Programming!

Books, reference

[Skylo]

Hi guys I have no idea where to post this. I was going to in the cgi forums but wasn't sure. Please excuse me.

What books could you guys suggest might be a good help for me to learn the basics of Java. You know like a "Learn Java in 21 days." Not exactly like that but you catch the drift. I just want to get a slight understanding of it so that I can get what the programmers are telling me when they explain stuff to me.

Thanks guys

[outrun]

I dont know if this is good to post the book but, the Best Java book I have used is
Java Programming by Joyce Farell its in its second Edition I think, all through the book it guides you through fundamentals and advance java by Example one of the best programming books I have come across in any programming language.

regards,
Mark

[Alternative Future]

The best way is to jump in at the deep end and get hold of the complete java2 certification study guide at least this way you are picking up from the examples and learning the proper syntax & methodology. Along with this its also a good idea to get this reference book: Java in a Nutshell -- David Flanagan

-gs

[ppg]

Hi Skylo,

do you want to actually do some or just read up on it? If its just an overview you want, why not read through the java overview tutorial:

[java.sun.com ]

At least then you won't get caught up in the mechanics of command line compiling, setting up your classpath etc.

If you want a book, I would advise you to avoid the Sams '21 days' book, I was never impressed with it.

The best Java book I know of is Prentice Hall's 'Advanced Java™ 2 Platform How to Program' isbn 0-13-089560-1

It covers pretty much everything though, right through to advanced topics.

hth

[aspdaddy]

I think the best way is to get a book that has the code for the type of app you want to do, java is a big language and you cant really learn it all at once.

I learnt about TCP/IP and built a client/server chat application from a book, this is a very common java application and you can find the code in many books.

Also the sun site is useful and the documentation in the JDK, but without the book i'd have been struggling

[mil2k]

The best way to learn according to me is Hands on Approach. Start coding initially something like Hello World program and then all the loops. Once your mechanical approach is finished and you are comfortable with the Language Lingo start learning the underlying concepts Like Object oriented Programming, Programming Architecture etc.

I recommend the beginners approach bcoz I know you are new to programming. HTH :)

[jaski]

There is one book called "Thinking in Java" by Bruce Eckel .. I liked it very much when I read it (3 years ago) .. it had an online free edition available .. must be there even now

[google.com...]

I really liked the way the guy explained the concepts .. OOP etc.

[txbakers]

I didn't care much for the Thinking in Java book (read it online). I thought it was way to intellectual for a beginner - spending so much time and ink on covering every facet of the theory before showing a useful example.

I'm more example oriented, and I prefer to work hands-on rather than read about a concept. The Wrox book Java2 by Ivor something or other was my choice, and I like it.

My only gripe with that book is that the author uses geometry problems as his examples for java programming. His examples have you calculating the volume of spheres, radius of circles, intersecting lines on a grid, etc.

But I like the approach of the book and the exercises contained within.

[garann]

Two more things you could use..
The free 14 day trial from O'Reilly's Safari [safari.oreilly.com] eBooks site, which should give you a chance to review a few books and find one that's a good match for your level of experience and what you want to do.

For a reference, you can't beat JavaDocs. The documentation for the regular Java classes is at [java.sun.com ], and for Servlets and JSP at [java.sun.com ].
(You may want to check for newer versions.)