Problem Solving with Java, Update (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Elliot B. Koffman (Author), Ursula Wolz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 22, 2002 | ISBN-10: 032115486X | ISBN-13: 978-0321154866 | Edition: 2

Problem Solving with Java teaches the sound problem solving skills that beginning programmers must understand alongside the basics of object-oriented programming using Java. The book emphasizes the use of objects and classes from the beginning by providing the basics of OOP from the start, but delaying the complications of the AWT, Swing, and more theoretical concepts of OOP until later. The authors' approach is to design a worker class or support class for each problem. The worker class has data fields for storing the problem inputs and it has methods that implement the algorithm needed to solve the problem. There is a separate application class that instantiates a worker object, passes data to this object, and then displays the results returned by the worker object. In this way, the student is introduced to the importance of object interaction and separation of concerns from the very beginning. The worker class knows how to solve the basic problem (units conversion, computation of area, etc.). The application class knows how to get the data from the user and display it. This approach better prepares students for the use of applets and GUIs. The worker class can be used without modification by an applet that performs the functions of the application class.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Click for author interviews and demos of four SimpleGUI examples.

Object-Oriented Programming

This book presents a careful balance between traditional problem-solving techniques and object-oriented design. Embracing the object-oriented paradigm, the authors introduce objects early (Chapter 2) and use them throughout, introducing features as needed in a gentle manner. Chapters 4 - 7 focus on the traditional data and control structures, using objects as needed. Chapter 8 provides a more in-depth study of object-oriented design, providing detailed coverage of visibility, polymorphism, and inheritance. Applications and Applets

Focusing on applications early, the book supports user interaction by providing a package called simpleIO. Applets are first introduced in Chapter 4 where the authors use them in an optional section on graphics to introduce the AWT and its features for drawing simple graphical patterns. They are studied extensively in Chapters 9 and 10 where the intricacies of the AWT, programming for the web, and GUI programming are covered. Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)

Starting in Chapter 2, the authors integrate a GUI library that allows students to better understand concepts through visualization and have some fun. GUI concepts are always presented in the context of good problem solving and program development. Optional sections on graphics appear starting in Chapter 4, again to spur student interest and keep them motivated. Proven Software Development Process

The book conveys the relationship between good problem-solving skills and effective software development by consistently applying a proven software development method that has been adapted to the object-oriented paradigm. Helpful Learning Features

The authors employ several features to enhance the usefulness of this book as a teaching tool. These include syntax displays, program style displays, end-of-section exercises, examples, case studies, error discussions, and chapter reviews. Also, interviews with famous computer scientists provide glimpses into various careers in computer science. 0201357437B04062001 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Elliot Koffman is a professor of computer and information science at Temple University. He is one of the country's foremost CS educators, a former chairman of the ACM Task Force for introductory programming methods courses, and author of a number of successful language texts in Modula-2, FORTRAN, in addition to his four editions of Pascal and Turbo Pascal. Dr. Ursula Wolz is an assistant professor and former chair of the computer science department at the College of New Jersey. She has been teaching programming for 20 years and has been involved in research in object-oriented design, artificial intelligence, and intelligent user interfaces during this period. She has published widely on issues concerning computer science education and has received National Science Foundation funding for CS curriculum development. 0201357437AB04062001 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Addison Wesley; 2 edition (August 22, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 032115486X
• ISBN-13: 978-0321154866
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,973,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars No good for beginners or (1st year) students, January 6, 2000

By 

Karin van den Berg - See all my reviews

This review is from: Problem Solving With Java (Paperback)

I am a 1st year student at a computer science & management study in the Netherlands where they chose this book to teach us how to program Java. I'm not the only one who doesn't agree with their choice. It is unstructured, giving you assignments at the end of each chapter without enough explanations on how to do the things they ask. They base their explanations on just one example and give unclear overviews of the structure of java. A week after starting the course I went straight to the bookstore for a better book (Java: How to program, Deitel & Deitel)

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Over Simplification will do no java beginner any justice, June 30, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Mt. Laurel, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Problem Solving With Java (Paperback)

This book was a horrible guide to learning JAVA. It is riddler with errors, both English and logic. For a book that makes an attempt for simplicity by using such methods as SimpleIO and SimpleGUI, it will really set a bad seed to a beginning programmer. There are far better books on the market that will offer the user a lot less confusion.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book!, August 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Problem Solving With Java (Paperback)

If you are an experience programmer, and looking for fast and easiest Java Data structure and Algorithm book... Look no further! This is the one (it covers almost all the basic data structures and shows you how to take advantages of Java classes and language).