Prague College Library: Beginning Java 2: JDK (Programmer to programmer)
 
Title:      Beginning Java 2: JDK (Programmer to programmer)
Categories:      Computing
BookID:      CO-HND-0028
Authors:      Ivor Horton
ISBN-10(13):      9781861003669
Publisher:      WROX Press Ltd
Edition:      JDK 1.3 Ed
Number of pages:      1233
Language:      English
Rating:      0 
Picture:      cover
Description:      Amazon Review
At 1200 pages, Beginning Java 2 could prove intimidating to someone new to Java, but within the first few pages you know you're in safe hands. Ivor Horton takes readers straight into a simple text-based Java program, though in a break with tradition it isn't "Hello world". As each new language feature or concept is introduced, Horton creates a small program to illustrate it, shows what the output of the program should be, and then explains how and why it works.

This is an old-fashioned teaching technique that has a major advantage over the common glitzier approach of starting with graphical Java programs: you understand everything you're doing from the first keystroke. For those unfamiliar with object-oriented programming models, understanding helps a lot. Classes, packages, inheritance, polymorphism, threads, exception handling, instances and methods are not part of everyday thought. It takes examples, explanations and practice to make them familiar.

However, Beginning Java 2 isn't just for those new to Java. It goes right to the edge of the language. When you reach GUI Java programming you get to write a simple mouse-driven sketch utility complete with curves, primitives, fonts and printing all available from menus. You then get to add neat effects including rotation. This is followed up with bitmap display and animations, adding sound to programs and database access using SQL statements via the JDBC. The last section of the book covers Java documentation creation using the JavaDoc tool. This is one of the best books around for those aiming to become competent, professional Java programmers. --Steve Patient