Comments on: Core Java http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/core-java/ Enhance your site with CGi, PHP and ASP scripts Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:32:35 +0000 hourly 1 By: W. Scott Cook http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/core-java/comment-page-1/#comment-144 W. Scott Cook Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:09:02 +0000 http://bloghost.xaviermedia.net/blog/core-java/#comment-144 This book has been an excellent resource in my learning Java programming. I've been programming for over 20 years (yes, I used the original K&R C handbook to learn C), but I am new to Java. Using this book, working through the examples carefully (actually typing each of them into NetBeans and digesting the code piece by piece, modifying them here and there afterward to test ideas and enhance understanding), I can actually say that the topics are sinking in and the presented material (i.e. the Java skills , concepts, and syntax) is becoming second nature. <br /> <br />To give an honest impression: I did not, however, start completely fresh with this book. I first worked through the Java tutorial on Sun's website. I think that helped me grasp topics better when they were presented here in Core Java and I'd recommend doing something along those lines instead of relying strictly on this book (or any one source for that matter). In fact, for me personally, it helps to code and code and code as much as possible. So, the more sources of actual coding opportunities, the better. <br /> <br />That said, I would add that if this book had some companion exercises to go along with the material and the code examples contained within, it would be invaluable (and 5 star worthy). Giving the reader the additional chance to enhance and test his/her understanding of the material by starting with a problem and a blank page would (imo) make this book an incredible resource. I was a disappointed at first that there were only pre-done examples in this book, but that seems to be par for the course as it does not appear that there are current Java exercise books. <br /> <br />Anyway, I do believe I'll be moving on to Volume II and work through it in the same manner as I did in volume I (hoping that volume II is as well done as volume I). Rating: 4 / 5 This book has been an excellent resource in my learning Java programming. I've been programming for over 20 years (yes, I used the original K&R C handbook to learn C), but I am new to Java. Using this book, working through the examples carefully (actually typing each of them into NetBeans and digesting the code piece by piece, modifying them here and there afterward to test ideas and enhance understanding), I can actually say that the topics are sinking in and the presented material (i.e. the Java skills , concepts, and syntax) is becoming second nature.

To give an honest impression: I did not, however, start completely fresh with this book. I first worked through the Java tutorial on Sun's website. I think that helped me grasp topics better when they were presented here in Core Java and I'd recommend doing something along those lines instead of relying strictly on this book (or any one source for that matter). In fact, for me personally, it helps to code and code and code as much as possible. So, the more sources of actual coding opportunities, the better.

That said, I would add that if this book had some companion exercises to go along with the material and the code examples contained within, it would be invaluable (and 5 star worthy). Giving the reader the additional chance to enhance and test his/her understanding of the material by starting with a problem and a blank page would (imo) make this book an incredible resource. I was a disappointed at first that there were only pre-done examples in this book, but that seems to be par for the course as it does not appear that there are current Java exercise books.

Anyway, I do believe I'll be moving on to Volume II and work through it in the same manner as I did in volume I (hoping that volume II is as well done as volume I).
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> By: D. Spencer Dickson http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/core-java/comment-page-1/#comment-143 D. Spencer Dickson Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:19:14 +0000 http://bloghost.xaviermedia.net/blog/core-java/#comment-143 This is a great book, it provides detailed descriptions about how to write in Java. I recommend it if you have some, (but not much) java experience, or even if you have a lot of experience. It includes great programs, references, and notes describing how to use the most commonly used peices of java. If there are certain methods not in the book, it gives exact references to them online at the sun website. Rating: 5 / 5 This is a great book, it provides detailed descriptions about how to write in Java. I recommend it if you have some, (but not much) java experience, or even if you have a lot of experience. It includes great programs, references, and notes describing how to use the most commonly used peices of java. If there are certain methods not in the book, it gives exact references to them online at the sun website.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Midwest Book Review http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/core-java/comment-page-1/#comment-142 Midwest Book Review Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:49:27 +0000 http://bloghost.xaviermedia.net/blog/core-java/#comment-142 CORE JAVA V. 1 - FUNDAMENTALS represents a revised, updated edition of Core Java V. 1 - Fundamentals: as such, it's a definitive guide to Java for serious programmers who want to apply Java to real-world projects. It's been fully updated for the new Java SE 6 platform and provides a tutorial appropriate for both college-level computer libraries and as text assignments for classrooms. Chapters cover all the basics but apply them to real-world practices, incorporating all the new facets of Java SE6 in a guide essential for Java learners. <br /> <br />Diane C. Donovan <br />California Bookwatch Rating: 5 / 5 CORE JAVA V. 1 – FUNDAMENTALS represents a revised, updated edition of Core Java V. 1 – Fundamentals: as such, it's a definitive guide to Java for serious programmers who want to apply Java to real-world projects. It's been fully updated for the new Java SE 6 platform and provides a tutorial appropriate for both college-level computer libraries and as text assignments for classrooms. Chapters cover all the basics but apply them to real-world practices, incorporating all the new facets of Java SE6 in a guide essential for Java learners.

Diane C. Donovan

California Bookwatch
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Harvey Birdman http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/core-java/comment-page-1/#comment-141 Harvey Birdman Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:43:35 +0000 http://bloghost.xaviermedia.net/blog/core-java/#comment-141 I give this a 5 for quality of content ( I mean really. It's the gold standard.) but subtract two stars for the idiotic decision to not include a CD/E-Book. Instead, the purchaser receives a coupon good for a 45 day trial to 'Safari, the Online Bookshelf'. <br /> <br />Well, isn't that just spiffy. I expect that after 45 days, one is supposed to pay... to view the material you've already paid for. <br /> <br />Let's stretch our imaginations a bit, and go to a world where some poor souls still use a dial-up connection... or where an individual works on a laptop at a remote location where there is no Internet connectivity. In such a fantastical world, this 'Safari' gimmick is worthless. I sense more misguided social activism than a grasp of the reality where the potential purchaser of the book might live and work. <br /> Rating: 3 / 5 I give this a 5 for quality of content ( I mean really. It's the gold standard.) but subtract two stars for the idiotic decision to not include a CD/E-Book. Instead, the purchaser receives a coupon good for a 45 day trial to 'Safari, the Online Bookshelf'.

Well, isn't that just spiffy. I expect that after 45 days, one is supposed to pay… to view the material you've already paid for.

Let's stretch our imaginations a bit, and go to a world where some poor souls still use a dial-up connection… or where an individual works on a laptop at a remote location where there is no Internet connectivity. In such a fantastical world, this 'Safari' gimmick is worthless. I sense more misguided social activism than a grasp of the reality where the potential purchaser of the book might live and work.

Rating: 3 / 5

]]> By: D. Barker http://www.cgiphp.com/blog/core-java/comment-page-1/#comment-140 D. Barker Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:00:47 +0000 http://bloghost.xaviermedia.net/blog/core-java/#comment-140 The book does well is saying what's new in JDK 5.0 and later. It doesn't do well in actually covering it. The book shows results of certain arguments, commands, etc..., without actually showing you the command that would be executed to achieve the result. It leave you to the trial and error of figuring out the syntax by yourself. <br /> <br />It also lacks explanation at the beginning chapters, making this a book I wouldn't want to start out learning JAVA with. I don't have other JAVA books covering the new specs, so I don't have anything to compare this to. However, I learned JAVA initially with FAR superior books to this. One was Introduction to JAVA Programming by Liang. It explaned everything a beginner needs to know, and included plenty of example code, and explained the code. I don't know if there is a new version though, and the one I have would be outdated now. Rating: 1 / 5 The book does well is saying what's new in JDK 5.0 and later. It doesn't do well in actually covering it. The book shows results of certain arguments, commands, etc…, without actually showing you the command that would be executed to achieve the result. It leave you to the trial and error of figuring out the syntax by yourself.

It also lacks explanation at the beginning chapters, making this a book I wouldn't want to start out learning JAVA with. I don't have other JAVA books covering the new specs, so I don't have anything to compare this to. However, I learned JAVA initially with FAR superior books to this. One was Introduction to JAVA Programming by Liang. It explaned everything a beginner needs to know, and included plenty of example code, and explained the code. I don't know if there is a new version though, and the one I have would be outdated now.
Rating: 1 / 5

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