The Open Source Zone

I used this book since my first day of Tcl scripting.
This has covered each topic with excellent clarity.

I bought this book at the bookstore since I had to learn TCL for work. This was one of the few book I was able to find at the time. This is not organized in the presentation. Instead of showing some syntax followed by a few examples, it shows this CGI example. I learned some of the language from looking at code.

In the next chapter, the book picks up where it left off. By that time, you have forgotten what was discussed. I would not recommend this book.
Now that I have been laid off, many companies are making the request for TCL knowledge and I am looking for a suitable book.

Tcl is a nice language and it is not hard once it "clicks", but learning it can take quite a bit work for someone new to the language. This book, unfortunately, does not ease you into the language. The basics are skimmed over, which is fine for some. The basics will come easily for someone who has written in other scripting languages before, but those who are new to scripting languages will be disappointed with the introductory material. The section "Tcl Basics" seems lengthy in terms of page count, but I don't think that anyone who is considered a novice programmer will doubt that some of this section isn't basic, so don't be misled into thinking that it spends more time on the basics than it does. If you've been programming for several years, you might find it basic. The "advanced" stuff receives more attention, but it is not always explained well. When I first flipped through the book, it looked quite vervose, but it turns out that little of that will actually help you. I've had times when I wanted to know something and I consulted the book, but never really understood the solution despite the fact that the author writes many lines on the subject. If a topic that a good writer could clearly explain in half a page receives two pages worth of discussion from this author, you would assume that you would walk away understanding it. Nope.

The Tk (graphics) sections also have their issues. In addition to poor explanations, the examples were confusing. They are short and clear in the "Tk Basics" section, but then they end up becoming a little too long and a bit obfuscated later on. When you are trying to illustrate a short and simple topic, the example should be short and simple itself and here it rarely is.

The "Tcl & C" sections? Even worse explanations. Difficult examples once again.

So why two stars instead of one? That's because this book is very, very comprehensive. Essentially anything that you want to know about Tcl/Tk is in here, although you have to squint and concentrate to see it since it'll be hidden by poor explanations and poor examples. It's a difficult reference book to wade through, but I can't give a book that I refuse to sell or throw away one star.

I am an experienced SW developer, having used many languages. I needed to "get up to speed" in Tcl/Tk in a hurry.
This book presented the needed topics in an orderly fashion, had clear examples, and doubles as a very handy reference.
I ordered some other Tcl/Tk books (to be on the safe side), but this one has become my "Bible" (along with the Help info built into the IDE I am using)
Highly Recommended!

I got interested in Tcl when a friend of mine had presented me with the Expect application and all the wonderfull things it can do for a sysadmin. Since knowledge of Tcl is required for Expect, I set off looking for a book on the topic... and having read the lines "for beginners and expirienced programmers alike" I thought I hit the target. But what a disapointment...
First of all, most books for beginners follow certain format which is not the case with this book. Nothing like "here's how to declare variables", "variables are typeless", "here's how procedures/functions are done", "here's what sets Tcl apart from other languages" or "how to do those things that other languages cannot" that other books for beginners so often cover. I had to look online for the line that starts off the freshly written Tcl script... and this is for beginners?!
From skimming over Tcl implementations on different platforms (I guess that covered the beginner's part) authors dwelve straight into the HTML processing by Tcl (as in "hey Tcl programmers, here's how to do web pages!") which only adds to confusion. It doesn't stop there though... Tcl is said to be a glue language that puts different blocks together, but how come that passing commands to the system from the Tcl script isn't covered? Yes, there are dedicated commands for cruising through the directory tree, creating/removing/deleting files, but is that all?! Linux has a rich arsenal of commannds, many of which go beyond those tasks... and you cannot pass them from a Tcl script? Where's the glue then...
Same confusing format is followed in the Tk part, except for the canonnical "Hello World" example (straightforward "type it in- here's how it works" breakdown) the rest is off the beginner's path. How to clip a Tcl procedure to a Tk button? Nope, that's not shown- but geometry managers examples plenty abound.
Examples are incomplete, explanations vague and I often caught myself reading same line several times trying to understand the point that author tries to make.
As for my reason for learning Tcl, the Expect application- it is MENTIONED on couple of paragraphs that end with a web address. Although it may be the shiniest example of Tcl's power, it is not even skimmed over...
The content offered doesn't justify the price tag for a beginner's book. If you're a beginner you'd be better off working through the online tutorial at tcl.tk page. It is not only money that you'll save...