Customer Reviews

Introduction to Java Programming (4th Edition)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

All of the reviews I have read were for previous editions. I use
this for my class text, and students have been very pleased. It
is easy to teach from, with good exercises (most), and the 4th
edition has cleaned up errors mentioned in earlier reviews. I
use it for a beginning and intermediate University level class.

The text is managable and not as verbose at Eckel or as simpleton
as Dietel. Better explainations than the Nutshells which are
also good books. Covers topics often left out in intro books,
Threads, Sockets and Networking.

This is the fifth text I have used since I started teaching
Java classes, and definitely best so far (but get the 4th ed!)

It seems people either love or hate this book. As a Java Instructor, I have used this book for several years, starting with the first edition. It seems to work well with students who have previous programming experience with a language such as C or C++. I like the way the book is organized - first the Java syntax, then OO fundamentals, then GUI design, then more advanced material such as threading and networking. I would rate it 5 stars except for the numerous typo errors. It does seem to be unforgivable to repeat some of the same errors from one edition to the next. Again there may be better books for self-study but in the classroom, this is still one of the best.

I just survived a Java class in which this was the text. The class convinced the instructor not to use this book for future classes. There were a large number of typos, particularly in example programs. Our instructor made the answers available as an aid if we became stumped on a programming exercise. Unfortunately some of the code in those answers simply did not work. It appeared that the book had been hastily revised and not thoroughly checked to assure consistency. The author repeatedly uses methods not yet discussed in his examples and refers the reader to later portions of the book in the Example Reviews. Not helpful in an introductory class, even with a prerequisite of a previous programming language or experience.

I'm really surprised that a number of reviewers who found this book to be "poor". I've used it in the past year to help me obtain my Java Certified Programmer status .... I think it's one of the best Intro. Java "teaching" books out in the market.

This maybe due to differences in the reviewer's computing background ... if you know C++ or C, I think this is a great book. Dr. Liang doesn't cover OOP basics very well in this book so that might be the problem.

I recommend readers to manually type all of Dr. Liang's example programs ... there are literally hundreds and run them. Excellent way to learn Java. Use an earlier Java IDE (not JBuilder3 or equivalent) or just the JDK 1.2 .... that's the best way to learn Java.

Buy this book if you already have some background in Object Oriented Programming (e.g. C++ ) or strong C, I still think it's one of the better Intro. Java books around. If you don't have any C++ or other OOP languages .. you might want an easier introduction to Java ... try Schaum's outline series.

Overall, this is a good book. I've
gone through much of chapters 1-4, some of 5-6, and
a little of chapters 17 and 19.
Chapters 1-4 are solid and (I think)
about at the right level for the intended
audience. Some of the examples in Chapter 5
(which focuses on arrays) are a little heavy.
Learning Java arrays is difficult enough
without adding concepts such as mean and
standard deviation into the mix. Also, the
two-dimensional array examples are probably
beyond the grasp of most beginning students.

Overall though, I'd give the book a thumbs up,
so far. It doesn't make the mistakes that other
Java books make, such as introducing GUI or Object
Oriented concepts before teaching methods, loops,
and arrays. For example, I've had a chance
to look at the "Head First Java" book. I think
it makes the mistake of introducing Object Oriented
programming too early on. If you don't understand
loops or methods, etc., then you can't work with
Java objects. Further, the "Head First Java" book
also goes out of its way to be funny. While I think
there's certainly room for humor in teaching,
most people don't set out to learn Java for the fun of it.
They need to in order to earn a living.
So, as dull as this book is, I'd recommend it so far.

As a professor in computer science, I'd rate this book with five stars. It is a good text for a third-semester programming course where students have certain programming background. I have seen a number of Java texts. None of those texts have a clearer and more precise presentation of Java language than this book does. Consider learning Java from this book, if you want to learn Java not just to know Java superficially.

Full of typos (including the source code), poor examples, and topics presented in an illogical sequence put this one at the bottom of the heap. Do yourself a favor and check out the "Java in a Nutshell" books.

This is the standard text for the class I take at Hennepin Technical College.

There are essentially two programming languages: those that are easy to learn but which are limited, and are in constant need of extension and revision (Visual Basic and JavaScript come to mind...) and those which are powerful but difficult to learn. Java clearly falls in the latter camp. If you are new to programming, I doubt any book on Java will be a help to you unless you are very determined. If you are an experienced programmer, this book makes it a snap to pick the language up. The examples are clear and with a little thought can be comprehended, there are no wasted pages filled with screenshots beyond what is necessary, and no padding of content. While it is an efficient introduction it also does not overwhelm you with more information than you can handle at any one time, remembering it is an introductory text.

The author expects intelligence and experience from the reader: if you require step by step directions with screenshots at each point of the tutorial, you will get nothing from this book. If you do not require such assistance, then you will be very grateful that the author does not waste your time or his with "fluff", and gets straight to the point of teaching you what you need to know.

We were given this book for our introductory course in Java, and it has been a disappointment, to the point that out instructor doesn't even use it. The examples are ok, but sparse and complicated, and the explanations lack any real cohesiveness or flow.

This is a horrible book. The examples have little to do with the illustrated point, involve complex mathematics, and most often don't help you at all. It seems like Liang is leaving you at constant cliff hangers because it takes hours of work and repeated readings to understand any of the complex chapters. Although the book says it identifies its customers as people with no java experience, Liang wrote it as if you DID understand everything that was in the book already. The explanations are so bad you don't understand much. OH yes, Figi is a country. We all ourselves the Figi-people.