| Overview
Java just keeps growing, adding features, functionality,
complexity, and tempting developers to growl with frustration. The
new 1.4 release of Java 2 Standard edition increases the size of
the platform by 50%, to 2757 classes in 135 packages. How are you
going to figure out what this means for your applications? As
always, Java in a Nutshell has the answers. The new 4th
edition still contains an accelerated introduction to the Java
programming language and its key APIs so you can start writing code
right away. And with more than 250 new pages, author David Flanagan
quickly brings you up to speed on new features that come with
version 1.4:
High-performance NIO API Support for pattern matching with regular
expressions A logging API A user preferences API New Collections classes An XML-based persistence mechanism for Java
Beans Support for XML parsing using both the DOM and SAX
APIs User authentication with the JAAS API Support for secure network connections using the
SSL protocol Support for cryptography
The book contains O'Reilly's classic quick-reference for all the
classes in the essential Java packages, so you can dive in and find
what you need to make the new 1.4 version work for you. For as long
as Java developers have existed, Java in a Nutshell has been
ready, willing and able to take you right to the heart of the
program, turning those frustrated grrrrss into purrrss of
satisfaction. No wonder readers of Java Developer's Journal voted
this the "Best Java Book" the past two years in a row!
Editorial ReviewsProduct DescriptionThe new 1.4 release of Java 2 Standard edition increases the size of the platform by 50%, to 2757 classes in 135 packages., so aall of these exciting new features, the 1.4 release of Java 2 Standard edition brings potential for frustration. How will all this affect your applications? Don't worry, our new 4th edition has answers. With the accelerated introduction to the Java programming language and its key APIs, you can start writing code right away, and because its classic quick reference contains all the classes in the essential Java packages, you'll find exactly what you need to make the new version work for you. With more than 250 new pages, the book brings you up to speed on new APIs for high-performance low-level I/O, logging, user preference, and user authentication with the JAAS. You'll also find information on the new Collections classes, support for XML parsing using both the DOM and SAX APIs, support for pattern matching with regular expressions, and much much more. For as long as Java developers have existed, this perennial bestseller has been there to take you to the heart of the program. |
Other Readers Also Read | Top Sellers in This Category | Browse Similar Topics | | | Top Level Categories:Sub-Categories: | | | | |
Reader Reviews From Amazon (Ranked by 'Helpfulness') Average Customer Rating: based on 29 reviews. The best offline reference for Java, 2006-07-13 Reviewer rating: For those that find that Javadoc hard to read (like me) or aren't "always on" the internet, this is a great alternative. The first few chapters are particularly - short, sweet and to the point - a cross between Javadoc and a cookbook and is quite readable. | Decent yet lacking, 2005-03-23 Reviewer rating: Java: In a Nutshell (4th ed.) is a decent reference manual for quick lookups. Be forewarned: it's very terse. This helps and hurts it; the Java language is pretty hefty itself, so concise reference is valuable, however sometimes I've found it to be a little bit on the lacking side when I really needed fast and easily understandable reference.
Not a must-have, but definitely not a waste. | Way too terse to be useful, 2005-01-30 Reviewer rating: This book is way too terse to be useful. Modern Java development tools will help you use the correct class method signatures anyway. Buy the posters instead and give yourself a visual overview instead. | Best guide for the working programmer, 2004-07-01 Reviewer rating: This isn't a textbook. It's a handbook, and gives good, clear descriptions of every corner of the Java language. Java isn't a big feature-sodden language, but has a few obscure corners. If you just can't remember the syntax for up-reference from an inner class, you'll find it fast and explained well.
The API guide is fairly complete, but terse. Well, it has to be - the API keep growing. No one book could hold a complete description of everything. Sad to say, earlier editions had more complete API descriptions. The second, for example, had a very good introduction to reflection. As the Java API grew, however, the old descriptions had to shrink to make way for the new, and the reflection discussion was squeezed out. Still, it gives a good quick look at the API. This isn't as complete as the Javadoc API information, but is hugely more browseable. Use this to direct your query into the right area, then use Sun's Javadoc to get the details.
If you have room for only one Java book, make it this one.
-- wiredweird
2007 PS to the 2004 review: Flanagan's new edition on Java 5 supercedes this version of the classic. The new version has all the strengths of earlier editions. It covers language basics and Java 5 extensions even better, except for some rough spots in generics. It covers the fast-growing standard library even worse. If coding Java pays your paycheck, then upgrade. If you work on legacy or casual code, the 3rd or 4th edition, plus easy access to javadoc, might still serve you well enough. | I love my nutshell, 2004-06-10 Reviewer rating: I keep this book by my side and reference it at least twice a week. An integral part of my Java programmer's desktop library. |
Some information above was provided using data from Amazon.com. View at Amazon > |
| |
|
|
