Java is an easy language to learn. However, you need to master more than the language syntax to be a professional Java programmer. For one, object-oriented programming (OOP) skill is key to developing robust and effective Java applications. In addition, knowing how to use the vast collection of libraries makes development more rapid.

This book introduces you to important programming concepts and teaches how to use the Java core libraries. It is a guide to building real-world applications, both desktop and Web-based. The coverage is the most comprehensive you can find in a beginner’s book. Here are some of the topics in this book:

- Java language syntax
- Object-oriented programming
- The Collections Framework
- Working with numbers and dates
- Error handling
- Input Output
- Swing
- Database access
- Internationalization
- Networking
- Applets
- Multithreading
- Servlet and JavaServer Pages
- API documentation
- Security
- Application deployment

In addition, Java 5 new features are also discussed. They are:

- Generics
- Enum type
- Boxing/unboxing
- Varargs
- Static import
- Annotations

This book is for you if you need one written with clarity and readability in mind.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 9 Ratings

Okay reference but not a tutorial - 2006-09-12
Reviewer Rating:
Well what can I say but this book will sit and collect dust. I was very disappointed with it. At the start of chapter one you actually write a piece of Java equivalent to "Hello World", but after that there are no other defined bits of code to write and learn from till sometime after chapter 4. I actually stopped reading the book after I finished chapter 4. It goes into detail about various aspects of Java but with no hands on examples; something you'd call a tutorial. I can not recommend this book as a tutorial but might make an okay reference.

To nick-pick, where was the copy editor? There are grammatical errors around every 4 pages. It just became annoying.

A solid thumbs down and spend your monies on another Java Tutorial book.

One star is too many. This book is not supported. - 2009-06-25
Reviewer Rating:
I could not find ANY contact information in this product/ I had problems with java intallation and got the run-around. A total waste of time and money.

AVOID! - 2006-12-28
Reviewer Rating:
POOR AND VERY LIGHT ON CONTENT, INCOMPLETE

This book is about Java 5, which contains a new concurrency package (new way of doing threads). Trying finding it in this book!

I just looked at this book at B&N, but if you are a beginner, don't get this book. There are a lot of "bad" practices contained in it. The chapters on Servlets and JSP are examples of that. (Not even a mention of JSTL.)

There are better books out there, Thinking in Java being one of them (and one of the best).

(I did not look at the other chapters, but I've had enough just based on these three.)

Clear and Concise Comprehensive Coverage - 2006-11-22
Reviewer Rating:
This book is a really good coverage of the java language. It covers the syntax, constructs and components that are needed to become comfortable with java code. And, what was the best part for me, why the constructs are as they are.

The "java 5" is a bit misleading. The book is really a java tutorial which includes java 5 details where relevant. There are better sources if you want to read about java 5 enhancements.

Of spacewise necessity, it does not address the nitty-gritty of programming and so is not a tutorial in the 'this-is-how-to-code' sense. Rather, it gives sufficient background for the reader to be able to make sense of java code, and to be able to intelligently google the nitty-gritty. Code examples are used to enhance description of language components.

The book's title does not really indicate its contents. It is much more than just a java5 tutorial.

Was pleasantly surprised! - 2006-10-25
Reviewer Rating:
I don't buy/keep computer books any more unless they have the source code available. The first time I tried to download the source code, I got an error. So I emailed the publisher and got a reply back from the author. When I tried it again, the download worked the second time.

This is my first try at learning Java--haven't programmed much for a while but I have programmed. I found the explanations were well written and to the point: not so much detail that your head swims but yet enough to point you in the right direction. Especially appreciate finding detail on enum--not covered in many Java books.

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