Amazon.com Review
With complete coverage of Extensible Markup Language (XML) and a focus on compatibility with the Java programming language tools, Building XML Applications by Simon St. Laurent and Ethan Cerami is a fitting choice for Java/XML developers.

Building XML Applications covers XML and its relationship to SGML and HTML (its Web markup language relatives). The book explores the power of XML as it relates to other key technologies, including relational databases, file systems, and object databases. Also illustrated is the symbiotic relationship XML will have with various information infrastructures.

This XML guide presents a step-by-step introduction to XML syntax. Well-formed documents are discussed in depth, and the guide explores available tools for helping you create Document Type Definitions (DTDs). It's rare to find an XML book that covers cascading style sheets (CSS), and Web developers will benefit from coverage of the competing document style models--the more established CSS and the lesser used eXtensible Style Language (XSL)--as the transition from CSS to XSL becomes more likely to occur.

There are generous sections on XML parsers with complete coverage of the /ELFRED and Microsoft parsers, as well as the Simple API for XML (SAX). Six real-world examples are provided, making this book appropriate for budding XML coders using both Java applets and full applications. With a good balance of foundational material and sample code, this title offers a well-rounded introduction to Java/XML application development. --Stephen W. Plain