Jakarta Struts For Dummies [Paperback]

Mike Robinson (Author), Ellen Finkelstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0764559575 | ISBN-13: 978-0764559570 | Edition: 1

As a Web developer, you’ve probably heard a lot about Jakarta Struts, the popular open source framework for creating Web applications in Java. Struts is the de facto standard for Java-based Web applications; in fact, some people consider it the yardstick by which all other Web application frameworks are measured.

The Struts framework is based on a classic Model-View-Controller (MVC) design paradigm that combines Java servlets, Java Server Pages (JSP), custom tags, and message resources into a unified framework. Jakarta Struts For Dummies will get you up and running with Struts in a hurry, so you can

• Control the business logic of your applications
• Design the view for JavaServer Pages
• Validate data
• Use tiles to dynamically create pages
• Secure and troubleshoot your applications, and more

Jakarta Struts saves you coding time and helps you create an extensible development environment. Jakarta Struts For Dummies provides the information you need when you need it, and even lets you get your feet wet right away by creating a special “jump start” application in Part I. Jakarta Struts For Dummies helps you

• Understand and apply the Model-View-Controller (MVC) design pattern
• Integrate Struts into a Web application environment
• Use tag libraries to simplify your JSP pages
• Maintain control with effective security features
• Internationalize Web applications with a feature that creates easy-to-update text content, so international viewers can see pages in their own languages
• Represent all types of data, from one or two items to a huge and complex database
• Extend Jakarta’s functionality with plug-ins
• Use logging to help you troubleshoot an application

Loaded with tips, examples, and explanatory sidebars, this plain-English guide to Jakarta Struts will have you creating Web applications with Struts before you can say “Java”.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Reduce development time, increase maintainability, and take charge of your code

Find out how Jakarta Struts can support your pages and keep the Java hot!

You’ll know more than beans about Jakarta Struts after you’ve spent a little time with this book! It’ll get you up and running with the popular open source framework that helps you develop and manage Java-based Web applications. You’ll build one before you even finish Part I – and then explore all the techniques you need for a rock-solid, full-featured Web application.

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

Discover how to:

• Apply the Model-View-Controller (MVC) design pattern
• Integrate Struts into a Web application development environment
• Use tag libraries to simplify your JSP™ pages
• Keep control with effective security features
• Reach users around the world in their own language

About the Author

Mike Robinson has been working in the computing field since, well, when minicomputers were popular. He has a master’s degree in computer science and has been an independent Java developer specializing in interactive Web applications since 1998. Mike is an adjunct faculty member in the Computer Science Department at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa. If he had any spare time, he would probably spend it hiking.

Ellen Finkelstein is the author of numerous best-selling computer books on AutoCAD, PowerPoint, Flash, and most recently OpenOffice.org. She writes regular articles on AutoCAD and PowerPoint in magazines, e-zines, and for Web sites. She is an adjunct Instructor of Management, teaching e-business courses to M.B.A. students. She writes at home so that she can take the bread out of the oven on time.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764559575
• ISBN-13: 978-0764559570
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #768,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Well Written and Up to Date, April 5, 2004

By 

Peter C. Diotte (Milwaukee, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jakarta Struts For Dummies (Paperback)

Wow - these 2 authors do an excellent job of introducing a user to Jakarta Struts. I'd recommend a little familiarity with Java and web-apps. Also, you'll need to have the latest version of J2SE - 1.4 or higher (otherwise code won't compile correctly - at least that was my experience).

All the source code is available online.

This book covers Struts version 1.1. Some books only cover Struts 1.0 - be sure to check. Struts 1.1 has many new features - you'll want the latest.

Another bonus - they introduce working with Eclipse as the IDE, and detail how to do so. Eclipse is a powerful alternative to JBuilder, and free.

I'm fairly new to Java (more experience with .NET) and found this book very well written. I highly recommend it.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkably good, July 27, 2004

By 

Theonomo "programmer/thinker/wanderer" (Manhattan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jakarta Struts For Dummies (Paperback)

I was surprised at how clear this book is. I was expecting less from a "for dummies" book. I had to get a struts-based web application up and running in four days flat and I bought both this book and the more highly regarded "Programming Jakarta Struts" by Chuck Cavaness (an O'Reilly book). I used both books, but relied extensively on the example applications in the "for dummies" book. When crunch time came I found myself consistently turning to the "for dummies" book.

Frankly, I thought it was a darn good book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fast Way to Get Started, June 25, 2004

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jakarta Struts For Dummies (Paperback)

I like the Dummies books.

OK, so I'm not sophisticated, professional, or even very smart. But so many computer books seem to forget the first twenty pages that explain just what the hell you are trying to do. Perhaps the Dummies books take 40 pages to explain what could have been done in 20, but that's not a problem. I can read fast.

It has often happened that I first read a Dummies book and then once I'm deep into doing something with that language I need to go get a more complete Bible type book. I haven't gotten far enough into Java yet to know if this is true, but my newest task is moving a web site over to Unix (BSD), Postgre, Apache, and Java Servlets to provide server side dynamic pages; I don't have the time to read a Bible on each one of these. This book, along with some other Dummies books is getting me started a lot faster than I thought possible.