|
|
Head First Java, 2nd Edition [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)
by Kathy Sierra, Bert Bates
| Category:
Java language, Software development, Computer science, IT, Technology |
| Market price: ¥ 448.00
MSL price:
¥ 418.00
[ Shop incentives ]
|
| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
A wonderful job of explaining not only the how-to, but also the "why" of Java fundamentals, in very down-to-earth language. |
| If you want us to help you with the right titles you're looking for, or to make reading recommendations based on your needs, please contact our consultants. |
Detail |
Author |
Description |
Excerpt |
Reviews |
|
|
|
Author: Kathy Sierra, Bert Bates
Publisher: O'Reilly Media
Pub. in: February, 2005
ISBN: 0596009208
Pages: 688
Measurements: 9.4 x 8 x 1.6 inches
Origin of product: USA
Order code: BA00536
Other information: 2 edition
|
|
Rate this product:
|
|
- Awards & Credential -
An Amazon.com top 2,000 bestselling book (ranked # 1,500 in mid November, 2006.) |
|
- MSL Picks -
This is a wonderful book for learning Java. It's quirky, graphically oriented style makes it readable and brings you the information from several different angles. It uses the latest ideas in learning (coupling information with play) to cement the concepts in reader's mind.
The use of graphics is excellent. For example, a disussion of objects might include an Animal class that is extended to a dog, cat, and hippo class. Most books would discuss this analogy textually. This book has a family tree of the objects with photographs of each kind of animal. The picture brings home the idea.
The book's other strength is that it talks about objects first. In the old days (80's, 90's) we mostly learned languages by learning how to write statements in the language. The helloworld program is an example of this kind of teaching. Objects were considered an advanced topic.
In a strongly object-oriented language like Java, it makes more sense to learn about objects first, as the basic unit of programming, and build from there.
The organization of the book makes it a good book to begin learning web tier of J2EE. It builds gradually on a concepts in a friendly and funny way. It starts with the fundamentals and prods you to think about the advanced concepts and then delves in them to sufficient detail. Mock exam questions test the topics discussed and also prepare you for the SCBCD exam if you plan to appear for one.
The book is not a reference book, and if you are looking for how to use a specific class or do a specific task you'd be better off with a different book. But, if you are just getting started with Java, this is a great start!
This is an Amazon.com top 1,600 bestseller, which is an incredible feat considering there are millions of books available on Amazon.com and Java language is such a niche in the vast world of publications.
(From quoting R. Salemi, USA)
Target readers:
Java programmers, Computer Science majors, People interested in Java program
|
|
- Better with -
Better with
Thinking in Java (4th Edition)
:
|
|
Customers who bought this product also bought:
 |
Code Complete, Second Edition (Paperback)
by Steve McConnell
Focusing on actual code construction, but touching on every aspect of software engineering including psychology/behavior, this book is an essential reading for every and all developers. |
 |
The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master (Paperback)
by Andrew Hunt, David Thomas
A classic reading on programming ranking with Code Complete and The Mythtical Man-Month. |
 |
Thinking in Java (4th Edition) (Paperback)
by Bruce Eckel
A book that has many awards and raves from programmers worldwide for its extraordinary clarity, careful organization, and real life examples. |
 |
Effective Java Programming Language Guide (Paperback)
by Joshua Bloch
An essential reference on the nuances of Java, which you’ll consult from time to time. A must-own for Java developers. |
|
|
Kathy Sierra was lead developer for the SCJP for Java 5. Sierra worked as a Sun "master trainer," and in 1997, founded javaranch.com, the largest Java community website. Her books have won multiple Software Development Magazine awards, and she is a founding member of Sun's Java Champions program.
Bert Bates was a lead developer for several of Sun's Java certifications including the SCJP for Java 5. He is also a forum moderator on javaranch.com, a 20-year software developer veteran, and co-author of several bestselling Java books. Bert is is a founding member of Sun's Java Champions program.
|
|
From the Publisher:
Learning a complex new language is no easy task especially when it s an object-oriented computer programming language like Java. You might think the problem is your brain. It seems to have a mind of its own, a mind that doesn't always want to take in the dry, technical stuff you're forced to study. The fact is your brain craves novelty. It's constantly searching, scanning, waiting for something unusual to happen. After all, that's the way it was built to help you stay alive. It takes all the routine, ordinary, dull stuff and filters it to the background so it won't interfere with your brain's real work - recording things that matter. How does your brain know what matters? It's like the creators of the Head First approach say, suppose you're out for a hike and a tiger jumps in front of you, what happens in your brain? Neurons fire. Emotions crank up. Chemicals surge. That's how your brain knows. And that's how your brain will learn Java. Head First Java combines puzzles, strong visuals, mysteries, and soul- searching interviews with famous Java objects to engage you in many different ways. It's fast, it's fun, and it's effective. And, despite its playful appearance, Head First Java is serious stuff: a complete introduction to object-oriented programming and Java. You'll learn everything from the fundamentals to advanced topics, including threads, network sockets, and distributed programming with RMI. And the new. second edition focuses on Java 5.0, the latest version of the Java language and develop- ment platform. Because Java 5.0 is a major update to the platform, with deep, code-level changes, even more careful study and implementation is required. So learning the Head First way is more important than ever. If you've read a Head First book, you know what to expect - a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works. If you haven't, you're in for a treat. You'll see why people say it's unlike any other Java book you've ever read. By exploiting how your brain works, Head First Java compresses the time it takes to learn and retain - complex information. Its unique approach not only shows you what you need to know about Java syntax, it teaches you to think like a Java programmer. If you want to be bored, buy some other book. But if you want to understand Java, this book's for you.
|
| View all 18 comments |
Ken Arnold (coauthor with James Gosling, creator of Java, The Java Programming Language) (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-10 00:00>
It's fast, irreverent, fun and engaging. Be careful - you might actually learn something! |
Scott McNealy (Sun Microsystems, Chairman, President, and CEO) (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-10 00:00>
It's definitely time to dive in - Head First. |
David Graper (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-10 00:00>
I've been a professional programmer for years and I had to learn Java fast to stay in my current engagement. The "Learn-Java-In-24-Hours" style books had appealing titles but instead I decided to try this weird, truly different approach to learning because O'Reilly published it. (I have been familiar with O'Reilly for years and always recognized them as a top-flight publisher, although their books often had a formal, college-textbookish tone that made them better reference books than read-thru books.) I was put off by the graphics-intensive comic book style when I paged through the sample on-line at Amazon but decided to give it a try.
think they're really on to something here. I can only speak for myself, as someone who already has a background in programming, but I believe the book actually works. Over a couple weeks I read the book, did the little puzzles and exercises which the authors were so insistent that I do, and was really surprised at the depth of knowledge I came out with at the other end.
Sitting in a developer's meeting yesterday I was really surprised that, while I clearly didn't have the years of experience the other coders had, I had no problem keeping up and was even able to contribute. I'm now moving in to the new assignment fairly well and am confident that I'll be able to pick up the details of this language now that I've got such a good grounding from this book.
I've now ordered the companion O'Reilly volumes on Enterprise JavaBeans and Design Patterns and am curious to see if they can maintain the same level of quality. Those skills would really seem to set a programmer apart, a critical consideration in a world where the competition is getting better (and unfortunately cheaper) every day. |
S. Johnson (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-10 00:00>
After reading a great book titled Thinking in Java (JAVA 1.4)" by Bruce Ekcel. That book is so far the best book I have read on JAVA so far. It has TONS of information and for the most part the author does a very good job in explaining the information. However my main complaint with the TIJ book was that it was very hard to read at times due to the author's writting style.
I ordered Head First Java to fill in some subjects that didn't quite stick from reading Thinking in Java and just to basically get a second perspective of the language from another author.
This book does an excellent job in explaining JAVA concepts and the authors' fun writing style make it easy to follow along. The pictures make concepts easier to grasp. The code in the book works for the most part but there are some errors in the code, however if you have been following along they are easily caught.
As others have mentioned this book does not cover EVERYTHING on Java 5. Off the top of my head, I can tell you that this book does not explain anonymous inner classes or reflection. This book however does enough to get you started writing Java apps and has made some concepts that didn't quite stick with the TIJ book easier to understand.
This should not be your ONLY Java book because some things ARE left out that would make some of the program more robust. A perfect example of this fact is that annonymous inner classes are not taught in this book, which are very good for coding actionListeners for GUI components. But with that being said, this book should definetely be one of your first because many of the topics they do go over are taught very well. Once you finish this book you should be more comfortable with the more "advanced" books like Thinking in Java which is also a greak book as I have already read the 1.4 edition. After finishing this book, I plan to read Eckel's Thinking in Java (Java 5 edition) book next and I suspect it will be easier to follow along.
You do need a little programming experience to be able to get the most out of this book as it assumes you already know some things.
For what this book is supposed to do it does an excellent job and has been the best Java book I have read so far as far as presentation is concerned.
I also got Head First Patterns and am eager to read that book as well.
Stay away from the Learn JAVA in x minutes/hours books! If you want to learn Java the right way, go with Thinking in Java by Bruce Eckel AND the Head First book. |
View all 18 comments |
|
|
|
|
