In France, people often say "tell me what books you read, I can guess which kind of person you are." In the UK, the United States, Canada, or even China and India, as long as you hold the Wrox red book, others must think you must think you It is a very good computer program developer. The reason why Wrox's books has such an impact, mainly from its consistent persistence, "Programmer to Programmer" creation concept. Under the guidance of this concept, Wrox published hundreds of excellent programming books that were favored by programs worldwide, which involved various major computer programs such as C, C , PHP, Oracle, SQL Server, Java, .NET. In the field of development, it has guided millions of computer programming enthusiasts to quickly step into the programming hall and help countless primary intermediate developers have become a master. Wrox has become a name in the minds of the programmer, and its publishing programming class has also become the preferred reference book for the majority of programmers. However, until early 2003, the bad news on Wrox took one by one, first, the PEER INFORMATION group of his parent company announced bankruptcy, then the Wrox's brothers, Glasshaus and Friends of Ed announced the closing of their own websites, and finally Wrox declared on its website. I have been acquired by other companies, and many bibliops can't find them on their websites ... It seems that Wrox has "fallen", will not have a brilliant brilliant, and will not create a professional computer book that is deeply loved. I think, many people (especially the majority of concerns about Wrox) are sighing for the wrist; as a computer practitioner, is the same, it seems that he is a good partner with a little bit. Is Wrox really "fallen"?
First, the history of Wrox
To see the current situation of Wrox and predict and display its future, we must first learn about the history of Wrox, find the basis from its historical accumulation. The Wrox Publishing Company was established in Birmingham in 1992, which is said to be the homonym from English "Rocks", which means they have to do a "rock" in the rapids. From the beginning of its establishment, the company adheres to the creation of "programmers as programmers", and has made great success at publication programming class books. Later, a unique editing method was launched, providing complete source code download support for each book and providing errata and E-mail support and P2P forums for readers. In this way, each reader can freely download the source code of the book book to learn. When reading a book, if you find an error, you can feed back the information to the Wrox company. After editing it, you will put it on its website, and other readers can benefit from the errata. For issues encountered during the learning process, you can submit to Wrox from Wrox at any time, and the problem will be resolved on the three levels of customer support staff, technical editing and authors. The cover of the Wrox book is based on dark red, and the main authors are very distinctive, and it is very difficult to be recognized by the majority of readers. In addition to the characteristics of book content, editing methods, and cover form, Wrox also provides a solution to programmers in a variety of forms, making it a real information service provider.
Second, Wrox service
Wrox's characteristic service is mainly manifested in three aspects, first of all, the unique editing method mentioned earlier, providing readers with source code download, errata, and E-mail, greatly enhanced readers' learning effects. The second is that Wrox provides quality and efficient cooperative services for their partners, and partners have established cooperation intentions with Wrox. Wrox can sign the contract, send sample book and provide standard electronic documentation, etc. They can introduce excellent WROX books into the regional market efficiently, benefiting local readers. Wrox's third service is also its most important service, which is its information service. Wrox's information services are primarily provided through its today's site and P2P resource centers. Wrox's today's site is a very attractive technical site that makes each login user feel the basic idea of "programmer as programmer". First of all, ASPTODAY is the focus of web related technologies when I have just opened in May 1999, which provides a new article for readers every day. Leave less than a year after the opening, the site has developed to have hundreds of thousands of readers and at least 1 million pages per month. In June 2001, Wrox launched C # Today, with the introduction and extensive application of .NET technology, the site has also achieved great success and became the majority of C # programmers around the world (especially English) One of the most important learning sites. Wrox's P2P Resource Center (P2P.WROX.COM) is different from today's site, which provides free online subscription services, including ASP, Java, PHP, Perl, SQL, and VB, etc., later added WAP and WML Discussion, you can customize your mailing list according to your needs. It launched in November 1999 and provides a practical online resource for programmers, and 450 new information will be issued every week. Programmers can discuss freely here and can communicate with the author and edit "face-to-face". In general, as long as you have issued your own problems on the forum of the site, there will be many authors, editors, or other knowledge of experts to reply.
Note: Wrox's P2P resource center, including mailing lists, forums, newsgroups, etc.
Third, the rise of Wrox
As a local small-scale publisher, Wrox can be in Macmillan, Pearson Education, Thomson, McGraw-Hill, and many more giant opponents, in the rapids of IT publishing, high-quality book content and service promoting quality brands are The most important weight. Programmers as long as they want to buy books, first think of Wrox, is the red book with the author's avatar. The rise of Wrox has also benefited from the online tide at the end of the 1990s, which pushes their ASP, PHP and other series of tutorials to sell top peaks. So far, network developers are also Wrox books in That time. When IT technology is fully warmed in the world, Wrox followed the advanced technology and application directions in computer programming in the world, and published many excellent books on VS, Java, Oracle, SQL Server, Open Source and other aspects. The authors of these books are senior software project managers or experienced senior programmers, which not only has unique insights and extensive experiences, but also have a deep understanding of the core technology of the application software development platform. What is more valuable is that they really understand the needs of the programmers to design the content system and writing style of these books in this need! It is this understanding and such a dedication, so that Wrox books have always had a good reader, which is well received by the majority of programmers. At that time, Wrox has become the most important programming book publisher. The average sales of books have exceeded 40,000 sales, and sales performance is very amazing. Another point is that Wrox books are not only red and fire in the UK and the US market, but they are introduced by many countries in the world, but also become important publishers who are popular in many programmers in the world, so that its impact is therefore The bigger. From 2002 to 2003, it was the Longdong of the IT industry in the world. The computer program development field has been greatly affected, but Wrox is closely to Microsoft's .NET technology, launching more than 100 this related to .NET and other latest development technologies Books, content relate to all .NET technology and applications, as well as other new technologies and tools such as Oracle 9i, and timely, the majority of computer program designers' learning needs of new .NET and related technologies. Although there are many companies (including Microsoft Publishing Houses) published a lot about .NET books, they can't shake Wrox leading sheep in the .NET books, which also makes Wrox continue to expand their impact on computer book markets in the world. .
Four, Wrox and China
Please refer to Wrox, you can't introduce Wrox cooperation with the Chinese Publishing Unit. As early as a few years ago, Wrox has established cooperative relationships with several publishers and machinery publishing houses such as domestic Electronic Industry Press and Machinery Industry Press, and successfully entered China's computer book market and gradually accepted by Chinese programmers. favorite. However, the full turn of Wrox in the Chinese book market began in 2002, which is mainly due to its comprehensive cooperative relationship with the bundling established between Tsinghua University Press.
In order to expand its own influence in China, enhance the Chinese version of the red book, Wrox started working with the leading Human University of Tsinghua University in China with the domestic computer book, and gradually established flexible, comprehensive, bundled Corresponding relationship. Wrox licensing all of our computer books priority to Tsinghua University Press (except for authorized books), and provide new book catalogs, contract samples, electronic documents, and related documents, and related documents in the first time. The code download and technical discussions provide support, so that Tsinghua University Press has published more than 100 Wrox red books in less than two years, the speed, large scale, high quality, and order The industry is sighed.
In the red book published in Tsinghua University Press, the most important thing is "Music .Net and Oracle Classic Programming Series", this series is "Advanced Programming", "Getting Started Classic", ".Net Topics Development Reference Manual", " Software Project Development Series "and" Programmer Reference Manual "and other 7 sets of books. This series of books are interpreted by programming masters and beginners. From different perspectives, the programming ideas and philosophy have been interpreted from different perspectives, and through rich examples, comprehensive and deeply explained a large number of development methods and techniques. The word is full of software masters. Clear programming ideas and valuable experience, can help senior developers in depth in inquiry software development mechanism, master the latest programming technology; can help beginners master the programming methods and quickly step into the programming hall. During the WROX published .NET and Oracle classic programming series, Tsinghua University Press is almost synchronized to launch its Chinese version, which is very fast about China's computer users, masters and applies the latest .NET and Oracle technology. Great contribution. Note: In the Wrox's red book, "C # Advanced Programming" and "VB.NET Advanced Programming" are two books in China.
Five, Wrox's setbacks
However, there is an unexpected wind cloud. While Wrox takes advantage of the heads of .NET books, the PEER INFORMATION Group of Parent Corporation has announced bankruptcy from March 14, 2003 due to financial reasons. The city gate is fired, and the pool fish, the group announced the Wrox Press Gangzhou on March 17, and she launched its high-quality assets --wrox to give the group debt. In addition, the Peer Information Group also owns Friends Of ED Press, both of Glasshaus and Curlingstone, two publishing websites and several developer websites, they also announce to stop running. When it is officially published on the Wrox Press website, its related sites are also affected, such as P2P has stopped running, asptoday's Site, the following text: "Add new content is now suspended, for the thus I apologize for the inconvenience caused. "No one thought that the vigorous WROX was" fallen "because of the parent company's question. Subsequently, Wrox wrote at its home page: "Currently, you have already heard John Wiley to acquire Wrox's best-selling book, WORX brand and WORX.com website. You may want to know that Wrox after the acquired is a What can be restored to operations? As a new publisher of Wrox, we promise to make you enter with the developer community in our long-term and short-term programs. This website has always been access to Wrox information sites, future It will continue to be. We will act as soon as possible, let you know and love the Wrox website function to re-run. In addition, we also guarantee that the Wrox books that will be unanimously unanimously (red cover with the author's avatar) still row On the bookshelf of each bookstore ... "May 22, Wrox gave all members of the member registered with its website, and told the member Wiley while taking some questions, not the only company to acquire Wrox, it is just getting The name of the Wrox Press, the brand, trademark, Wrox.com website, and many bestselles, but did not get the brand of Friends of Ed, Glasshaus, and Curlingstone. Everyone will log in to Apress (www.apress.com), will find that more than 400 books left, Friends of Ed, Glasshaus, and Curlingstone have been acquired by the publishing company.
After Wrox is acquired, partners and readers in the world have caused a small impact. Partners need to re-negotiate the future copyrights, Wrox new books should be stopped in a period, and these factors have also made partners and readers can't expose to Wrox new books for a while; in addition, Wrox's famous P2P developer community is not temporarily normal operation. Although the new website will be built as soon as possible in the latest announcement in Wrox, it is better than ever, but a few months have had a certain impact on many developers. Also, some readers cannot obtain the source code download, errozes, and E-mail support from Wrox, provided by the normal way. Sixth, Wrox's future
Wrox has been acquired, the original books and resources are no longer as complete as before, the original copyright cooperation has been suspended, and the excellent Asptoday site is also bought by Apress, .... As if Wrox will "fall", its future is no longer brilliant, its characteristics and essence goes with "Lord". I think you, I and everyone who loves the red book is not willing to believe and see such a result. We have reason to believe that Wrox, which faces change and difficulties, will "stand", continue to publish excellent books favorite by the majority of programmers. The first is Wrox "programmers as programmers" creation ideas, unique editing methods and it's impact in the world's readers, these are the spiritual connotation of Wrox never fade.
Second, it is the acquisition of Wrox. The East is a famous John Wiley. The publishing house has a long history of 1807, and it is started to publish it to publish the book of American literary horses (such as Ou Wen, Allen Slope). Enter the 20th century Afterwards, it establishes the status of publishing leaders in science and information technology. Now publishing about more than 2,000 books or e-books each year, the fields involved include science, technology, medical retail books and various textbooks, and journals. Wrox belongs to John Wiley this century-old brand, which should be gratified to readers worthy of favor of Wrox Red Books. Although the grinding between Wrox and John Wiley still needs to be time, the advantages of Wrox and the publication concept are combined with John Wiley's advantages and publishing concepts, and there must be a larger energy, release more excellent works. .
The third is that Wrox has gradually restored "Yuan". Now, all aspects of Wrox will be normal. The book publishing business has begun to actively carry out, and its website has also returned to normal operational state, and the forum of the P2P.Wrox.oCM site has begun to be lively. In addition to the red book selling to Apress, the source code download, errata, and E-mail support are provided by Apress (www.apress.com), and other books related support can continue to be obtained through Wrox and its website. In addition, from several declarations of new WROX, they will be full, and they will continue to provide high-quality book products and various information and resource services to the majority of readers and programmers. In addition, publication agencies who wish to introduce the red book can now re-use John Wiley, continue to introduce the trakebook of the programmer into the regional market. Of course, for the red book sold to Apress, copyright negotiation with Apress is required.
