Learning Java provides an accessible yet comprehensive introduction to the programming language that has changed the way we think about computing. Java has become the language of choice for a wide variety of applications: web services, secure network systems, XML-based tools, reusable components, and mission-critical enterprise systems. Learning Java is filled with easy-to-follow code examples that guide you through Java's many features, APIs, and facilities. This new edition of Learning Java has been expanded and updated for Java 2 Standard Edition SDK 1.4. It comprehensively addresses important topics such as web applications, servlets, and XML that are increasingly driving enterprise applications. This edition provides full coverage of all Java 1.4 language features including assertions and exception chaining as well as new APIs such as regular expressions and NIO, the new I/O package. New Swing features and components are described along with updated coverage of the JavaBeans component architecture using the open source NetBeans IDE the latest information about Applets and the Java Plug-in for all major web browsers. The accompanying CD-ROM provides all you need to start working with Java immediately. In addition to the many example programs from the book, the CD includes the complete J2SE SDK 1.4, the NetBeans IDE, the Jakarta Project's Ant make utility and Tomcat application server as well as BeanShell, a simple open source Java scripting language developed by author Pat Niemeyer.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 67 Ratings

Waaaaaaay too fast.... - 2008-11-21
Reviewer Rating:
I've been learning Java for half a year now, and I found this book to be going way to fast. Chapters 1 - 3, covers somewhat complex concepts such as multi-threading, interfaces and policy files. But only in chapter 4 do they explain the primitive types.

This is not a tutorial for beginners. You have to know considerably amount of Java before you can fully understand all the concepts in this book. The good thing is that they jump into OOP immediately, and explaining it very thoroughly.

My last bad point about this book is that when they give you an example, usually about 2 pages long, and you have about 15% of an idea of what's going on. Fortunately, they do provide an explanation, however it's usually about 15 pages long. The examples are way too complicated for chapter 1 - 3.

The language is very technical, but it seems easy enough to understand when you think carefully about it. Not a horrible, but also not too good of a book.

Green programmer likes this book... - 2009-02-22
Reviewer Rating:
As someone who had absolutely no experience with any kind of programming (including C++), I think this book does a nice job of breaking down java projects into manageable segments. I appreciate that the book uses Eclipse programs, because it is not too hard to figure out. I would recommend this to someone who would like to learn Java using Eclipse.

Review of "Learning Java" as a backup textbook - 2009-12-06
Reviewer Rating:
I purchased this book while taking the 2nd semester of a Intro to Object Oriented Programming Class at UNM. The main reason for the purchase is that the textbook for the class was inadequate to answer my questions as I studied for the course and I was looking for a good overall Java text to help cover the course material. I found an earlier version of this book in the library at UNM and liked what I saw so I purchased it from Amazon. Basically, this book does a great job covering just about all aspects of Java and is a great reference book for anyone learning about Java and Object Oriented Programming. It provides good examples as well, which a student really needs to help understand the concepts. My only criticism is that, because Java is such a rich language, a book this size (it's a large book!) cannot adequately cover the many different aspects with more than a few examples. Also, this is not meant to be a text book in the usual sense of the word in that there are no exercises and problems at the end of each chapter for the student to work through that would give added proficiency. Other than that I highly recommend this as a reference for anyone learning Java. Finally, I wish that people who write such books would put more comments ( ..//} in the example codes they use. Every text book I've looked at in Java seems to have this problem. I guess they do this because there is not a lot of room to add such comments but it sure would help.

THE book to buy! - 2009-04-02
Reviewer Rating:
If you are not an Idiot or a Dummy, and want to learn Java, save yourself some money in the future by purchasing this book. It may be the first, last and only book you need to buy. If I was teaching a class in Java, this is the book I would select.

Highly Suggest this book! - 2008-10-22
Reviewer Rating:
I fell in love with this book from the start. I was tired of programming command line c++, and I dont feel ready for GUI programming in c++ just yet. I was looking for a book that would introduce gui programming. This book did just that. the first chapter introduces GUI programming from the start with a hello Java program that only spans about 10 lines! And , for being a beginning Java programmer, I have to say GUI programming in java is quite trivial, the way it should be.

I will definitely advise using this book with a refrence book like Java How to Program, 7th Edition by Harvey M. Deitel and Paul J. Deitel . Also if you havent done any c++ before but want to grasp OO design , this book will be extremely fundamental----> The Object-Oriented Thought Process (3rd Edition) . Also , for the future software developer, I highly reccoment UML distilled or any UML book , You should never start programming without laying out a plan of attack first . :D , any way buy this book its great to accompany any java books you have.

Browse Similar Topics

Top Level Categories:
Internet/Online
Programming

Sub-Categories:
Internet/Online > Java
Programming > Java
Java > Servlets
Java > Swing