Object-Oriented Software Design and Construction with Java [Paperback]

Dennis Kafura (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 5, 2000 | ISBN-10: 013011264X | ISBN-13: 978-0130112644

Appropriate for courses in Intermediate JAVA Programming and Object-Oriented Design/Programming. This interactive on-line course/book offers an integrated presentation of concepts in OOP, issues in software engineering, and the language features of Java. Unlike many other books-which assume either (1) a strong background in software engineering and computer science or (2) absolutely no background in either discipline-this book strikes a balance in level, designing coverage to be accessible and relevant to readers with limited experience in the subject matter.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Written as a sophomore-level computer science textbook, Object-Oriented Software Design and Construction with Java introduces key concepts in advanced object-oriented design, UML, and introductory Swing programming. Ideally suited to the classroom, this title delivers an engaging mix of theory and practice that will help students take their basic Java skills to the next level.

The best thing about this textbook is its thorough treatment of more advanced object-oriented design concepts such as inheritance, polymorphism, aggregation, and even an introduction to software patterns. Better yet, the author incorporates basic UML diagrams (including class, sequence, and state diagrams) to bolster the software engineering material presented here. One standout feature is a table of about two dozen key OO buzzwords, along with handy definitions. Many of the code examples make use of an "ecological" life simulation (which include predators and prey classes).

Besides a guide to doing more with objects, this book also zeroes in on several key Java APIs, including an introduction to Swing programming, and an excellent chapter on using Java's (often mysterious) stream classes for both file and console I/O. (Much of this text makes use of the author's own UI classes, though, instead of Swing.)

For any student who is serious about Java, this book is an excellent mix of cutting-edge thinking about objects and engaging code examples that will let you master today's hottest programming language while gaining some new insights on proper class design. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: Object-oriented design concepts (abstraction, separation, composition, generalization); Java classes; method overloading; arrays; object communication; associations; interfaces; static and dynamic aggregation; designing class hierarchies with inheritance; introduction to software patterns; Swing user interfaces (overview of features and basic controls) layout managers; Java I/O with binary, text, and object data; file and console I/O; threads and synchronization basics; distributed concurrency; UML basics (class, sequence, and state diagrams); simulations; sample programming exercises.

From the Back Cover

Object-Oriented Software Design and Construction with Java® integrates a presentation of concepts of object-oriented programming, issues in software engineering, and features of the Java language. The text strikes a good balance between a book that assumes familiarity with programming, and a book that assumes no background in computer science material. This approach is particularly excellent for the second—year student (or above) since it assumes the reader has a basic knowledge of C syntax and programming. This textbook offers a comprehensive scope. It integrates better design strategies and software engineering issues along with more compelling examples and problems. The book also discusses UML (Unified Modeling Language) and describes how to build graphical user interfaces using the new Swing library in Java 2.

Features:

• Integrates a consistent global reference against which readers can measure their progress, while understanding which language features support each role/goal
• Shows examples that demonstrate the power and utility of language in a realistic context based on graphical user interfaces and ecological simulation
• Furnishes a Companion Website (www.prenhall.com/kafura) that includes the complete online text viewable through standard browsers, PowerPoint slides, and an Online Study Guide
• Focuses on the basic principles of good object-oriented design rather than the syntax and details of the Java language
• Provides readers with proficiency through step-by-step guidance in using commonly available tools and techniques for constructing complex systems
• Illustrates key concepts visually through animated simulations or interactive components that are implemented as Java applets requiring only a standard browser
• Provides a simple, visual programming environment for early problems
• Based on Java 2 from Sun Microsystems
• Presents a stand-alone chapter of the latest Swing components for building graphical user interfaces

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 450 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall (March 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 013011264X
• ISBN-13: 978-0130112644
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,206,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I'd rather read binary code while walking on hot coals, January 28, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Object-Oriented Software Design and Construction with Java (Paperback)

If you buy this book by choice, well, you've wasted some cash. If you have to buy it for a class, well, then your out of luck. The author's pedigogical style creates confusion by taking concepts of moderate complexity and making them uncomprehensible.

He does this first by not having had the book edited (and if he did, then his editor should be fired). Secondly, the author only gives you high level explanations of concepts that underpin subsequent material. If your not already intimate with the subject matter (like myself; the reason why I bought the book?) you will soon find yourself using a reference or in dispair.

As another reader noted, the on-line text (edited, to some extent) took some, but not much, of the mystery out of this book. Still, if I were to give the book more than one star I would be far too generous.

The individual who gave this book 4 stars must be a genious, a mind-reader, and omnipotent.

The authour should know that this text is basically garbage. Summarizing: garbage in, garbage out!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Like v1.0 software, it needs work before it will be useful, October 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Object-Oriented Software Design and Construction with Java (Paperback)

First off, I commend the author and publisher for attempting to develop a useful combination of a printed book and a web site. The entire content of the book is available online, as well as auto-graded multiple-choice quizzes and additional explanation using Java-based applets.

However, the editing of the book is horrible; I have a difficult time thinking it was even proof-read once. Mistakes about in the printed version - the first chapter averages one mistake per page. There are errors both in text and in code examples. The reader must spend so much time decoding what the author's intent was in a sentence that it's difficult to follow the flow of the material. However, I should note that many of these errors have been corrected online.

What was the most distracting for me, however, is when the printed copy begins giving instructions for the online-only interactive Java demonstrations. There are a number of paragraphs that begin with something on the order of "Drag the blue area over the yellow area in figure x.y below..." These sections of text should have been presented online, but certainly not in print.

The content itself takes an interesting tact -- the author assumes the reader knows C, C++, or another language that describes the "C-style" syntax and programming logic. He also assumes a firm grounding in algorithmic design and some foreknowledge of where Java syntax varies from that of C/C++. He presents the methods of Object-Oriented Programming and a taste of UML diagramming around this "Java for the C programmer" dialogue... and this concept almost works.

This is the first attempt at such a print/web melding I've been introduced to. Unfortunately, there have to date been a number of problems with the web site (access, errors in the scripting at the site, and missing content). I think that at this point, the reader would have been better served with a more traditional print/CDROM format. I do see potential in the print/web concept, and encourage the author and publisher to keep working in this vein. Perhaps like most Microsoft products, the idea will become useful around version 3.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too many typographical errors, August 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Object-Oriented Software Design and Construction with Java (Paperback)

This book needs a good copyediting and proofreading job. It is full of typographical errors that sometimes make it impossible to understand. The author chose an environmental example to illustrate the use of Java classes. Why not a practical business example? Perhaps if the publisher were to issue a new edition with some serious copyediting to improve the writing and correct the errors, the book would be more useful.