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Originally submitted at O'Reilly

The Canvas element is a revolutionary feature of HTML5 that enables powerful graphics for rich Internet applications, and this pocket reference provides the essentials you need to put this element to work. If you have a working knowledge of JavaScript, this book will help you create detailed, in...

Canvas Pocket Reference

Great Quick Reference for Designers

Pros: Concise, Accurate, Well-written, Easy to understand, Helpful examples

Best Uses: Expert, Intermediate, Student

Describe Yourself: Designer, Developer

I picked up the 'Canvas - Pocket Reference' book by David Flanagan the other day, and went through it to see if I could get a better grasp on the new 'canvas' element featured in HTML5. Within a couple of hours of coding on my computer, I had a great grasp of the basics. It doesn't take a great deal of JavaScript knowledge to get a great deal out of this book. David lays out several very useful examples, and he provides a basic tutorial to what seems to be a ton of attributes and features of the element. It was a quick read, very interesting and to the point. I now feel that I have a great grasp on the new 'canvas' element, and I have already used it in a couple of projects. This book is a great book for designers who are looking for that edge on new technology.

(legalese)

Originally submitted at O'Reilly

The growing popularity of Apache Cassandra rests on this database’s ability to handle very large data sets that include hundreds of terabytes. This hands-on guide provides the details and practical examples you need to understand Cassandra’s non-relational database design and how to ...

Cassandra: The Definitive Guide

Wrapping my mind around Cassandra

Pros: Helpful examples, Accurate, Well-written, Easy to understand

Best Uses: Expert, Student, Intermediate

Describe Yourself: Designer, Developer

This book covers a complex topic for me. A developer/designer by trade, I usually work with database managers when I have a site that is data heavy. I read a little about this book and what Cassandra is, and thought I would try to wrap my mind around it, especially since I am always interested in emerging technology. 'Cassandra - The Definitive Guide' delivered. It is definitely a complex topic, but the author, Eben Hewitt, went to great lengths to simplify topics, and explain them in detail. He brings you into the world of Cassandra by first explaining some of the history of data and databases, and believe it or not, made it a very interesting read. There are hands on exercises in the book that are not too difficult to follow, but, I would not recommend them for the novice. I now have a much better understanding of where data in the world of social networking is headed. Thanks Eben.

(legalese)

Originally submitted at O'Reilly

Learn Adobe Flex 4 in a fun and engaging way with this book's unique, hands-on approach. Using clear examples and step-by-step instructions, you'll create four applications that demonstrate fundamental Flex programming concepts, including how to enhance user interaction with ActionScript...

Learning Flex 4

Very hands-on

Pros: Well-written, Easy to understand, Helpful examples, Concise, Accurate

Best Uses: Intermediate, Student, Novice

Describe Yourself: Designer, Developer

I have used Flex for some time now, and this book opened my eyes to a whole new side of Flex. It is full of tips and tricks that have increased my productivity, shown me some real world examples that have broadened my horizons, and helped me to understand object-oriented programming concepts much better. Even if you are not an advanced user, this book has great hands-on exercises that will help you understand the basics of Flex and bring you to the next level. Also, this book introduces you to some great free tools to use to create your FXG graphics online.

(legalese)

Originally submitted at O'Reilly

Faced with a software project of epic proportions? Tired of over-committing and under-delivering? Enter the dojo of the agile samurai, where agile expert Jonathan Rasmusson shows you how to kick-start, execute, and deliver your agile projects. Combining cutting-edge tools with classic agile prac...

The Agile Samurai

Great for novice and expert alike

Pros: Accurate, Easy to understand, Well-written, Concise, Helpful examples

Best Uses: Novice, Intermediate, Student, Expert

Describe Yourself: Developer, Designer

The Agile Samurai is an easy read, and great for someone like me who has dabbled in agile development, but never really 'got it'. This book gathers all of the key elements of agile development, and explains it in terms that most anyone will understand. I really like how the author adds real scenarios and some humor to keep it very entertaining. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand Agile development on a new level. Even if you already use agile development in your software design, this book will help you understand and use the tools available to you on a new level. It is a great reference and has added another toolkit to my growing set of development tools.

(legalese)