A Java geek

This review is about Apache Maven 3 Cookbook from Srirangan from Packt Publishing.

Facts

1. 9 chapters, 208 pages, $35.99
2. This book covers Apache Maven 3

Pros

Each recipe is structured in 3 steps:

1. “Getting ready”
2. “How to do it”
3. “See also” for references on associated recipes

Cons

1. The scope of the book is too large for only 200 pages. It spans from Java to Scala and Groovy through Android, GWT and Flex.
2. Most products installation processes (Sonatype Nexus, Hudson) are documented with a few screenshots. It would have been better to reference the product installation on the Web or to go in detail. In the current state of thing, most readers are left wondering what to do with it.
3. The recipe structure is well adapted for… recipes. When talking about general Maven principles like compiling a project, it feels convoluted and artificial.
4. Writing a whole chapter about native Maven reporting when there’s Sonar? Come on…

Conclusion

I was expecting much from this book, because I’m a daily Maven user and because Maven is regularly misused (see here and here for a start). I’m sorry to say I’m disappointed: there’s not much regarding how to resolve daily Maven problems provided. The concept is a good idea but IMHO the result is a failure.

Disclaimer: I was provided the book freely, courtesy of Packt Publishing

I was contacted last week by Packt Publishing. They made me the following offer: I was to choose the books I wished in their catalog and then write an article for each of them.

I gave this offer much thought and finally said yes on the condition I was to be free to say what I really thought about the book. Since I’m not known for my soft stances on many subjects, I’m really looking forward to write my first article; first, to evaluate the book’s material in itself and second, to see whether Packt will really play the game.

I’m expecting the delivery of 2 books right now:

• Flex 3 with Java
• Apache Maven 2 Effective Implementation

So expect to see these book reviews in a couple of months. I promise to really speak my mind, whether good or bad and to be straight (but fair). Ok, this may sound exaggerated but I’m really serious about it. Since I happened to stumble upon a PDF chapter of the Maven’s book some time back, and found very interesting plugins in it I did not know about, I have very high expectations. I also am currently writing my first Flex front-end so these two themes are dear to me.

I was asked to put free chapters for each book for download so here they are:

If you have something to say about this new orientation, please do so.