Objects First With Java: A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

David Barnes (Author), Michael Kolling (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0131249339 | ISBN-13: 978-0131249332 | Publication Date: July 22, 2004 | Edition: 2

The object-oriented paradigm continues to dominate the teaching of introductory computer programming. Objects First With Java is the first textbook to completely integrate the BlueJ Java development environment with the teaching of object-oriented principles. By using BlueJ, the authors are able to take a truly objects first approach, introducing the student to objects and classes from the outset, and enabling him/her to create an object and call its methods as the very first activity.

The authors move forward from traditional approaches on how best to tackle the complex concepts of object orientation, and deliver an outstanding text that is radically changing the way introductory programming is taught. Welcome to the BlueJ revolution!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The new edition of this best-seller brings it up to date with the latest developments in the field, and builds on the clear, accessible approach that has contributed to its success.

Objects First with Java

is an outstanding text that is radically changing the way introductory programming is taught. Welcome to the BlueJ revolution!

Key features

• Truly objects-first approach

• Project-driven approach to problem solving

• Thorough treatment of object-oriented principles

• CD-ROM containing the JDK and BlueJ for various operating systems

• A website at www.booksites.net/barnes containing the style guide for all examples used in the book, PowerPoint slides for instructors and other support material.

New to this edition

• New chapter on GUI programming and Swing

• Incorporates coverage of JUnit-style testing and assertions

• One hundred new exercises, many independent of the projects

• Four-colour new text design to improve pedagogy and aid student learning

From reviews of the first edition

"The book represents a valuable, new approach to introductory programming; it is still my best choice as textbook for the introductory programming course."

- Michael Caspersen, University of Aarhus, Denmark

"This is the most innovative approach to teaching an Introduction to Programming course I have seen so far."

- Clemens Martin, University of Ontario

"I would like to thank the authors for their good job on this book, and the wonderful BlueJ, the best programming environment for students learning Java."

- Ying Zhou, Rhode Island College

"The first true ¿objects first¿ introductory text; the best introduction to objects and OO programming concepts I have ever seen."

- Michael Goldweber, Xavier University

"The more I read Barnes and Kölling¿s book, the more impressed I am with it. It is a pedagogical masterpiece."

- Ian Bridgewood, Copenhagen University College of Engineering

About the Author

David J. Barnes is at the University of Kent at Canterbury, and is the author of Object-Oriented Programming with Java, also published by Prentice Hall.

Michael Kolling is one of the developers of the Blue) software, and is currently based at the University of Southern Denmark, Odense.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 edition (July 22, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131249339
• ISBN-13: 978-0131249332
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really learn Java with "Objects First" and Bluej, May 10, 2005

By 

Gordon Webster (Cambridge, MA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Objects First With Java: A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

One really bad way to teach basic math in elementary school is to stick a calculator into a kid's hand and have her learn how to use it. The kid might be multiplying large numbers together in no time, but she won't have any real understanding of what she's doing. There's an analagous problem with learning computer programming languages using the latest whizzy integrated development environments (IDEs). The IDE does a lot of the leg work for you behind the scenes and code gets 'automagically' generated, but you don't really understand what's going on. Worse still, some of the major Java IDEs are so feature-rich that it's an uphill struggle just to understand the IDE, let alone to try and learn Java and object-oriented programming (OOP). If what I've just described mirrors your own experience in trying to learn Java using the popular Java IDEs, then read on ... the wonderful Bluej Java enviroment and this accompanying book, may be just what you've been looking for.

"Objects First with Java" is an absolute Godsend for anybody who wants to really learn Java from the ground up, and in the process, develop a clear understanding of object-oriented programming. The examples in the book are superbly illustrated using the author's "BlueJ" Java environment which comes on the CD included with the book. BlueJ lets you create your own Java modules and then interact directly with them, allowing you to experiment with their behavior as you edit and compile individual Java classes. Based upon the example projects that also come on the CD, you can alter or rewrite the Java code, compile it with BlueJ and immediately see the results. This kind of direct experimentation makes learning more fun and allows the reader to really assimilate the core principles of the Java language and the OOP paradigm that it embodies.

The book is beautifully laid out with code snippets, subject summaries and exercises all color-coded. The text is written in an accessible and conversational style that is lacking in a lot of the traditional, "dry" computer texts that are often about as much fun as having root canal work. In spite of this, the book manages to completely avoid the "light and fluffy" approach of some tutorial style texts that are overly chatty and ultimately rather lighweight. "Objects First" is a serious text for anybody wanting to learn Java and OOP and although I consider myself an experienced programmer in other computer languages, with considerable prior exposure to OOP, I never felt bored or talked down to by this book.

In summary then, I whole-heartedly recommend this book to new and experienced programmers alike who wish to learn Java well and my advice would be this: Do yourself a favor, put aside the complex Java IDE for now, buy this book, download the latest editions of BlueJ and Sun's Java environment from the web (the versions on the CD are not the latest and greatest) and REALLY learn Java!

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading, September 30, 2003

By 

P. Casey - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Objects First with Java: A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ (Paperback)

I have been teaching programming to beginners for almost 20 years. I found leaning object oriented programming took me a long time, I believe it has taken most of the text book authors a long time also, many of them still don't get it. The authors of Objects First have taken a giant leap and provide an introduction to OOP (using Java) that is a must read for anyone wanting to learn to program with objects (even more experienced programmers).

Do not read any OOP texts that refuse to start with a discussion of objects from the first page. This book simply gets it right!

In addition to the great topic coverage, the authors use the BlueJ environment to demonstrate OOP concepts. This environment is unique (and free) and allows students to explore OOP in a way that other programming environments simple don't provide.

Not only do the authors clearly discuss OOP but they also discuss important software engineering concepts along the way.

Buy this book, work through the incremental exercises, and you will not be disappointed.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book for understanding OOP, December 26, 2003

By 

Alex - See all my reviews

This review is from: Objects First with Java: A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ (Paperback)

This book is what I've always looked for, it doesn't expect you to know anything about OOP or even programming. Step by step the author takes you into the concepts of OOP. There are no "hidden" steps, that you must understand without explanation, every construct that is used is explained when it's used, and the steps are small enought to give everyone the time to understand everything thoroughly. The book has always additional excercises for every chapter, that help you to retry the concepts you've learned. This is very helpful because you might have the feeling that you'd understand what you've read, but it might be that you just understood the example not the concept itself. So I can recommend this book to everyone who wants a real good start in Java and OOP. This book is not meant as a reference book, it's meant for teaching yourself and others in the basics of Java and OOP with the help of BlueJ.