Jakarta Struts for Dummies (Paperback)

by Mike Robinson (Author), Ellen Finkelstein (Author)
Key Phrases: request processor, tag library descriptor, data transfer object, Jakarta Struts, Simple Web Application, Expanding Your Development Options (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
* Shows Java Web developers how to develop Java-based Web applications using the popular open source Jakarta Struts framework
* Sun Microsystems estimates that there are three million Java developers
* According to the Apache Software Foundation, Struts is rapidly growing in popularity among the Java community and is used by a number of high-profile companies, including Ford, McDonald's, Citigroup, Bank of America, and Federal Express
* Provides a quick "jump-start" application to get novices up and running in a hurry
* Examines the Model-View-Controller design paradigm, exception handling, plug-ins, tag libraries, and use of tiles to create Web pages
* After laying the groundwork, the authors apply the specifics of the Struts framework to a real-life, browser-based Web application that can be modified for other types of data collections
* Other topics include using Java Server Faces (JSF) with Struts, handling and validating application errors, securing Struts applications, and managing databases to store data for Struts applications

From the Back Cover
Reduce development time, increase maintainability, and take charge of your code

Find out how Jakarta Struts can support your pages and keep the Java hot!

You’ll know more than beans about Jakarta Struts after you’ve spent a little time with this book! It’ll get you up and running with the popular open source framework that helps you develop and manage Java-based Web applications. You’ll build one before you even finish Part I -- and then explore all the techniques you need for a rock-solid, full-featured Web application.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

Discover how to:

• Apply the Model-View-Controller (MVC) design pattern
• Integrate Struts into a Web application development environment
• Use tag libraries to simplify your JSP™ pages
• Keep control with effective security features
• Reach users around the world in their own language

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Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764559575
• ISBN-13: 978-0764559570
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #185,822 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Well Written and Up to Date, April 5, 2004

By	Peter C. Diotte (Milwaukee, WI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Wow - these 2 authors do an excellent job of introducing a user to Jakarta Struts. I'd recommend a little familiarity with Java and web-apps. Also, you'll need to have the latest version of J2SE - 1.4 or higher (otherwise code won't compile correctly - at least that was my experience).

All the source code is available online.

This book covers Struts version 1.1. Some books only cover Struts 1.0 - be sure to check. Struts 1.1 has many new features - you'll want the latest.

Another bonus - they introduce working with Eclipse as the IDE, and detail how to do so. Eclipse is a powerful alternative to JBuilder, and free.

I'm fairly new to Java (more experience with .NET) and found this book very well written. I highly recommend it.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkably good, July 27, 2004

By	Theonomo "programmer/thinker/wanderer" (Manhattan) - See all my reviews

I was surprised at how clear this book is. I was expecting less from a "for dummies" book. I had to get a struts-based web application up and running in four days flat and I bought both this book and the more highly regarded "Programming Jakarta Struts" by Chuck Cavaness (an O'Reilly book). I used both books, but relied extensively on the example applications in the "for dummies" book. When crunch time came I found myself consistently turning to the "for dummies" book.

Frankly, I thought it was a darn good book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fast Way to Get Started, June 25, 2004

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I like the Dummies books.

OK, so I'm not sophisticated, professional, or even very smart. But so many computer books seem to forget the first twenty pages that explain just what the hell you are trying to do. Perhaps the Dummies books take 40 pages to explain what could have been done in 20, but that's not a problem. I can read fast.

It has often happened that I first read a Dummies book and then once I'm deep into doing something with that language I need to go get a more complete Bible type book. I haven't gotten far enough into Java yet to know if this is true, but my newest task is moving a web site over to Unix (BSD), Postgre, Apache, and Java Servlets to provide server side dynamic pages; I don't have the time to read a Bible on each one of these. This book, along with some other Dummies books is getting me started a lot faster than I thought possible.