Amazon.com Review
Now that Java is being used for real-world projects, the experts are figuring out what works and what doesn't when it comes to coding style. Peter Haggar's
Practical Java: Programming Language Guide compiles a remarkably useful set of over 60 coding tips that will make your programs more maintainable and perform better. Chances are that this title has something to offer every programmer who works with Java.
This book is organized simply and effectively with 68 practical tips (or in the author's terms "praxes") for writing better Java code. Tips are grouped into sections, such as general tips, objects and equality, exception handling, and performance and multithreading. The book illustrates each tip with short code excerpts demonstrating effective coding strategies (plus several common Java pitfalls).
The book contains numerous standout sections, including the proper way to write equals methods for custom classes, tips for writing more efficient classes, and numerous do-it-yourself techniques for optimizing code. (As the author suggests, not all of today's Java compilers will do this optimization for you.) The book contains several sections that should be read by every Java developer, and though some tips are more obscure, there's certainly something to benefit every reader.
While C++ programmers have had books on coding style for years, Java is only now coming into its own with titles like this one. With its concise format, no-nonsense prose style, and expert-eye perspective on Java, Practical Java: Programming Language Guide shows the same maturing refinement as the language it lucidly describes. --Richard Dragan
Topics covered: Java programming tips, understanding references, final and static keywords, using instanceof, tips for garbage collection, custom equals methods, exception handling tips, using finally blocks, using exceptions with constructors, performance tips, compile-time vs. run-time code optimization, using StringBuffer, minimizing object creation, arrays, Java native code, multithreading tips, the synchronized keyword, spin locks, Java interfaces for emulating multiple inheritance, the abstract keyword, the clone method and immutable objects, tips for finalize methods.
Product Description
Written by an "in-the-trenches" expert on the Java(tm) programming language, this book provides readers with a practical approach to producing correct, efficient, and robust code.
This broad-ranging guide can help programmers with varying levels of expertise to understand Java more completely and to maximize their coding effectiveness. This book's rules-based format examines 68 key topics on how to improve your code, providing crisp, well-written examples and solutions. All of the examples and solutions are accompanied by thorough explanations for achieving a working solution of your own. This practical approach to programming and design describes the best practices used by experienced programmers. Intended for the intermediate to advanced Java programmer, the Practical Java(tm) Programming Language Guide is organized into individual lessons, so it can either be read from cover to cover or by individual topic.
Topics discussed include:
* Objects and equality * Exception handling * Performance * Multithreading * Classes and interfaces
If you want to spend less time debugging, optimizing, and tuning your code, this example-oriented, down-to-earth guide is full of practical techniques for exploiting the Java programming language. The 68 topics were chosen based on their relevance to effective and efficient programming practices. A special section focusing on performance provides valuable insights into Java performance issues and useful performance improvement techniques. If you want real-world, sound advice on building applications using the Java programming language, this book is essential reading.
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