Customer Reviews

The Java Programming Language (Java Series)

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have worked with Java for two years, and have a six-year background in C++. I didn't seek an introduction to Java when I bought The Java Programming Language Third Edition, and I would use many of my own notes, and the book chapters in a different order, with beginning programmers (although it would make an excellent university programming text, supported with tutorials and workshops). Experienced programmers will love this book, but beginners (first-time programmers) should come back to it. But the book's strength is its concise, comprehensive unfolding of insight into the Java language model -- more than just the object model. Serious programmers will not regret reviewing everything they thought they knew about Java (especially those of us who regularly work in C++ and Object Pascal as well as in Java). I will read this book every six months, and dip into it daily, if necessary. It offers me a nice blend of terse explanation and illustrative examples of the language core. This is clearly one of the few "5 star" Java core language books available: good scope, well written, trustworthy -- expert knowledge at my fingertips. Use this book to polish your insight.

This is one of the best java programming books that I have read. The book concentrates ONLY in java concept and programming language, it does not cover networking, no Graphics, etc... Its advantage is to help newbie concentrated on the core language first. Novice might find the topic a bit too advanced and terse to digest, more advanced programmer will find the book concise and can be used as a reference for later used. Advanced programmer will find the book a bit too verbose--unlike the C programming language from Dennis and Brian which is very terse, great as reference.

The book offers enough depth that it requires few different re-reads for most people.

I think the book is on par with the "C programming language" as a reference of the language, I also like the layout of the page, very easy on the eyes to help the reading. It comes with good examples. The book is printed on high quality paper...

A must have JAVA book, but not the first java book for novice.

If you are already a developer and wanted to learn Java then this is the book for you. This book clearly explains the language its nuances (this book is not verbose). The examples used by authors to demonstrate the concepts are excellent. I programmed a lot in C/C++ and the books I used to learn those languages are "The C Programming Language" and "The C++ Programming Language" respectively. Ironically, when I started learning Java I did not take up this book. Instead I tried several books and there are some good books out there but nothing that suited me well. I prefer "to the point" discussion that this book provides when learning a language and also like to know why a certain feature was included in the language. This book did exactly that. But if you are new to programming, then this book may not be for you.

Other books that you may like to take a look at are:

1) Thinking in Java. This is available on the for Free(But its too verbose for my tastes).

2) Taming java threads( By Allan Holub. A very nice discussion of Java Threads and Caveats)

Although I have been programming with Java for three years, I still found this book (third edition) valuable. However, if you are looking for a good introductory Java book, I would recommend Bruce Eckel's Think in Java (2nd Edition) instead.

After reading this book and working many of the exercises within, you'll know the basics of the Java language better than most Java programmers do. The authors don't waste time on explaining the basics of object-oriented programming or details of the Java class library. If you already know OOP and feel comfortable with reading the online documentation then this is the book for you!

This book is ideal for C++ programmers who don't know Java, but I'd also highly recommend it to programmers who already know Java but want to jump to the expert level or want to learn the new features of Java 2.

If you're looking for a more academic approach to learning Java, as well as one written by *the* authorities in the Java world, you'll be interested in this title... The Java Programming Language, Fourth Edition by Ken Arnold, James Gosling, and David Holmes.

Contents: A Quick Tour; Classes and Objects; Extending Classes; Interfaces; Nested Classes and Interfaces; Enumeration Types; Tokens, Values, and Variables; Primitives as Types; Operations and Expressions; Control Flow; Generic Types; Exceptions and Assertions; Strings and Regular Expressions; Threads; Annotations; Reflection; Garbage Collection and Memory; Packages; Documentation Comments; The I/O Package; Collections; Miscellaneous Utilities; System Programming; Internationalization and Localization; Standard Packages; Application Evolution; Useful Tables; Further Reading; Index

From a content standpoint, this book is very comprehensive. If it's something you need to know to learn Java, you'll find it covered. Given that the authors were deeply involved in building Java, that's not surprising. There's not an overabundance of coding samples, but the discussion of features and concepts is extensive. I got the feeling I was reading a college level textbook on the Java language instead of a more mainstream version that would talk to people of lesser skills. I don't necessarily consider that a bad thing, as there are some people who don't like their material doled out in a "Head First" fashion. If that describes you, then this might be a better choice. I also consider this to be an excellent choice for someone who wants both a tutorial and a reference book rolled into a single volume. In fact, this almost tends more towards the reference side than the tutorial side.

Good coverage of material and subject matter. It may not be the most entertaining read, but you'll be well equipped to go forth into the world of Java development when you finish.

When I began studying Java, I purchased _The_Java_Programming_Language_ (2nd ed.) and spent a month of free time reading the entire tome. It provided invaluable insights into Java's philosophy and syntax; I don't believe that my study and subsequent employment of the language would have been nearly as successful had I neglected to read _The_Java_Programming_Language_.

Reading an introductory book prior to tackling _The_Java_Programming_Language_ is in my opinion a necessary step if you're unfamiliar with object-oriented concepts; _The_Java_Programming_Language_ assumes a preexisting understanding of OOP. Though I had learned OOP basics in a college CS course on C++, I found the concepts and examples presented in Arnold's book a worthy challenge.

The book is so concise and authoritative that I continue to use it as a reference. I consider _The_Java_Programming_Language_ a jewel of my library and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone embarking on a study of Java.

Nearly 14 years ago, I learned C from a terse little book "The_C_Programming_Language" by Kernighan and Ritchie ("C by K&R") - principals in the creation of C. In similar tradition, I chose "The_Java_Programming_Language" ("JPL") by Arnold and Gosling (first edition) as the foundation for my Java learning experience. Mastering the fundamental philosophy and elements of any Language is crucial in understanding how (and why) to use it. In this way, "JPL" certainly does not disappoint. Basic "core" Java elements (java.lang, java.util, and java.io) are clearly explained in a terse style similar to "C by K&R". In addition, "JPL" correlates Object-Oriented Programming fundamentals that relate directly to Java (Chapters 2 & 3). However, previous or collateral exposure to OOP is generally considered necessary because the "JPL" is first a book about Java, OOP principles simply surface "by extension". Like "C by K&R", the examples in "JPL" are succinct and have meaningful correspondence to real-world programming. I highly recommend "The Java Programming Language" - especially for seasoned C/C++ developers who are new to Java.

If you want to understand Java inside out, this is the book for you. It is equivalent of "The C++ programming language" by Stroustrup and the original "K&R" for Java.
I would recommend you to read this book rather than the Java Specs unless you are writing a compiler.
It will also give you an insight on the why's of language design which helps you understand it better and also appreciate it.

I just passed the Java Programmer Certificate Exam with a score of 92(require 71)yesterday. After read three leading certification prep books I still feel something missing, such as Inner classes, Interface, and inheritance. I didn't feel like I get the main spirit of Java. Then I bought this book last month. This is the best Java book I have read so far, it is concise, comprehensive. I'm a college student and have learned C++ and written C++ Code for two years. I will recommand this book to every people like me who knows C++, want to learn Java and seeking Java certification.