Packt Publishing has been rolling out tons of programming and technical computer “cookbooks” for quite some time now – readers can now learn about Python and the GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) from some of its publications.

Last week, its IBM DB2 9.7 Advanced Application Developer Cookbook hit the shelves, providing an in-depth manual and set of guidelines for the aspiring database developer. Creating applications that work with mass amounts of critical, and sometimes personal or confidential, information certainly isn't a light task.

The developers need to learn proper syntax and semantics of database programming – there's not a whole lot of room for error in this line of work, to say the least.

The average Joe obviously wouldn't do a great job at writing about something so technical, and that's why Packt relies on a team of advanced and experienced programmers. In fact, it's the only publisher IBM trusts in explaining its DB2 technologies. 

Authors of the book, Sanjay Kumar (News - Alert) and Mohankumar Saraswatipura, are both experts in the field of DB2 Database Administration – each with certification from IBM and years of experience under their belts.

The IBM (News - Alert) DB2 Cookbook ventures deep into the complex, essential areas of DB2 9.7, touching on high availability, resiliency and pureXML enhancements. Integration of Oracle (News - Alert) applications is also dissected and explained as a means of setting up an open source security solution on such database systems.

So many programming books are written with such confusing, unrealistic and just downright bland syntax. That doesn't really keep the reader motivated to continue his or her journey through the world of application development – which definitely isn't a short trip, no matter what language they're learning.

Packt, however, is known for putting out interesting and informative guides to learning virtually every different language, which is a pretty important characteristic to have when presenting something as complex and alien as programming.

The IBM DB2 9.7 Advanced Application Developer Cookbook is available in both eBook and hard-copy.

Edited by Braden Becker