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"Mastering TypoScript" by Daniel Koch

Buy this book from Amazon UK or Amazon DE (gives me couple of cents if you buy through this web site)

TYPO3 is known to be a complex system with a steep learning curve. Unlike many systems, TYPO3 has prety good documentation and references written and supported core team. However some of these tutorials are not up to date and they often tell about a single aspect of the system, thus not suitable as a guide to novice users.

Fortunately, books about TYPO3 started to appear on the market. Currently there are two book in English. Both were published by Packt Publishing. Packt Publishing specializes in computer books written for users by gurus of the corresponding system. The book I am going to review here was written by an active member of TYPO3 community - by Daniel Koch.

The book is named "Mastering TypoScript: TYPO3 Website, Template, and Extension development" and available for approximately 37 euro from Packt Publishing web site. It is possible also to buy printable electronic version of the book in PDF format for the same price. I got a paper copy.

The very first thing that I have to tell about this book is that its title is a bit misleading. Do not think that book is bad! Even though that title says "Mastering TypoScript", the book in fact takes novice user and carefully guides it through the whole process of web site creation using TYPO3. It starts from basics, shows how to create famous "Hello, world!" web site easily explaining how TypoScript is structured. Actually I was surprised how easy Daniel can explain complex things!

After explaining basics and demonstrating simplest possible templates, book go to concept known as MTB explaining markers and automaketemplate extension and again Daniel does it much simpler than it is done in TYPO3 tutorials! But he does not loose any important details.

This book also surprised me by explanation of TemplaVoila. Though many people these days prefer TemplaVoila, it is not properly documented yet and it is hard to find information about using it (except obsolete FTB tutorial). Daniel introduces TemplaVoila in the same way as other concepts: easy but with all important details.

Book also explains TSConfig, which is very good in my opinion. TSConfig power is often underestimated by a typical TYPO3 user. Daniel's explanation will help users to understand how to use TSConfig effectively.

Last part of the book contains almost complete reference to TypoScript. Unfortunatly, Danial did not include explanation of "getData" - one of the most powerful features of TypoScript. But it is well documented in TSRef TYPO3 document, so not a big loss.

I like this book very much. This is the best explanation of complex TYPO3 concepts I ever saw. Excellent resource for both novice and experienced users.

The only thing that spoiled a bit my impression, were typos in the book. There are not many of them and they are typically appear in TypoScript examples. Experienced user will see them immediately (for example, he will understand that "page.typoeNum" is actually "page.typeNum") but novice users may get into little trouble if they are too lazy to check syntax with TSRef.

But these typos are the only bad thing in this book. Otherwise it is just excellent! I expected boring book (more like TSRef) but got an excellent "schoolbook" that I, TYPO3 core developer, read with great pleasure. I even though that having this book several years ago could save me many months of errors and make my TYPO3 learning curve much more straight.

Thanks for this book, Daniel! Thanks for publish it, Packt Publishing!

Buy this book from Amazon UK or Amazon DE (gives me couple of cents if you buy through this web site)