Customer Reviews

Wicked Cool Java: Code Bits, Open-Source Libraries, and Project Ideas

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a lot of fun as it focuses on many interesting ideas for Java programmers. Do not expect complete solutions to complex problems. Instead it highlights many open source Java packages and APIs and gives very simple examples of how they can be used. It is up to the reader to go to the web, download the various packages, and play with them. For example, in the area of music, the author discusses JMusic, which provides a solid framework for computer-assisted composition in Java, and is also used for generative music, instrument building, interactive performance, and music analysis. The book just shows a simple program that generates a filtered sawtooth wave, and a few other simple examples. The readers are expected to explore the API themselves for meatier applications. Other open source packages that are highlighted and explored on a simple level are JFugue, another API for music programming, Javolution for embedded programming applications, and Piccolo, an API from the University of Maryland that supports the development of 2D structured graphics programs in general and Zoomable User Interfaces (ZUIs), in particular.
The book also explores the more interesting parts of the Java language itself such as using the AWT Robot class for automating key/mouse events, using the new enum types in Java 5, and several off-beat applications of the various Java classes that handle XML data.
None of the ideas shown here lead to full blown applications that will make you rich. Instead, the idea is to get you thinking in creative ways about what can be accomplished with the Java language and also to introduce you to some interesting open source API's that are out there on the web that are both labor-saving and creative. I would recommend this book to any experienced Java programmer. I notice that Amazon does not show the table of contents so I do that here:
Chapter 1: Java Language and Core API
Chapter 2: String Utilities
Chapter 3: Processing XML and HTML
Chapter 4: Crawling the Semantic Web
Chapter 5: Math and Science
Chapter 6: Graphics and Data Visualization
Chapter 7: Multimedia and Sychronization
Chapter 8: Fun, Integration and Project Ideas

"Wicked Cool Java", by Brian D. Eubanks, bills itself as "an idea sourcebook" for Java developers who are "looking for interesting and useful APIs or for project ideas." This book serves as an introduction to a hodge-podge of APIs covering a breadth of topics. Eubanks devotes sections of the book to such overarching topics as processing XML and HTML, the semantic web, scientific and mathematical applications, graphics and data visualization, and multimedia among others. I would expect that most Java developers would find some topic within "Wicked Cool Java" that excites them.

"Wicked Cool Java" seems to fit squarely in the realm of the cookbook style of programming books. Each topic of discussion is punctuated with short code examples, and while many of the topics stand on their own, some do build on previous topics. The presentation and explanation are clear and the code is sufficiently illustrative.

I do have a couple of problems with the book. The first two chapters are "Java Language and the Core API" and "String Utilities." Given the stated objectives of the book, I have a hard time seeing where the first two chapters fit in. These chapters simply explain various aspects of the core Java language. Some of the information covers new Java 5 additions to the language, but much of it covers features that have been part of the language since 1.4 and even 1.1. In my opinion, there is nothing "wicked cool" about anonymous classes, for example. This is just one example of a basic feature of the language that I would think most people picking up the book should already be familiar with. The new Java 5 features discussed, Java 1.4 regular expressions, and the difference between "==" and "equals()" are but a few of the topics here that seem out of place. My other gripe is that URLs aren't given for most of the APIs under discussion. Instead the author expects us to visit the book's website for this information. While this isn't a big problem, it certainly is annoying.

Complaints aside, I did enjoy reading about many of the APIs that I was unfamiliar with. The text does inspire me to want to try out some of the material presented therein, which is after all what Eubanks was trying to accomplish. So while I might not call it "Wicked Cool", "Kinda Cool" might be a bit more appropriate.

Most technical books cover a specific topic; JSP, JDBC, the Java language, or something like that. This book is different. It's a grab bag of wide ranging topics. These range from regular expressions, to RSS parsing, to audio processing. What I like about that is the inspiration it brings. That kind of "I can do that with Java, cool!" type experience. That being said, it's tough to recommend it as a book everyone should read. You should have a look at the table of contents to see if there is enough in it to justify the purchase.

'Wicked Cool Java' by Brian D. Eubanks is a pleasant read, full of great Java tips and tricks laid out in a "cookbook" style reminiscent of the bigger O'Reilly books with the same 'Cookbook' name. The author breaks this book into 8 different chapters:

1. Basic Java language and the core API
2. Working with strings
3. Processing XML & HTML
4. Semantic web and RSS
5. Scientific and mathematical applications
6. Graphics and data visualization
7. Multimedia code
8. Random project ideas

Pros:

I really like the writing style and examples in this book. With over 100 different tips and tricks within, this is a great resource for becoming a better Java programmer. Better yet, it's laid out in such a way that you don't just read the book, you enjoy it. No Starch has one of the best template styles of all the different publishing houses out there, and it's less work and more play reading one of their books.

Cons:

This was never meant to be a resource, more a book full of tips and tricks and it screams it. Coming in at just over 200 pages, I felt that more content could have been included. That's not to say that the stuff contained within isn't worth reading (it is), but at 250-300 pages I feel that this book would be more worth the retail price (at its current length I would have been happier with a price around $5 less).

This book is great for amateur and experienced Java programmers, not a resource for people who are looking to LEARN Java. This is the main distinction between this and many other Java books out on the market. If you want to pick up another book to add to your collection and a fun book at that, I would recommend you take a look at 'Wicked Cool Java'.

**** RECOMMENDED

Are you a Java developer who is looking for interesting and useful APIs or for project ideas? If you are, you're in luck! Author Brian Eubanks, has done an outstanding job of writing a book that will help you enhance your code.

Eubanks, begins by discussing some of the core API features--some that are older, but less well known and some that are new to Java 5. Then, he discusses String processing techniques. The author continues by showing you how to process XML and HTML documents and other types of structured text. Next, he explores the Semantic Web, a next-generation web where the links are between concepts rather than documents containing text. Then, the author explores scientific and mathematical applications in Java. He continues with a discussion on how APIs make it easier to develop graphical applications or to add new features. Next, he deals with sound and music APIs; as well as, advanced thread synchronization. Finally, he looks at miscellaneous open-source projects and discusses ideas for creating your own projects and integrating code.

Not intended as a basic tutorial by the author, this excellent book will help developers and system architects capitalize on their preexisting knowledge and take advantage of everything the programming language has to offer. Filled with example code, this book will definitely be a welcome find for anyone who enjoys experimenting with Java code--and, who wants to make their code wicked cool.

While this book is not a typical tutorial or reference, it does give the reader a brief glimpse into a wide variety of Java topics. Some of them are code tips like how to use "for" to iterate over a collection or how to use "enum" from Java 5. Other topics introduce the reader to open source libraries for use in managing Xml documents, using RSS feeds, creating graphics, working with sound, and more. The focus is on learning something new and having fun with it.

The topics are grouped into chapters around a similar theme. The first chapter focuses on the language tips and the core API. The succeeding chapters cover string processing, xml (and html), RSS, math applications, graphics, multimedia, and project ideas. The organization of the book is quite good. It has an good table of contents, glossary and an index. Within each topic, any additional library that is required is listed along with the minimum version of Java to be used. The topics themselves are well-written and easy to follow.

The website for the book conveniently provides links to the open source projects that are needed for the topics. However the download page for the example code does not have running examples for all of the topics. Furthermore, I did not see a file for downloading an archive of the examples.

Each topic is only a few pages long, just enough to become acquainted, but not enough for industrial-strength use. For me, I found this format worked well for most topics, and somewhat less effectively for some. But on the whole, this book is definitely a keeper.

Has O'Reilly muddied their waters with TOO MANY different book series for developers? I'm trying to learn XYZ, which book do I buy? XYZ Cookbook? XYZ in a Nutshell? XYZ Hacks? Head First XYZ? The XYZ Developer's Notebook? Or now this, Wicked Cool XYZ?

Each series seems to have their place in the O'Reilly spectrum. There are books for learning a technology (Head First), books that are references for the technology (Nutshell), books that list problems and their solutions using that technology (Hacks, Cookbooks), and books that are for just exploring (Developer's Notebooks).

The Wicked Cool series (actually associated with O'Reilly-owned No Starch Press) seems to be for people who know the core technology, and are looking to explore more of it (but not the standard stuff you would find elsewhere) without necessarily trying to solve specific application problems. The Cookbooks may cover standard problems and solutions, and the Hacks books may offer short and sweet tricks for enhanced productivity, but the Wicked Cool series seems to be about things you didn't even know existed that would be FUN to explore. Today's fun project could be tomorrow's real-world assignment.

I already had the Tiger Developer's Notebook, and this book begins with many aspects of Tiger covered there, but it goes on to cover RDF, SVG, MIDI, declarative interface design, and more. Some of these are topics you won't see covered in any of the other series, for sure. If you have an interest in any of the topics covered here, this book is a good introduction. What's lacking is depth of coverage in many cases--for example, just two pages in total on Lucene?

All in all, a great exploration of areas in Java I might not have otherwise had the chance to explore--for fun today, for who knows what tomorrow.

OK, I admit it .. I've become jaded like most Java programmers. Ruby, Python, Groovy .. wow, all those "agile" languages making Java so, I don't know, .. so 90's right?

Wrong! Bring me your sad Java hackers, .. give them this book .. and wham! .. they'll be back on line, humming like happy campers.

Read this book.

There are times you just want to try something different or get a few ideas to take you in a new direction. Wicked Cool Java by Brian D. Eubanks definitely goes down that path...

Contents: Java Language and Core API; String Utilities; Processing XML and HTML; Crawling the Semantic Web; Scientific and Mathematical Applications; Graphics and Data Visualization; Multimedia and Synchronization; Fun, Integration, and Project Ideas; Glossary; Index

First off, this isn't a Java tutorial or a beginning text on how to code Java. Eubanks assumes you've already been there, done that. What he's done here is gathered a rather eclectic collection of tips and techniques that encompass both core Java functionality and external 3rd party API packages. If you haven't been keeping up with the latest version of Java, some of the material in the first chapter will touch on the new functionality such as generics and assertions. But really, you could get that in just about any Java book. Where the book really shines is when he starts introducing other Java API packages that you either 1) may not know existed, or 2) heard of but never explored. For instance, there are a number of entries that utilize the Jakarta Commons package. Based on what you see here, you might be motivated to download it and explore a bit more. Into music and sound generation? Then the sections that show the JMusic open source API would interest you. Or even JFugue... All it takes is finding out about one package you didn't know about, and the book will more than pay for itself.

Don't expect absolutely every one of the 101 entries to be of interest to you. Books like this are not designed to be 100% useful on every page. But an initial browse through the book will reveal a number of gems, and periodic re-reading could provide a serendipitous solution to a vexing problem...

I enjoyed this book and found quite a bit of useful information in it. The writing style was quite readable, and I read a substantial portion of the book in one sitting, because I found it interesting and enjoyable.

I subtracted one star because the book claims the web site has code samples and forums, but in actuality, these are still listed as "coming soon". As of today, Dec 2005, the website looks pretty primitive, with practically nothing there that adds to the book, except for quick links to the open source libraries. This was a disappointment for me. The code snippets in the book were good, but not quite complete enough to help me connect the dots. The website needs to deliver the goods as promised.

I agree with a previous reviewer who suggested reading the table of contents to decide whether the book contains enough topics of interest to justify the cost. In my case, I'm happy to add it to my shelf and expect it to be useful. I'd be completely satisfied if the website met expectations.