Re: postgresql book - practical or something newer?

Joshua D. Drake wrote:
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> On Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:53:25 -0500
> Tom Hart <tomhart(at)coopfed(dot)org> wrote:
>
>
>> Hey everybody. I was just informed that our organization has a credit
>> at amazon.com and asked if I had any books I wanted. I've been
>> thinking about getting a postgresql book, and from what I've seen and
>> read Practical PostgreSQL seems to be the standard (as well as
>> co-authored by Joshua Drake, somebody that has helped me many times
>> on this very list) but the fact that it's based on 7.x worries me. I
>> started using postgresql with 8.x on windows and I'm wondering if
>> this book and it's teachings will help me or if I should look at
>> something targeted at 8.x or windows. What do you guys think?
>>
>
> Pratical PostgreSQL is still a good reference but you can use the free
> web version as a reference. It lacks a lot of information that
> is very useful (ex, the books has zero idea of pg_stat_*). The Korry
> Douglas book is still reasonably relevant (as it covers 8) and is also
> a good book.
>
> I find that the best way to get what you need, is to read the fine
> manual from postgresql. Yes, its massive, unwieldy and in a lot of
> ways counter-intuitive (to a newbie) but if you have the terminology
> down you aren't going to find a more comprehensive text.
>
> Plus, when you find things that don't quite make sense you can submit
> a doc patch to make the docs that much better.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> Joshua D. Drake
>
>
>
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>
I've checked out the docs online, and they've helped me a great deal.
I've also read excerpts from the free online version of practical. I'll
stick with my current strategy of online docs/mailing list for now.

BTW, thanks for not completely plugging your book. Have you guys
considered authoring another on 8.x?

--
Tom Hart
IT Specialist
Cooperative Federal
723 Westcott St.
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 471-1116 ext. 202
(315) 476-0567 (fax)