Java Language Reference (Nutshell Handbook) [Paperback]

Mark Grand (Author)

Book Description

Series: Nutshell Handbook | Publication Date: January 8, 1997

The Java Language Reference is an indispensable tool for Java programmers. Part of O'Reilly's new Java documentation series, this book details every aspect of the Java programming language, from the definition of data types to the syntax of expressions and control structures. Using numerous examples to illustrate various fine points of the language, this book helps you understand all of the subtle nuances of Java so you can ensure that your programs run exactly as expected.

This edition describes Version 1.0.2 of the Java language. It includes:

• A complete reference describing all aspects of the Java language
• Syntax for all Java statements, presented using easy-to-understand railroad diagrams
• A detailed look into Java's style of object-oriented programming
• A chapter explaining exception handling in Java
• An examination of multithreaded programming with Java
• Reference material on classes in the java.lang package
• Notes highlighting the differences between Java features and similar features in C and C++

The Java Language Reference and the forthcoming Java Fundamental Classes Reference and Java AWT Reference provide a complete set of reference material on the Java language and the Java Core API. These manuals comprise the definitive set of Java documentation that you need to do serious programming with Java.

O'Reilly & Associates also publishes a tutorial, Exploring Java, if you need to get up to speed with this exciting new technology. For advanced Java programming topics, look for upcoming books from O'Reilly on network programming, distributed computing, and database programming.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

O'Reilly books have a reputation among programmers for providing some of the best technical information for professionals. No exception, these three web-related books will only enhance O'Reilly's reputation. JavaScript is not Java, but it is very useful because JavaScript code does not need to be compiled and the scripts can be embedded directly into an HTML document. Flanagan's work is an excellent book for programmers interested in learning it quickly. Grand, meanwhile, provides an exceptionally clear discussion of Java itself that is particularly useful for a working programmer moving from C++ to Java. Threads are what makes Java a particularly useful language for multiprocessing?the ability to appear to do more than one thing at a time?which is what the Internet is all about. The tricky part of threads is that the concept is new for most users. Oaks offers a very clear discussion of how to spawn a process, when to spawn, and how to synchronize and schedule it, all illustrated with good network examples.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

The Java Language Reference is an indispensable tool for Java programmers. Part of O'Reilly's new Java documentation series, this book details every aspect of the Java programming language, from the definition of data types to the syntax of expressions and control structures. Using numerous examples to illustrate various fine points of the language, this book helps you understand all of the subtle nuances of Java so you can ensure that your programs run exactly as expected. This edition describes Version 1.0.2 of the Java language. It includes: A complete reference describing all aspects of the Java language Syntax for all Java statements, presented using easy-to-understand railroad diagrams A detailed look into Java's style of object-oriented programming A chapter explaining exception handling in Java An examination of multithreaded programming with Java Reference material on classes in the java.lang package Notes highlighting the differences between Java features and similar features in C and C++ The Java Language Reference and the forthcoming Java Fundamental Classes Reference and Java AWT Reference provide a complete set of reference material on the Java language and the Java Core API. These manuals comprise the definitive set of Java documentation that you need to do serious programming with Java. O'Reilly & Associates also publishes a tutorial, Exploring Java, if you need to get up to speed with this exciting new technology. For advanced Java programming topics, look for upcoming books from O'Reilly on network programming, distributed computing, and database programming.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1st ed edition (January 8, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565922042
• ISBN-13: 978-1565922044
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,049,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Shy on the details, September 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Java Language Reference (Java (Addison-Wesley)) (Paperback)

There are several places in the language description (for example, the rules on static method overriding and inner classes) where this book is either vague, misleading, or occasionally flat-out wrong. "Java Language Reference" might provide a nice introduction to the language's syntax, but it does not make a good Java language reference.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy it, September 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Java Language Reference (Java (Addison-Wesley)) (Paperback)

This is the worst book on programming I've ever bought. Even though the author does tell the reader that this book isn't intended as a "teach yourself"-book one expects a book on programming to be somehow divided into well defined areas, each showing a part of the whole idea. This book switches from reference style to programming-by-example style all mixed up with a couple of bad flow charts. I regret buying it and advise others from doing it.

4.0 out of 5 stars This one get's used daily., May 16, 2002

By 

"jeromedayton" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Java Language Reference (Java (Addison-Wesley)) (Paperback)

I'm a little surprised by the other reviews. I have found over the last year this to be an authorative source for the Java Language Specification. I go to other books when I want to know about the various Java packages but this is the one I got to when I want to know about the Java langauge semantics and syntax.