Since 2006 I have concentrated purely on my writing, and nowadays I have settled on book writing in preference to magazine articles, since they give me an opportunity to properly explain a subject in detail – whereas articles can only ever be a tiny snippet of information tightly compressed into an easily digestible chunk, with large articles usually being serialized rather than published in full.
To date I have written over 500 articles and 8 books. So far my writing has been about computing but I have now branched out into motivational and inspirational books, starting with Creative Visualization For Dummies, which is out now, and to be followed by Yes, I Can! in May 2012. Below are some of my most recently published and forthcoming books.
Creative Visualization For Dummies
This is the first of my motivational and self-help books. It includes dozens of useful exercises and handy tips you can practice to make real and positive changes in your life.
Creative Visualization For Dummies will provide you with the practical tools you need to pinpoint your goals and achieve what you want from your life. From becoming more assertive and self confident, to increasing energy levels and creativity, this book will take you through your own voyage of self fulfilment.
Whether you want to find a new direction, start making your own luck, or simply enhance your self belief, the visualization techniques and exercises will help you understand the powerful mind/body connection and use psychological approaches to take real steps towards happiness and success. Creative Visualization For Dummies:
- Helps you to overcome bad habits, fears and phobias
- Explains the correct body language to use for any situation
- Helps you find your mind–body connection
- Features information on how to relax and help find patience in difficult situations
- Covers the topic of confidence and how to become more motivated
- Offers psychological approaches that allow you to take real steps towards success and happiness
Robin Nixon’s HTML5 Crash Course
Whether you are a professional or amateur web developer you need all the HTML5 tools in your kit, and this book from the author of the best-selling Learning PHP, MySQL & JavaSript, is the fastest and easiest way there is to learn HTML5.
HTML5 is the future of HTML and all developers need to get up-to-speed with what it offers, including audio and video, without using a plug-in, and a canvas area with professional tools for creating paths, lines, curves, shapes, fills, gradients, patterns, text and more.
Robin Nixon’s HTML5 Crash Course also provides information on using geolocation, background web workers, offline web applications, microdata, a local storage engine and many other improvements to standard HTML, such as dozens of new form tags and attributes:
- Each Lecture begins by listing the three key skills you will learn
- A summary at the end of each lecture reminds you what you have learned
- Useful, fully-tested examples illustrate every tag, attribute and function
- Each lecture features several notes providing extra, handy advice
- The examples can all be downloaded from the companion website
HTML5 for iOS and Android
This book brings together HTML5 and CSS3 (along with several other main web technologies) and shows you how to use them to create web apps and standalone apps for Apple iOS and Google Android devices.
The book leads you from the first steps of creating a Web page, through styling it with CSS, and then giving it dynamic interactivity with JavaScript. You’ll also learn how to use PHP and MySQL for providing the server side of Ajax communication with your apps, and a comprehensive crash course is provided for each.
HTML5 for iOS and Android serves as a one-stop guide and reference, providing all the information required to develop useable mobile apps and websites from scratch. It features covered include offline support, canvas, video, advanced forms, geolocation and more:
- Explains both basic HTML and HTML5
- Covers Apple iPhone/iPad and Google Android platforms
- Shows how to create websites, web apps, and standalone apps
- Contains a full JavaScript tutorial, with particular reference to using it on mobile and touch devices
- Includes a guide to using CSS in a mobile environment, and covers all the latest CSS3 features
- Provides detailed illustrations of every step of each process
- Explains in depth how to use the HTML5 canvas
- Details using HTML5 audio and video
- The techniques discussed can also be applied to desktop as well as mobile devices
- All examples are available on the companion website
Plug-in CSS
This is the third book in my series of Plug-in titles. It provides 100 ready-to-run CSS plug-ins you can use to create dynamic Web content.
Plug-in CSS is filled with with ready-to-use CSS and HTML solutions for creating dynamic websites. Make your website look great with custom fonts, animated menu systems, individually styled forms, and other effects, all by dropping in ready-made CSS rules.
This practical guide takes you through each example step by step so there’s no need to look up anything elsewhere. Every solution is complete and applicable immediately. The book can be dipped into as required with each chapter being self contained, providing features such as:
- Precise object positioning
- Applying colors, gradients, shadows borders and transparency
- Easy handling of margins and padding
- Managing fonts, styles, alignment, drop caps, columns, indents and size, including Google’s web fonts
- Creating great looking buttons, menus, dockbars and tooltips
- Displaying boxouts, sidebars, quotes, and star & bar ratings
- Scaling, rotating and animating objects
- Using dynamic classes that take arguments
- Creating fade, glow and other effects
- Combining multiple classes into superclasses
Plug-in JavaScript
This is the second book in my series of Plug-in titles. It provides 100 ready-to-run JavaScript plug-ins you can use to create dynamic Web content.
The book begins by explaining JavaScript, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and the Document Object Model (DOM). Then, each chapter in Plug-In JavaScript offers complete, working examples for specific end results you can achieve right away.
Using these plug-ins, you’ll be able to build JavaScript projects quicker and easier than ever, as many complex tasks are reduced to a single function call. With these plug-ins you’ll be able to:
- Resize and reposition objects
- Fade between objects
- Create movement and animation
- Chain plug-ins and offer interaction
- Build menus and navigation
- Put together amazing text effects
- Play audio and visual effects
- Manage cookies, Ajax, and security
- Produce forms and validate them
- Much, much more…
Ubuntu: Up and Running
Ubuntu is an operating system for everyone, from people with little technical background up to advanced hackers. It’s simple to install, and easy to use – but with a strong focus on security.
In my book Ubuntu: Up and Running I show you the ins and outs of the system, and provide a complete hands-on tour. In it you’ll learn how Ubuntu works, how to quickly configure and maintain Ubuntu 10.04, and how to use this unique operating system for networking, business, and home entertainment.
The book includes a DVD with the complete Ubuntu system and several specialized editions – including the Mythbuntu multimedia release. In this book you will learn how to:Choose among three desktop environments: GNOME, KDE, or XFCE
- Connect printers, sound cards, cameras, webcams, and iPhones
- Use the Linux filesystem with either the desktop or the command line
- Utilize networking functions, such as file and folder sharing and Internet access
- Operate the OpenOffice.org business productivity suite
- Use WINE to run Windows programs
- Implement upgrades quickly and easily
- Download and install other great software for Linux
- Do much, much more…
Plug-in PHP
The first in my Plug-in series of titles, this practical guide gives you 100 ready-to-run PHP functions for solving most of the main problems you encounter when building a dynamic website with PHP.
Every plug-in in the book offers a complete and working solution for a result you can achieve right away, using ready-made code you simply drop into your own program. And there’s little or no learning curve, because each one is self-contained and thoroughly documented.
Plug-in PHP is packed with programming tips and suggestions for further adapting the functions to your own needs, and even breaks down all the variables, arrays and functions used by each into at-a-glance tables, accompanied by a screen grab of every function in action. Here are some of the types of plug-ins provided:
- Text processing
- Image handling
- Content management
- Forms and user input
- Internet integration
- Chat and messaging
- MySQL, sessions, and cookies
- APIs, RSS, and XML
- JavaScript and Ajax
- Geo-location
- Spelling and language translation
- Much, much more…
Learning PHP, MySQL & JavaScript
My book Learning PHP, MySQL & JavaScript has become an international best seller and is frequently one of the first or second most popular books in its categories on Amazon US, UK and Canada. It also places highly among the English language books in Europe and the Far East.
So I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped create the book and also to everyone who has bought a copy. If you haven’t read it Learning PHP, MySQL & JavaScript is aimed at beginners to web development and takes you through from the first principles all the way up to creating advanced websites such as social networks.
But don’t just take my word for it; here’s a selection of quotes from the many, many positive reviews that people have been kind enough to write about the book:”All the code examples actually work… The explanations are excellent… Wow can this person communicate… This book is a godsend.” – farout, Amazon US
- “This is a superb start for learning the ins and outs of PHP, MySQL and Javascript.” – Jonny IT Guy, Amazon UK
- “I’m loving it so much as I go through it… it focuses on combining all three [technologies] and talks about real-world situations.” – Running Bill, Amazon US
- “Don’t waste your time, just get this book, and especially if you are a college student… this book will work like a miracle for you.” – Abdul Khan, Amazon Canada
- “I highly recommend this book to anybody wanting to create a highly functional website. After spending about 2 weeks with it, I am already building dynamic websites that are impressing even myself. Five stars without quesion.” – Ryan Miller, Amazon US
- “I can happily say this book was excellent without a doubt. It was very easy to understand and detailed at the same time. It is a perfect book for anyone who want to learn PHP, MySQL & JavaScript.” – Omar Venture, Amazon UK
- “This follow-up to O’Reilly’s Learning PHP & MySQL is an enormous improvement over its predecessors.” – Derek DeHart, Amazon US
- “This book creates a remarkable way to enter the three technologies used.” – Butterfinger, Amazon Germany
- “This is one of the best books I have read on the subjects and I am always using it for quick refernce when coding.” – metallicrazy, Amazon UK
- “It introduces you programming like no other book I’ve read before. Trust me, I’ve tried to learn from tutorials, websites and books that focus on just a single technology and none comes close to helping me learn.” – R. Chou, Amazon US
- “I have spent lots of time with this book and have learned a lot from it. I have looked into several of the coding examples, and all of the ones I looked into worked. In addition to the great content, I also appreciated the crisp and clear presentational style, and do not hesitate to recommend it to others!” – Nekkid Blogger, NekkidBlogger Bookblog
- “The book is written well, to the point and lists some important basics. I decided to keep it even after I’m done with the class and use it as a reference book.” – Ellie, Amazon US
- “I loved it. It explains things clearly and really helped me to understand. This is the one book that really helped me get to grips with PHP and MySQL.” – A. Collins, Amazon UK
- “I would recommend anyone who is thinking of learning these core web languages to pick this book up. Its a great investment and mine is all ready getting plenty of use.” – Jordan Wiedsbusch, Amazon US
- “I could read it from beginning to end as easily you read a novel and I could run all the examples. I now feel confident to enter the field, new to me, of Web programming. Definitively, a great book!” – Meaulnes, O’Reilly Website
- “I would highly recommend this book to a beginner!” – N. Karpen, Amazon US
- “The author’s writing ability is amazing.” – Angelo, Amazon US
- “The things you need to be a great PHP web-developer are experience in HTML+CSS, a great idea, and this book.” – Adrian Von Gegerfelt, Amazon UK
- “I recommend this book to anyone that is new to PHP programming that is experienced in other programming language.” – Chen Tishler, Amazon US
- “This is textbook-worthy: A great book, and broadly applicable.” – Ethan, O’Reilly Website
- “It is exactly what I was looking for.” – Kailua Sam, Amazon US
- “My sincere thanks and praise to the author of the book for a job well done.” – E. Volf, Amazon US
- “The book is an excellent one on PHP and MYSQL. The good thing is that the examples are simple and easy to understand and follow. I recommend this book to any one willing to learning PHP and MYSQL.” – Leonard O. Anukam, Amazon UK
- “This is one of the best books I have ever read as far as how much information it contains and readability. Absolutely the best book for getting started in PHP, MySQL and JavaScript. I will be keeping this book and using it for reference for quite a while. Very highly recommended.” – AKZ, Amazon US
- “I’ve been teaching many people how to write PHP code and I have to say that this is one PHP book that is a great reference for learning PHP. O’Reilly did a nice job with this one!” – Tom, Amazon US
- “Great examples, builds logically… a great resource… Great communication skills. Great book thanks!” – Robin L. Sharpton, Amazon US
- “I have bought many computer books, and this is one of the best I have read.” - S. McPherson, Amazon US
- “This book is perfect. It has excellent examples that get you comfortable with the core behaviors of each technology.” – Billy the Kid, O’Reilly Website
- “Simple. Accessible. Well organized. Don’t need to know how to program to get rolling.” – A-ron, goodreads.com
- “This book is a pleasure to read. After an easy setup, I found all the examples easy to use and comprehend.” – James McLeod, Amazon US
- “After the first chapter of introducing terms; I knew that I had to purchase this book. So of course I did what was right and promptly purchased it.” – Graysen, Greysen Oh’s Blog
- “Reading through this book and doing the examples simultaneously made learning fast and easy. The writing style is easy to understand and topics are repeated enough to refresh your memory through the chapters. I strongly recommend this book!” – Preston J. Frazier, Amazon US
- “Learning PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript is a worthy effort on both Nixon’s and O’Reilly’s part, to introduce the programming and database neophyte into the world of dynamic website design.” – James Pyles, A Million Chimpanzees Blog
- “It’s a great introduction to the web technologies necessary to make a Web 2.0 site. The author has a great writing style for this kind of book – he is engaging and knowledgeable… A fine addition to the stellar O’Reilly series!” – Lucas Jarmin, Amazon US
- “The book is an excellent one on PHP and MYSQL. The good thing is that the examples are simple and easy to understand and follow. I recommend this book to any one willing to learning PHP and MYSQL.” – Leonard Anukam, Amazon UK
- “Excellent! Easy to read, straightforward guide. Already learned several very useful things.” – Holly, goodreads.com
- “Finally a comprehensive resource for HTML users who want to move to the next level, and implement data-driven access to their websites. The author provides clear instructions for applying PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript to make data dynamically available to site visitors and allow for meaningful user interaction.” – Michael L. Kleper, The Kleper Report
- “This book is a nice combination of all three applications. One of the better ones I’ve seen for this software.” – Dennis Blanchard, goodreads.com
