Python Programming with the Java™ Class Libraries: A Tutorial for Building Web and Enterprise Applications with Jython (v. 1) [Paperback]

Richard Hightower (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201616165 | ISBN-13: 978-0201616163 | Publication Date: July 8, 2002 | Edition: 1

Python and Java are natural team-mates. Using Python together with the Java class libraries, developers at all levels can leverage Python's simplicity and Java's power together, building advanced Web and enterprise applications with remarkable speed and efficiency. Richard Hightower shows how, from start to finish. Using step-by-step examples, Hightower introduces the fundamentals of Python and object-oriented programming. You'll learn how to work with files, use Python's intrinsic functionality, and take advantage of Python's powerful string handling capabilities. Next, Hightower shows how to interface with Java APIs; how to build Swing graphical applications more easily with JPython; and, how to utilize SQL and JDBC to access enterprise data from Python programs. An important section shows how to use Python to solve problems that would otherwise require far more complex Java coding. For all Python programmers who want to take advantage of the Java class libraries. And. for all Java developers seeking faster, more efficient ways to build Web and enterprise applications.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Characterized by ease of use, richness of expression, and concise syntax, Python has remained a premier programming language for more than a decade, and is used by novices and professionals alike. In particular, its close relationship to Java™ makes the two languages, when used in combination, ideal for Web and distributed enterprise application development.

This tutorial begins with coverage of some of the basics of Python programming. Using plenty of skill-building exercises and interactive programming sessions, this book will help those new to programming develop an understanding of concepts and practical techniques. For experienced programmers, the book demonstrates Python's breadth of capabilities and shows the ways that Python interfaces with Java APIs for professional application development.

Python Programming with the Java™ Class Libraries: A Tutorial for Building Web and Enterprise Applications with Jython covers important topics such as:

• Fundamental programming concepts, including statements, expressions, interpreters, and compilers
• Python basics, including operators, string formatting, namespaces, classes, errors, and exceptions
• Object-oriented programming concepts
• File input/output
• Python's intrinsic functions
• Formatting, parsing, and manipulating strings
• Interfacing with the Java APIs and working with Java Streams
• Using Python and Java Swing to create GUIs
• Working with SQL and JDBC™
• Python and Java applets

In addition, the book contains instructions for downloading and installing the Python language and the Java Development Kit (JDK). Terminology, definitions, explanations, and numerous code samples make this book a useful learning experience.

Whether you are a sophisticated computer user new to programming or a serious application developer, Python Programming with the Java™ Class Libraries will give you insight into the power of Python and the know-how to put it to work.

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About the Author

Richard Hightower is the CTO at Trivera Technologies, a global training and consulting company that focuses on Enterprise Java Development. He leads the adoption of new processes including extreme programming, and helps implement coding standards and guidelines for development. He has created an extensible caching mechanism for caching JSPs, XSLTs, and JDBC results and a pluggable XSLT engine framework. Formerly the senior software engineer for Java Architecture at Intel's Enterprise Architecture Lab, Rick is a frequent contributor to Java™ Developer's Journal magazine and the coauthor of Java Tools for Extreme Programming (Wiley, 2001). At Intel, he led his team of developers in the design and implementation of three-tier, client-server applications; introduced O-O CASE tools; and created several frameworks using a variety of Java, COM, CORBA, and middleware technologies. Rick also created ICBeans and authored the patent application for this technology, which was awarded to Intel. A software engineer at heart, he specializes in development tools and processes, and developing enterprise applications using J2EETM, XML, UML, CORBA, JDBC, SQL, and Oracle technologies.

0201616165AB07022002

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Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; 1 edition (July 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201616165
• ISBN-13: 978-0201616163
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,709,213 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very rough, distracting code samples but still worth a look, October 7, 2002

By 

Larry Cummings (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Python Programming with the Java™ Class Libraries: A Tutorial for Building Web and Enterprise Applications with Jython (v. 1) (Paperback)

I've been banging around in this book for a few days now and feel compelled to let the potential buyers know a couple things if they are considering this book:

1) The code samples are atrocious but well documented. The indenting got fouled up on many of the soucrce code samples (typestting problem?) so as to confuse a python/jython novice like me. The author will occassionally show you a bit of source code and then show you output from the execution of what is clearly a different source file. This is very distracting and if I didn't already have some inkling of how Jython works I'd really have a hard time with this book. Sure seems a shame becuase the explanations of the source code are more complete than you'll find an a typical intro book and this is really very helpful in tracking down the author's/typsetters errors and getting the reader REALLY familiar with the inner workings of Jython. The Sample files on the author's website do help clear up the code errors in most cases.

2) Bear in mind that the author goes out of his way to familiarize you with the basics of Python, so he can get to the Java integration. For this reason the reader is really getting an introduction to Jython. This is ok since the author points this out in the opening of the book and guides you to pertinant sections if you have experience with Python, C++, Java or OOAD in general.

Had I to do it over again I probably would wait for a second edition with the code errors corrected. But if you really need a good low level intro to Python, this book, warts and all, has been more valuable than other titles that introduce the language. I attribute this to the really detailed 'plain english' explanations of the code.

To be fair I can't comment on the Java integration portions (the sample code or the writing) as I'm just finishing chapter 6, so I'm still learning about jython itself).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad book for a Jython kick-start, August 13, 2002

By 

R. Andrews (Madison, MS United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Python Programming with the Java™ Class Libraries: A Tutorial for Building Web and Enterprise Applications with Jython (v. 1) (Paperback)

This book focuses heavily on demonstrating key concepts with the Jython interactive interpreter. While this method is not entirely without its drawbacks, it has the distinct benefit of letting you try out code one line or block at a time (which is one of my favorite benefits of Python in general).

Some books are noted for their depth, others for correctness, some for the range of concepts introduced, etc. And of these, I'd say that this book demonstrates the absolute basics of a wide range of Jython areas better than anything else I've read so far. It's the sort of book you can pick up, open to the middle of, and start coding quickly (assuming your system is set up properly, of course).

While there is room for improvement in future editions, this seems like a good first edition.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very nice, September 21, 2005

By 

Christopher Lumsargis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Python Programming with the Java™ Class Libraries: A Tutorial for Building Web and Enterprise Applications with Jython (v. 1) (Paperback)

The content of this book is excellent. I am a novice jython programmer and have been playing with jython for about three years. I have tried numerous tutorials and even have obtained jython books. This one is the best so far. It covers things I did not know existed in jython. The presentation of material is logical and follows a nice gradient of complexity. My only peeves are that the examples are sometimes erroneous and that my book did not come with the examples on disk.