Java Servlet Programming (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This book is a superb introduction to Java servlets and their various communications mechanisms. It includes deep and comprehensive coverage of the Java Servlet API, and also of HTTP, non-HTTP socket communications, Remote Method Invocation (RMI), and more. Throughout, the authors present excellent illustrative code and go to much effort to explain why things work the way they do.

The authors (to their credit) do not assume that Java programmers will be familiar with transport protocols or what really goes on when a Web server operates. They begin by showing how to use servlets to generate static pages, then show how to get servlets to generate customized documents in response to requests from the client side. That alone will satisfy many readers' problems. However, the authors go on to tell how to track sessions with servlets, how to carry out secure transactions, how to get servlet threads to communicate with each other, and more. If it can be done with Java servlets, it's discussed in this book. Java Servlet Programming also includes a reference to the Java Servlet API, version 2. --David Wall

Product Description

A few years ago, the hype surrounding applets put Java on the map as a programming language for the Web. Today, Java servlets stand poised to take Java to the next level as a Web development language. The main reason is that servlets offer a fast, powerful, portable replacement for CGI scripts. Java Servlet Programming covers everything you need to know to write effective servlets and includes numerous examples that you can use as the basis for your own servlets. The book explains the servlet life cycle, showing how you can use servlets to maintain state information effortlessly. It also describes how to serve dynamic Web content, including both HTML pages and multimedia data. Finally, it explores more advanced topics like integrated session tracking, efficient database connectivity using JDBC, applet-servlet communication, inter-servlet communication, and internationalization.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 510 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1st edition (December 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156592391X
• ISBN-13: 978-1565923911
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 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: #1,345,712 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 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

This review is from: Java Servlet Programming (Java Series) (Paperback)

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)

This review is from: Java Servlet Programming (Java Series) (Paperback)

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