Java Programmer's Reference [Paperback]

Grant Palmer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2000

Java is a platform-netural, Object-Oriented programming language which provides a large number of predefined library classes which greatly simplify common programming tasks.

This book is a quick reference to the parts of the language and libraries you'll need 90% of time time - the language has grown so large it is not possible to cover the entire class library in one book. Instead, this book covers the commonly-used packages: the Java language, utility, I/O, and network programming classes, together which those for GUI development using the Abstract Windowing Toolkit and Swing, applets, event handling, and Java Beans.

In each chapter the important classes and methods within the package are presented, along with clear, concise examples that demonstrate how to use them.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Grant Palmer's Java Programmer's Reference provides an efficiently organized guide to the most important Java classes and APIs. With a basic tutorial and a nicely organized listing of Java methods (grouped by specific packages), this text is a great resource to have on one's desktop and is suitable for anyone who programs with Java on a day-to-day basis.

This small-format book (measuring 9 by 6 inches) will fit into a briefcase--despite having more than 1,200 pages of reference material. Organized by Java package, the book tours the most common Java APIs, centering on the "core" and user-interface classes in Java (for instance, AWT and Swing). Early sections explain the basics of Java, including data types, keywords, and language constructs. Sections on the newer Java 2 collection classes are notably useful and concise. The rule of thumb in this text is both to list all methods associated with a class and describe all arguments and return types. Most entries also contain sample code.

Java Programmer's Reference successfully organizes information for quick searches. But this volume is much more than a listing of APIs. The explanations and the sample code will fill you in on newer Java 2 features, and let you review the language quickly. The focus on "core" Java instead of Enterprise APIs (like RMI, JNDI, or Jini) keeps this guide manageable and puts the classes used most for everyday tasks close at hand. Besides its general index, the book includes a separate listing of all included Java classes to let readers find what they need in a hurry.

Java APIs continue to grow by leaps and bounds. Whether you are a new or experienced Java programmer, this truly handy reference helps you be more productive by putting the most important APIs at your fingertips quickly. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered:

• Java 2/JDK 1.2 reference and tutorial
• Overview of Java, Java variables and data types, arrays, and collection classes
• Java I/O classes including file I/O
• Java networking (sockets, URLs, and connections)
• AWT classes and methods
• Event objects and applets
• Basic Swing user-interface classes and methods
• Swing borders, tables, and trees
• Java Bean support classes, additional Java packages, and sample code

From the Publisher

Online discussion of the topics in this book available at Wrox's P2P site

The growth and development of the Java Language means that alongside a tutorial (Beginning Java 2 - ISBN:1861002238) each properly equipped programmer should be in posession of a complete reference. Java Programmer's Reference allows programmers and developers to access the essential elements of the Java language in a quick and efficient manner. All of the major packages are covered, the core packages, IO, AWT, Swing, Network programming, and Java Beans.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 1200 pages
• Publisher: Wrox Press; 1 edition (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861004222
• ISBN-13: 978-1861004222
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 2.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,707,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rock Solid and Concentrated, September 3, 2000

By 

Greg Playle (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Java Programmer's Reference (Paperback)

I selected this book out of interest, and out of a need for a recent (JDK v1.3) reference for the classes, interfaces, and contents of the JDK and its libraries. I like the feel of a book in hand while I'm working, and I typically have three to six books open around me as I go. Wrox Press (www.wrox.com) advertises their works as "Programmer to Programmer ™" and they are spot on! This book is incredibly focused, and presumes you've got a solid working knowledge of Java as a professional developer, but need a reminder on some of the classes, packages and examples of how to use or call the methods. If you need a reference book on Java's huge packages, you need this book. I've read several other works covering much of the Java packages. Although this book is physically larger (best clear a good 3 inches of shelf space) it is much "denser". My overall reaction: focused, a good read, and very clear in presentation.

Chapter 1, the Java Fundamentals, is just 70 pages long. In this section, I found extremely clear, tight, and readable code and descriptions. I found single paragraph descriptions that took pages in other works. From there, you drop straight into java.lang, and work through the most popular packages including javax.swing, border, table and tree, and wrap up with the java.beans package. Every page is packed with examples, code snippets, and very terse descriptions of how the class, method, or interface works.

My key for any good reference book is the index. I want the information, easily located, and NOW. Wrox and Grant have done well here. Indexes include by class name, interface (and classes implementing the interface), and a general index, which picks up the method names. Method entries in the index include page references to the individual classes implementing the method.

The author claims (accurately) that this book is "essential rather than exhaustive". It's squarely aimed at the heads-down, professional developer, who stays "in the flow" for most of the day. Grant introduces each class briefly, provides an inheritance hierarchy, gives an overview of the methods, and drops into a functional example of using the material. No "terminally cute" examples, just easily read code that demonstrates "how to" in as clear a manner as possible. The chapters on AWT and Swing classes provide minimalist screenshots showing the results of the examples; only one item is demonstrated at a time, removing any guesswork. Got a question? In one or two pages, you'll have an answer.

I would recommend this book as a supplement to other, introductory books for a beginner to the language, or to someone taking classes in Java. I strongly recommend begging, borrowing, or (best of all) buying your own copy as you ramp up for the Certification exams. The first chapter will supplement the other study guides very nicely, and the book remains useful far longer than the certification guides.

I've got a bookshelf reserved for what I use on a daily basis; Java Programmer's Reference goes on it and will stay there. I expect this book to remain useful for years. Rating: 4 out of possible 5. (Scale: 1: read in an airport, when there's nothing better to do. 3: solid, useful, buy whichever one fits your thought process. 5: drop everything, go buy this book now, read it tonight, carry it with you.)

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Valuable Resource, June 21, 2000

By 

Tim Nguyen - See all my reviews

This review is from: Java Programmer's Reference (Paperback)

This book sits on my desk and I use it all the time. I looked at "Java in a Nutshell" but now you have to buy three books. This book covers JDK 1.3, the javax.swing package, and has hundreds of short examples. The java.io package examples are especially good. The book also has a very good chapter on Java Beans. The index is outstanding. It is 60 pages long and is divided into two parts, a general index and one for classes. Because its only one book, it doesn't cover everything in the J2SE JDK 1.3, but as a reference book that covers the core Java it's great

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Handy Book, July 18, 2000

By 

Lynn Tokarcik (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Java Programmer's Reference (Paperback)

I really like this book and find it very useful. This book doesn't claim to be a tutorial, but it's actually a pretty good one. I'm still learning Java, and this book has helped me to learn things that weren't covered in my courses. Unlike many Java books out there, the writing style is very clear. The examples (and there are lots of them) are short enough so you don't get lost when going through them, and yet they are all standalone code so you can run them yourselves. It's a good way to get a feel for what the classes and methods do. The chapter on Java Beans is very good. I thought a Bean was some mysterious thing, but this book explains them very clearly.