Java has quickly become one of the most important languages in programming, particularly for professional and enterprise-level projects. From its infancy as a language primarily used for web applets to its maturity through servlets, Enterprise JavaBeans, and database access, Java has become a complex and robust tool for today's developer. Hardcore Java takes this language and breaks it apart, piece by piece, revealing the important secrets and tricks that will take you from a junior-level programmer to a seasoned and expert developer. You'll fly through the fundamentals and quickly find yourself learning about advanced memory management techniques, optimization and bytecode-level enhancements, and the techniques required to build lightning-fast GUIs. Throughout the book, you'll also master the art of writing and maintaining bulletproof and error-proof code, all while grasping the intricacies of the Java language. Hardcore Java covers:

• Use of the final keyword to optimize and protect your Java classes.

• Complete and thorough coverage of all types of nested classes, including how to optimize anonymous and inner classes.

• Detailed discussion of immutable objects, including unique tips on when to use them (and when not to).

• Elimination of bugs through exception-handling management.

• In-depth studies of constants, including their impact on the Java memory model.

• The most thorough discussion of reflection in print, moving far beyond other books' "Hello World" coverage.

• Construction and use of dynamic proxies, in both Java Standard and Enterprise editions.

• Expansive coverage of weak references, including usage patterns and their role in garbage collection and memory management.

Hardcore Java is an invaluable addition to every programmer's library, and even the most advanced developers will find themselves moving beyond their own conceptions into truly advanced applications of the language. Thousands of lines of code, heavily commented and easily runnable, illustrate each concept in the book.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 25 Ratings

Good Book for Junior Java Developer - 2006-01-21
Reviewer Rating:

With all the criticism and found errors being correct, junior Java developer absolutely should not ignore this book.

Book is filled up with the good practical techniques and rules of the thumb described in a simple and effective manner. Some techniques, for example use of readResolve method in constant serialization, are explained better and in more practical manner than "Effective Java" does.

Real book's name should be "Practical Java development for beginners"

don't buy if you're an experienced java programmer - 2005-08-31
Reviewer Rating:
No need to read this book if you already have some experience with Java in a moderate sized project. I could not find any exceptional knowledge and is a little advanced than an entry level book. Book does not live up to its promise.

Intermediate Java by a peer - 2005-05-17
Reviewer Rating:
This book disappointed me. The title raised so high expectations. I started very enthusiastically to read the book and ended in wading through quite a mess.

The level of the book is intermediate, certainly not advanced.

The topics and treatment in this book are quite mixed in level and style. A little about the language itself (so I learned happily about the existence of labels in Java), a lot about the API (here I appreciated most the dynamic proxy and the reference package discussion) and even an entire chapter on design (which I did not like at all).

If you want to learn a little more about Java and have already read the top notch "Effective Java", then this book is full of useful suggestions of areas for further exploration.

Hardcore? Hardly. - 2007-08-16
Reviewer Rating:
I usually don't participate in these reviews, except to read them, and I wish I'd read some before buying this book. As a hardcore C++ programmer and moderately accomplished Java programmer, the title lead me to believe I would be getting something along the lines of what Myers and Sutter did for C++. I was sadly dissapointed. While there are a few nuggets in the text, it is also filled with errors and bad advice. Proposing not using anonymous inner classes because they're "not mainstream" and "hard to read", and more telling "not object oriented", tells me the author needs to do a more thorough research before writing his next book. Any technique, when abused or misused can produce bad code, however anonymous inner classes is an elegant solution to a particular problem set, and should be encouraged in those areas, not broadly poo-poo'd. Educate to the right uses, not discourage because "I find it hard to read". This was the diatribe in the book that pushed me to write a review. If you get this book for free, and have a high tolerance level, there are one or two things to be taken from it, however if you are a novice Java programmer, seek input from someone senior before buying into many of the bad pieces of software engineering advice offered by this book.

Deep coverage, but not hardcore - 2005-03-11
Reviewer Rating:
The book's title is misleading. The book delves into some not-so-well-known aspects of Java. Unfortunately, the author's arrogant tone is distracting. I also don't agree with the word hardcore in the title. All in all, if you've only been working with Java for a few years, then this book will open your eyes.

Browse Similar Topics

Top Level Categories:
Internet/Online
Programming
Software Engineering

Sub-Categories:
Internet/Online > Java
Programming > Java
Software Engineering > OOP
OOP > Methodology