Beginning Programming with Java for Dummies [Paperback]

Barry Burd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0764526464 | ISBN-13: 978-0764526466 | Edition: 1

Computers are so much a part of our daily lives that many of us take them for granted. You turn on your PC, connect to the Internet and check your stocks, your e-mail, or the weather report, write a note to Grandma, or relax for half an hour by shooting make-believe lasers at make-believe aliens. But if you ever wonder “how do they make a computer do that?” then you may be a candidate for Beginning Programming with Java™ For Dummies^®.

If you’re ready to take the plunge into programming, Java is a wonderful place to start.

You can write Java code for any operating system. A cool device called the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) will translate your code so it can be understood by your Windows system, your neighbor’s Mac, or your nerdy cousin’s Unix box.  Java is a good place to begin learning programming. And not only can programming be fun, it can also be a lucrative career.

Author Barry Burd breaks down Java programming into fun and manageable bites – or bytes. He walks you through downloading and setting up the Java compiler, JVM, and Java API, and then away you go!  You’ll be able to

• Explore the parts of a program
• Discover methods, variables, values, and types
• Find out how the computer turns your program into the zeros and ones it understands
• See how your computer makes decisions and how your program directs its choices
• Create loops, use arrays, and program with objects and classes
• Translate the mysteries of some common error messages – and fix the problems they reveal

Once you discover the joys of Java programming, you just might find you’re hooked. You’ll be able to make that machine do your bidding, at least some of the time. You may find yourself thinking of programming like a game of strategy, in which it’s up to you to find the secret passageway, decipher the magic words, and save the princess. Sound like fun?  Here’s the place to start.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The jargon-free way to get into programming

Begin writing solid, working Java programs right away

Ready to jump into the exciting world of Java? With easy-to-follow instructions and numerous examples, Barry Burd provides you with a firm foundation in programming basics and great strategies for writing solid code. Before you know it, you’ll be making methods, using classes, working with arrays, and creating your own powerful programs.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

About the Author

Barry Burd, PhD, teaches computer science at Drew University and trains professional programmers. He also speaks at conferences worldwide and is the author of Java 2 For Dummies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764526464
• ISBN-13: 978-0764526466
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,335,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for the no-experience programmer, October 19, 2003

By 

Adam Dukovich "colts_19" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beginning Programming with Java for Dummies (Paperback)

If you have had experience programming in other languages, then this book is not for you. It takes things slowly but surely, demonstrating the basic tenets of programming as well as the specifics of Java. I read it before taking an introductory computer science course and it really put me ahead of almost all of the other students (and I had no real programming experience).

Basically, this book was written for the novice. If novice is too generous a term for you, then this book will be perfect. Even if you only thought Java was another name for coffee and only use a computer to word-process on and want to pick up a hobby or perhaps a job skill, you will benefit from this book. The author, Barry Burd, really knows his stuff. He is able to explain such complicated conceptual areas such as objects, classes and arrays better than my CS 101 prof. He also keeps it lively if things get too abstract by analogies and often throws a joke in a section. The book, as a result, is somewhat entertaining in addition to being informative. He uses language that any lay person could easily understand (but if you want to read this because you are going into a computer science class, it's a good place to start, but you will need another book to help you learn the terminology).

In spite of the stigma attached to the "For Dummies" book series (at least it's not as bad as "The Complete Idiot's guide"), this is a book written for people who just want to get to know the language and write some simple programs (or more). I would highly recommend it to anyone getting started here, as well as Java 2 by the same author.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A decent read, but don't expect to be programming anything real after this book, July 5, 2009

By 

Michael Spitzer (New York City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies (Paperback)

I got this book because of the good reviews, but I promptly returned it and got Head First Java, which is much more comprehensive. I got over the usual "for dummies" annoyances like the constant joking and the constant referrals to other chapters. What I couldn't get over was that this book did not go far enough. I know that it is for beginners, but this book really doesn't teach you very much at all. If it was to be a real beginner's book, maybe the author should have spent more time discussing HOW the code works and much less on the actual Java language. There also should be exercises to do on your own, and there aren't any at all. That would have offered the most value for beginner programmers.

In short, if you just want to read about programming, get this book. If you actually want to do some of it, this book isn't for you.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Only Good Beginning Java Book, October 14, 2004

By 

Scott Baret (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beginning Programming with Java for Dummies (Paperback)

I took a class in Java last year and was very unhappy with the Deitel book used, as it was lacking understandable material and humor. When I went to the library I found a bunch of Java books but they all looked too confusing to me. I got home and used a trusty ol' Amazon search and found this book. I immediately went in a mad search around Pittsburgh for this book, as I didn't have time to wait for the shipping. I found it and was glad I bought it. It's clear, humorous, and is so well-written that even a person in their 80s could figure out how to program. Buy this--you'll be glad you did.