HTTP/2 in Action

As a professional web performance engineer, I’ve known and learned about H/2 through fascination, necessity, and, to an extent, osmosis. Yet, despite already being quite comfortable with my level of knowledge, I was certain that someone who’s written a full book (416 pages, no less) probably knows a fair amount more than I do.Barry’s book has become an invaluable addition to my arsenal.The eBook is a quickly-searchable troubleshooter, whereas the printed copy makes for a great desk reference, and a fantastic way to gather insights almost serendipitously. I find myself flicking through the book when procrastination gets the better of me, and always leave having learned at least one new thing.That’s not to do disservice to its practical benefits, though: if you’re an engineer who needs a solid working knowledge of H/2, and how to get there, this is the book you need. Thorough yet concise, technical yet approachable, it’s a worthy investment.

If you are looking for an in-depth book that explains both HTTP/2 and the underlying networking stack in a clear and concise manner, this is the book for you. It goes into both the pro's and con's of HTTP/2, explaining what it was designed to solve, and where it still fails. It gives a clear indication of where the future of HTTP could be heading including information on HTTP/3 + QUIC (the next iteration of HTTP).HTTP/2 is complex, but "HTTP/2 in Action" does a great job of breaking the whole protocol down into digestible chunks. Fantastic book. Great work Barry!

While I have found this book an indispensible resource for all things HTTP/2, where I find it particularly excels in its approach to teaching the history of the protocol. Chapter 1 should be required reading for any aspiring web developers.