is those learning for the first time will get their program going and are reluctant to change once it works. I would much rather see bind variables and security topics presenting with the best way first, then fall back on the less desirable methods in a section that covers "What to do when the best way does not work".

Highly recommended for Oracle programmers and students learning Oracle and/or PL/SQL.

Side note: PL/SQL Best Practices is a good companion to this book.