Beginning Hibernate Second Edition is ideal if you re experienced in Java with databases (the traditional or connected approach) but new to open-source lightweight Hibernate--the de facto object-relational mapping and database-oriented application development framework. This book packs in information about the release of the Hibernate 3.5 persistence layer and provides a clear introduction to the current standard for object-relational persistence in Java. And since the book keeps its focus on Hibernate without wasting time on nonessential third-party tools you ll be able to immediately start building transaction-based engines and applications. Experienced authors Dave Minter and Jeff Linwood provide more in-depth examples than any other book for Hibernate beginners. The authors also present material in a lively example-based manner--not a dry theoretical hard-to-read fashion.