I opened up Java & XML recently because it had some references to Cocoon. The Cocoon examples are pre 2.0, so instead I worked through some of the XML-RPC chapters which were good. I'd recommend working through the whole book to anyone who's just getting started using Java and XML together.

Before I made it to my intended destination (the SOAP and web services chapters), I decided to pick up Cocoon: Building XML Applications. I had previously seen this one but passed up. So far, it is pretty good--I'm glad I came back around. They seem to do a better job explaining the architecture than some of the articles I've read recently. I like the examples I've worked through so far. The authors spend a little too much time on the evolution of the net and web applications--I wish they would have devoted that space to some of the more advanced features. It definitely gets me excited about using Cocoon on some real projects. This is a good book for anyone starting out with XML applications with Cocoon.

I'm noticing there are a few other Cocoon texts out there but I haven't taken a look at them yet. They are:

• Cocoon 2 Programming: Web Publishing with XML and Java, Bill Brogden
• Professional XML Development with Apache Tools: Xerces, Xalan, FOP, Cocoon, Axis, Xindice, Theodore W. Leung
• Cocoon Developer's Handbook, Lajos Moczar, Jeremy Aston

11:11:45 PM