''Guide to the Firebird SQL Database''

By Marina Novikova, 23/10/2003

Marina Novikova: Helen, could you tell us how many pages the book contains?

Helen Borrie: At the moment, about 5000. But the publisher wants about 700 pages. I'm hoping to persuade my editor that we can do without big printing and hectares of white space. There is lots of simple sample code but no screenshots whatsoever, no cartoons. Chapters: 41 (might be 40), Appendices: 14, plus a large glossary.

The title is "Guide to the Firebird SQL Database".

Marina Novikova: Does it tell only about the server side or about client applications too?

Helen Borrie: There is a "Bootcamp" section of four chapters dealing with server-side stuff like installing, configuring the server and network and getting started using isql. There is a group of chapters about Client/server concepts and another group about various aspects of security. The rest of the book is about data objects, transactions and language. It has a number of "Optimization topics" scattered throughout.

All of the stuff in the original outline about developing client applications has gone. The whole book is neutral to the application programming environment - it's a database developer's book: things that matter, regardless of what kind of client you are developing.

Marina Novikova: What part of the book is devoted to the SQL language?

Helen Borrie: Most of it, really, since SQL applies everywhere. However, there is one big group of chapters in the middle of the book that are just about language and logic; and another major section on server-side programming.

Marina Novikova: Are there parts about the internal architecture of DB files?

Helen Borrie: Not explicitly. The space limitations mean that if something isn't of direct practical use, it probably isn't there. Database internals are discussed where they are important for understanding why something works the way it does, but there are no esoteric essays on db internals. I like the idea of my book being one to take to bed for a gripping late-night read, so I'm likely to avoid topics that put the reader to sleep. :-)

Marina Novikova: Can you predict its approx. price and circulation?

Helen Borrie: I have no idea at this stage. At least 20 copies, though - those are the author's copies that are promised in my contract. :-)