Java Servlet Programming (Java Series) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Aimed at Web developers with some previous Java experience, Java Servlet Programming, Second Edition, offers a solid introduction to the world of Java development with Servlets and related technologies. Thoroughly revised and newly updated with over a half-dozen new chapters, this title brings an already useful text up to speed with some leading-edge material. It excels particularly in explaining how to program dynamic Web content using Java Servlets, with a fine introduction to all the APIs, programming techniques, and tips you will need to be successful with this standard.

Besides a useful guide to APIs, the book looks at a variety of techniques for saving session state, as well as showing how Servlets can work together to power Web sites. You will learn performance tips and ways to get Servlets to work together (like forwarding and redirection), plus the basics of database programming with JDBC, to build content with "live" data. A later chapter examines what's next for Servlets with the emerging Servlet 2.3 API standard. Importantly, the authors go over deploying and configuring Web applications by editing XML files, a must-have for successfully running Servlets in real applications.

Since the first edition of this title, the choices for Java Web developers have grown much richer. Many of the new chapters in this edition look at options beyond Servlets. Short sections on application frameworks such as Tea, WebMacro, the Element Construction Set (ECS), XMLC, and JavaServer Pages (JSP) let you explore what's out there for Java developers today with a survey of some current tools that can speed up creating new Web applications.

The text closes with reference sections on Servlet APIs (and other material) that will be useful for any working developer. Although Servlets are not the only game in town, they are still important tools for successful Web development. This updated edition shows you just how to do it with plenty of basic and advanced tips for taking full advantage of this powerful Java standard. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered:

• Overview and history of Java Servlets
• Fundamentals of HTTP
• Web applications (including deployment and configuration using XML files)
• The Servlet lifecycle (initializing, processing requests, cleanup, and caching)
• Multimedia content (images and compressed content)
• WAP and WML for wireless content
• Servlet session tracking techniques (hidden form fields, cookies, and URL rewriting)
• Security issues with Servlets (including certificates and SSL)
• Tutorial for JDBC and Java database programming
• Using applets and Servlets together
• Servlet collaboration
• Quick introduction to Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE)
• Internationalization issues
• Survey of third-party Servlet application frameworks and tools: Tea, WebMacro, the Element Contruction Set (ECS), XMLC, and JavaServer Pages (JSP)
• Miscellaneous tips for Servlets (including sending e-mail and using regular expressions)
• Description of the new Servlet 2.3 API spec
• Servlet API quick reference

Product Description

Java Servlet Programming covers everything Java developers need to know to write effective servlets. It explains the servlet lifecycle, showing how to use servlets to maintain state information effortlessly. It also describes how to serve dynamic web content, including both HTML pages and multimedia data, and it explores more advanced topics like integrated session tracking, efficient database connectivity using JDBC, applet-servlet communicaton, interservlet communication, and internationalization. The second edition of this popular book has been completely updated to cover the new features of Version 2.2 of the Java Servlet API. It introduces chapters on servlet security and advanced communication, and also introduces several popular tools for easier integration of servlet technology with dynamic web pages. These tools include JavaServer Pages (JSP), Tea, XMLC, and the Element Construction Set. In addition to complete coverage of the 2.2 specification, we have also added bonus material on the new 2.3 specification.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 780 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 2 edition (April 3, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596000405
• ISBN-13: 978-0596000400
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (155 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #445,808 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Servlets for the experienced Java Programmer, January 14, 2000

By	"harbourne" (Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Java Servlet Programming (Paperback)

This book provides excellent and clear explanations of servlet programming but it is definitely not for the novice. Experience in programming with Java is essential to get the full benefit however experienced CGI programmers who are converting to Java/Servlets should also find it essential reading.

However (potiential) readers should be aware that published in October 1998 it is now slightly dated if you are using latest Servlet API, however nevertheless, still is the best Servlet book I have been able to find.

It's intial explanation of the Server side of the equation was worth the cost alone by helping me to understand exactly how the servlets interact with the server, and hence how to maximise the performance of servlets which have to interact with various databases. (Also has a good section on JDBC - Java DataBase Connectivity - which most servlet writers will need).

I would still recommend this book to the motivated novice but only after reading some other introduction to java, such as the 'Java Tutorial' (in book or on Sun's website).

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive Servlet Tutorial, July 4, 2002

By	Bob Carpenter (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

We have a half dozen books on servlets lying around the office, and I've also read the online tutorial from Sun. Nothing compares in breadth, depth, or clarity to Hunter and Crawford's "Java Servlet Programming".

Luckily, the second edition does not tinker with the tried and true formula of the first: brief overview, hello world servlet, a thorough overview of the HTTP protocol itself and the architecture of servlets, a discussion of thread and resource issues, and a standalone chapter on session management. Despite the 700+ pages of this book (are authors paid by the pound these days?), this core introduction remains only 200 pages and change. Each topic is presented with definitions and clear, yet realistic code examples. The authors not only provide advice on how to use servlets effectively, but also provide numerous suggestions on how to avoid common pitfalls and misconceptions.

The remaining 500 pages cover topics such as security, internationalization, database connectivity and communicating with applets. Although these are not really servlet-specific issues, they are almost always present in some combination on web sites, and the authors indicate the peculiar way in which the standard Java approaches to these problems interact with the servlet architecture. Each is presented in its own clear chapter with several examples. The beauty of these chapters is that like good code, they're modular and can be read in any order.

In what I think is a sensible organization, Java Server Pages (JSPs) and "application frameworks" are left for last. Both are well defined and illustrated. There's also 50 pages of reference, but frankly, I prefer the javadoc.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 2d Edition Answers All the Questions..., April 25, 2001

By	Mark Galbreath "History Professor" (Annapolis, MD USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

that have been plaguing the online servlet interest group for months. In addition to covering all the topics of the first session, Jason (Will Crawford did not contribute to this edition) brings the content nearly up-to-date with all the dizzying array of developments in the servlet API, Tomcat , and the Web Applications Framework that have taken place since publication of the first edition (October 1998).

In particular, he illuminates the dark recesses of XML deployment descriptors, Tomcat 3.2, J2EE, the Tea and WebMacro frameworks WAP, XMLC and the changes from JSDK 1.0 to 2.2. Every topic is accompanied by working code snippets and often the code builds on itself so the would-be servlet programmer can participate in the development of complex applications from simple beginnings. I say "nearly up-to-date" because Tomcat 4.0 beta, incorporating JSDK 2.3 has been released, but to Jason's credit, he devotes an entire chapter on 2.3! This is about as current as hardcopy gets these days!

My copy of the first edition is falling apart from constant use as a reference and already my copy of the 2d Edition is showing signs of wear. I could not recommend this book highly enough. If more people bought and read it, my email from the servlet interest group would no doubt decrease by an order of magnitiude!

April 25, 2001