Objects First With Java: A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ (4th Edition) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Michael Kolling (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The BlueJ development environment was specifically designed to support introductory teaching of object-orientations and helps users grasp the complicated concepts of class structure. Unlike most books on the subject, this text uses BlueJ to get readers started on object-oriented programming from day one. Uses a spiral approach that introduces a topic in a simple context early on, then revisits it later to increase understanding; Offers an abundance of projects for hands-on practice; Chapters are ordered around software development concepts rather than language features; Language-feature introduction is naturally driven by problems to be solved; Chapters are based around distinct projects for more variety; Does not cover traditional topics like control structures. A useful reference for programmers.

From the Back Cover

Objects First with Java:
A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ Learn JAVA and BLUEJ straight from the source!

Welcome to the first introductory programming textbook that completely integrates BlueJ with the teaching of object-oriented principles using Java.

BlueJ is a Java development environment that runs on top of the Sun Microsystems Java Development Kit making use of the standard compiler and virtual machine. It has been specifically designed for the introductory teaching of object-oriented programming, allowing the student to create objects of any class and interact with their methods. This truly objects first approach within the customized BlueJ environment is expected to revolutionise the way programming is taught. For the first time, the traditionally difficult concepts of objects and classes are brought alive in an easily manipulable visual form.

Key features:

• Objects first approach
  BlueJ supports teaching tools that are not available in other environments, including the visualisation of class structure. This means that the student can interact with objects directly, even before looking at the first line of Java syntax!
• Project driven approach to problem solving
  Each chapter contains problems which are analyzed before the language constructs are introduced that can solve them. What is more, the book is structured along the lines of fundamental development tasks, giving clear coverage of the principles of object-oriented programming
• Spiral approach
  Challenging topics are introduced early, and then revised later in the book in a different context in order to deepen understanding
• Thorough treatment of object-oriented principles
  Pointers are used within each chapter to refer the student to further reading, supplementary sources, and language references
• Supplements
  The book is accompanied by a CD-ROM containing the JDK and BlueJ for various operating systems. A supplement download website contains the style guide for all examples used in the book, as well as PowerPoint slides for instructors.

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

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Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 4 edition (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0136060862
• ISBN-13: 978-0136060864
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #157,661 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 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!

20 of 20 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.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Peter Casey (BEND, OR USA) - See all my reviews

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.