Google Hacks 152
| Google Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips and Tools | |
| author | Tara Calishain and Rael Dornfest |
| pages | 318 |
| publisher | O'Reilly |
| rating | Excellent |
| reviewer | Tony Williams |
| ISBN | 0596004478 |
| summary | Excellent compendium of tips and tricks for everyone on using Google and its API |
The book in brief
Google Hacks by Tara Calishain and Rael Dornfest and published by O'Reilly will appeal to an even wider audience, I can imagine buying this for friends who haven't cottoned on to 'net searching at all and friends who complain "Google returns too many sites." People who are afraid to code shouldn't be put off by the "Hacks" in the title: O'Reilly have obviously taken a wider meaning of "hack" than just a neat piece of code. This book is a marvelous compendium of tips and tricks for Google, ranging from simple ways of getting the search results you want, through using Google's newer services such as phone books and image search, all the way to advanced ways of using scrapers and the Google API.The book demonstrates 100 hacks, of which close to half are useful for everyone -- newbie, programmer and non-programmer alike. The first 35 hacks, in chapters one and two, will educate you about the intricacies of getting the best out of searching both Google's main web catalog and the newer 'Special Services and Collections.' This is the part of the book that should be essential reading for Google users -- in the two days I've had this book these have proved invaluable. The rest are for those who are either looking for extremely advanced search tips, increasing their web site's Google page rank, or programming an application to use the Google data -- all topics well covered in this volume.
What's Good In This Book
To start, it is well written, well laid out with a good contents section, good index, and some appropriate introductory material before getting down to the first hack. Each of the hacks are numbered and a single hack will often cross-reference other hacks that add information relevant to it. The hacks in each chapter nicely add on each other in both complexity and function.
The hacks themselves seem to cover every area of Google that you might want. They range from the downright frivolous (there is a chapter "Google Pranks and Games") to serious ways of improving your search results and excellent examples of good ways to use the Google API.
Most of the code fragments are in Perl, and among the hacks are ways of getting the job done without over extensive use of extra modules such as XML Parsers and SOAP::Lite (including a hack that uses regular expressions to parse the XML).
What's Bad In This Book
It's hard to find anything bad to say, apart from some frustration that a couple of the hacks that interested me used ASP or VB rather than a more portable language.
Oh, another minor quibble, the allied web site O'Reilly Hacks Series has been slow and has none of the code in the book or any of the URLs mentioned listed anywhere -- it seems more geared towards marketing the books than helping the readers.
(DISCLAIMER: I use Rael Dornfest's Blosxom blog software and have contributed a plugin for his software.)
You can purchase Google Hacks from bn.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.
But... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:But... (Score:4, Interesting)
The point is, whenever you utilize these tricks, remember the 'Tragedy of the Commons' lesson, and think Kantian - "What would happen if EVERYBODY did this? Would the system still support us?"
If the answer is "no", realize that you're shitting where you eat, and find a more sustainable endeavor.
Re:But... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:But... (Score:2)
Misuse? (Score:2)
I'm sure this is something they've already thought of, and can prevent.
If you're a Google H4X0R... (Score:5, Funny)
make sure you're using this Google [google.com]...
Re:If you're a Google H4X0R... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:If you're a Google H4X0R... (Score:4, Funny)
and this one [google.com]
Re:If you're a Google H4X0R... (Score:2, Informative)
Take that!
Re:If you're a Google H4X0R... (Score:1, Funny)
Re:If you're a Google H4X0R... (Score:2)
You have to provide alternative Google logos to get some karma around here?
It's more than just logos, if you had taken the time to enter a search you might have noticed that the entire interface is in a different language, such as h4x0r, bork, Elmer Fudd or Klingon. If anything is over moderated it's you :-)
Re:If you're a Google H4X0R... (Score:1, Offtopic)
Well, excuse me.
[I]f you had taken the time to enter a search you might have noticed that the entire interface is in a different language, such as h4x0r, bork, Elmer Fudd or Klingon.
You don't have to enter a search. It's obvious anyway. Your point being?
If anything is over moderated [sic.] it's you
Why do you people always take everything so seriously? Three comments providing alternative logos (yeah yeah, interfaces too) were modded 4 and above. I made a jibe. So what? Who
Re:If you're a Google H4X0R... (Score:2)
You don't have to enter a search. It's obvious anyway. Your point being?
My point is that your comment was misleading and of no benefit to the conversation. If it's so obvious, and if the change in language is the whole point, then why did you just make a vague reference to logos instead? I for one (and obviously not just I) benefited from those posts, and moderation played an important part.
Three comments providing alternative logos (yeah yeah, interfaces too) were modded 4 and above. I made a jibe.
Re:If you're a Google H4X0R... (Score:2)
Yes it was. Look at how it's modded, and look on the replies. Obviously someone found those links useful. Furthermore, nobody but you seems to have been particularly offended by it.
I for one (and obviously not just I) benefited from those posts, and moderation played an important part.
But it was only a gibe. A smirk. A joke. Get it yet? Maybe it wasn't a very good one, but still, as I said, don't take everything so god
Re:If you're a Google H4X0R... (Score:2)
Re:If you're a Google H4X0R... (Score:1)
Re:If you're a Google H4X0R... (Score:2)
Re:If you're a Google H4X0R... (Score:2)
Not much else, tho.
Re:If you're a Google H4X0R... (Score:1)
dupe :( (Score:1)
Google Hacks... (Score:5, Insightful)
Nice... see you at bn.com!
Google Searches... (Score:5, Funny)
what a good idea (Score:2, Informative)
BTW - google has a new pricewatch service, froogle.google.com. It doesn't sort by price, but you can lower the upper-bound price limit.
AAAAAAARGH MODERATORS!!! (Score:1, Insightful)
I mean, seriously! In what way does this post provide informational content? It informs us that "dubbayu d 40" thinks "they'll make $$$" and THAT'S IT! IT'S JUST NOT VERY INFORMATIVE!
I think I'm going to bry.
Re:AAAAAAARGH MODERATORS!!! (Score:2, Funny)
I'll just Froogle Google Hacks (Score:5, Funny)
I'm sure if I had the book it would tell me how to hack Froogle into getting a lower price for the book. But then I'd already have the book...
Re:I'll just Froogle Google Hacks (Score:2)
No, what you want is haggle.google.com, where it will get different web sites to bargain for you.
There's also gaggle.google.com, which will unleash geese on the creator of a web site.
Also, don't neglect biggles.google.com, which searches for web pages about certain flying aces, giggle.google.com, which is a joke index, niggle.google.com, which points out small impe
Re:I'll just Froogle Google Hacks (Score:1)
And after that my girlfriend always wants to go to snuggle.google.com! Jeez! I just want to sleep!
Short but sweet (Score:1, Insightful)
Google API. (Score:5, Informative)
I had never heard of a Google API, so I did a search on Google (hah), and found this [google.com]. You can use it in your software as a nice little feature. Would it be nice to have a google search option in the help section of your next software project? I like that idea.
Can't be done i'm afraid (Score:3, Informative)
Oh and BTW, given the storys about the amount of personal data being cached by google every time you search, does anyone now what app/computer specific data the api's are sending back along with the query?
Re:Can't be done i'm afraid (Score:1)
Not only that, but if the parent meant "commercial" programs, then you cannot use the service:
"Google Web APIs are a free beta service and are available for non-commercial use only. Please see our terms of service."
Re:Can't be done i'm afraid (Score:2)
and you'll be paying in any case for commercial use.
but it is absolutely GREAT for doing complex searches, like looking for *cough* rom sites that aren't just linkfarms(use some scoring scheme to weed out the bad sites that have lots of adverts and most of the bad sites are by couple of people anyways and have same referral id's in them for example). it's also possible to do this on vast amoun
Comment removed (Score:4, Funny)
Like what? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Like what? (Score:5, Informative)
There are some sample hacks [oreilly.com] on the O'Reilly webpage for the book [oreilly.com], which is also available as part of the O'Reilly Safari Bookshelf [oreilly.com] for those that subscribe to the service.
Re:Like what? (Score:5, Interesting)
"how to * a cat" [google.com]
Wild cards in Google. Who knew?
Re:Like what? (Score:1)
"how to * the meat [google.com]
Re:Like what? (Score:2)
Wildcards (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Wildcards (Score:1)
"how to * * a cat"
Several of the results that appear include TWO words between 'to' and 'cat. Others have just one for some reason, but you can't deny you get a very different list.
Re:Wildcards (Score:2)
Really?
Re:Wildcards (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Wildcards (Score:1)
Re:Like what? (Score:5, Funny)
Regexp (Score:1)
"how to [bathe|eat] a cat" [google.com]
Re:Regexp (Score:2, Informative)
The "OR" operator works inside quoted expressions
Therefore, the following queries work:
- "how to confuse OR annoy a cat" [google.com]
- "how to confuse | annoy a cat" [google.com]
Re:how 2 * a cat (Score:1)
Re:Like what? (Score:5, Interesting)
I wouldn't call it a must-read, but it's certainly worth adding to your safari bookshelf for a month.
O'Reilly Books (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:O'Reilly Books (Score:2)
I don't find any of these [oreilly.com] useful or entertaining.
Re:O'Reilly Books (Score:2, Funny)
Re:O'Reilly Books (Score:2)
Re:O'Reilly Books (Score:1)
Geeks are such suckers. (Score:3, Funny)
Here's a fun little Google trick... (Score:5, Funny)
Type in the search terms, "French military victories".
Click "I'm feeling Lucky".
Enjoy.
Re:Here's a fun little Google trick... (Score:1, Redundant)
Re:Here's a fun little Google trick... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Here's a fun little Google trick... (Score:2, Informative)
trick explained (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Here's a fun little Google trick... (Score:2)
Nice to see it is getting around!
Chiraq est un ver.
Hey wait a minute... (Score:2, Insightful)
I don't know about all you guys, but google preety much comes up with what i want in the first of second search page.
Most of the time i don't even have to use +, - , "". I think thats the good thing about google. Its ability to come up with the most relevant sites.
Re:Hey wait a minute... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Hey wait a minute... (Score:1)
Searching for a specific file? (Score:5, Informative)
"Index +of" $filename
The quotation marks are relavent.
Nifty! (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Nifty! (Score:1)
Now to skirt the edge of the topic for a bit.
I think my favorite tool on google, by far, is the Google toolbar. That sucker saves me a pretty good amount of time over the day at work. Mainly, of course, when I'm looking up stuff about cars or handhelds.
What sort of nerd would buy this? (Score:1, Flamebait)
Google gives fine results as it is. For, say, researchers, it doesn't take that long to learn to type '"Sex on the beach" -"alcoholic drink"' at the prompt. Who want to turn Google into a cool toy, besides an incredible dork? I'm talking, even compared to normal Slashdot activities.
If somebody bought this for me, I would return it for a real book, and make a mental note to find new friends.
Re:What sort of nerd would buy this? (Score:1)
What can I say, you've got to draw a line somewhere - and a book called _Google Hacks_ is definitely on the other side of the line.
Give it to me now (Score:3, Funny)
Authors Website with some examples from the book (Score:5, Informative)
Some of them are quite fun to muck around with.
Re:Authors Website with some examples from the boo (Score:2)
The Froo-its of the Dev-eel (Score:2, Funny)
Better read *all* the fine print in the EULA, son.
Safari (Score:3, Informative)
Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:And what is the target consumer? (Score:2)
It's not a user's guide, it's more like "Unix Power Tools". I bet they'd have called it "Google Power Tools" if it weren't for the fact that they're trying to position it into their "Hacks" series.
I think it looks pretty good, and I'm definitely going to check it out next time I'm at the store.
Re:And what is the target consumer? (Score:2)
It's on Safari (Score:2, Redundant)
FYI (Score:1, Redundant)
Google News (Score:5, Interesting)
has been slow (Score:3, Funny)
Which is why we are posting it on Slashdot, hoping that a bigger hammer will fix the problem
this is not hacking.... THIS is hacking... (Score:2, Interesting)
What I really want (Score:2, Interesting)
(baquaspa or "baqua spa" or "baquacil") and (plastics or warranty) and bromine
Stemming would also be nice.
Re:What I really want(but am too lazy to look for) (Score:3, Informative)
Here is the advanced help page [google.com] describing the search syntax you desire (plus others).
And because you have shown yourself to be lazy.. here is the syntax (linked even!) so you can try your above query on Google.
(baquaspa OR "baqua spa" OR "baquacil") (plastics OR warranty) bromine [google.com]
On Google the AND is implied.. and you must capitalize your ORs.
Enjoy.
Re:What I really want(but am too lazy to look for) (Score:2)
No, because it never used to, and because the help text still doesn't mention that it can.
Here is the advanced help page [google.com] describing the search syntax you desire (plus others).
Gee, if only I had looked at the help text, I would have clearly seen that it supports parenthetical nesting of terms.
Oh. Wait. It doesn't say that it does. (And last time I tried anyway, it didn't. Granted, I should have tried again today before
-1 Misinformed (Score:1)
The Google "OR" operator has precedence over the implied "and". There is no way to represent the boolean expression "(A and B) or C" on Google.
Try this query on Google: (platipus psoriasis) OR byzantium [google.com].
The number of hits should be a hint.
Please do your homework before calling somebody else "lazy".
Looks interesting. (Score:1)
Re:Thank you for sharing! (Score:1)
Weblogs? Whose crazy idea was that? Just somebody who thought he could write a bit of information that other people might want to read.
People have always and will always use the Internet to share information that other people don't care about. 99% of the internet is crap. If it wasn't, why would we need books on how to search the internet to get past the crap?
Personally, I enjo
bookpool (Score:1)
like a pointy stick with eyes (Score:2, Insightful)
I recall a time when O'Reilly published excellent books on interesting technical subjects. They weren't neccesarily definitive works but they were well researched, well written, often a good deal lighter and smaller and easier to cart around in your backpack than hardcover bound gazillion page epics and they had those neat little pictures, which I suppose they still have, of bunnies and tigers and camels and such.
Now there are about 75 billion titles. Underwater Basket Weaving in XML. Genital Hygene with
Get Over It (Score:2, Insightful)
Oh my freaking God! Cry me a river! If you are not a good enough programmer to port code from ASP/VB then you don't know what a "more portable" language is.
Re:API examples (Score:2)
Re:API examples (Score:2)
Besides, to please the Slashdot crowd, shouldn't all of the examples be Written in C??
Hammy
Re:API examples (Score:3, Insightful)
Free? You'll have to tell us where you're getting "free" Windows licenses - because that's the ONLY platform that supports VBScript. The examples were most likely written in Perl, which is a far better language than VB or VBScript due to its portability and low overhead. Why write a book that's only useful to Windows users when you can significantly increase your market by using a free, portable language?
Besides, to please the Slash
Re:API examples (Score:2)
~Hammy
Re:Nice Duplicate of Last Weeks Story (Score:2)