SMB IT | Curtis Franklin » Book Review: Get Ready for Monad

February 21, 2006 | Comments: (0)

Book Review: Get Ready for Monad

TAGS: Book Reviews

O'Reilly was kind enough to send me a review copy of Monad by Andy Oakley. (Who I'm dying to ask whether the kids called him Annie Oakley in school--and before y'all start flaming, read my name. I could form a teenage-based misanthrope support group.) You can also check it out on Amazon.

The first thing you notice about the book is the giant bullfrog on the cover. If you're drinking scotch when you first see this, it's likely to delay you're actually opening the book as you contemplate what connection there is between a bullfrog and a command line scripting language.

But when you pry open your hangover-encrusted eyes the following morning and crack the cover because it's too painful to do anything else, you'll get a pretty good primer on the Monad command shell.

An important note, however: This is not Monad for Complete Beginning Monkey Brains Who've Never Scripted Anything. Mr. Oakley does assume you're competent with Windows scripting syntax prior to reading his work--which is why he can fit it into such an easily digestible format. On the upside, you don't need to be a scripting wizard, just don't be clueless. I script something once a year--tops--and I had no trouble following along.

I wish there had been more examples of how to use Monad with all the new Monad-supporting server products (like ISA 2006, Exchange 12, etc.), but since Microsoft hasn't released any of those products yet, you can't fault Oakley for that. Probably look for that in the 2nd edition.

Meantime: If you're a semi-experienced Windows scripter looking to get ready for Monad, this is the book for you.

Posted by Oliver Rist on February 21, 2006 08:53 AM

RATE THIS ARTICLE: