programming.java: An Introduction to Programming Using Java, Second Edition: An Introduction to Programming Using Java, 2nd [Paperback]

Rick Decker (Author), Stuart Hirshfield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 24, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0534371094 | ISBN-13: 978-0534371098 | Edition: 2

This book provides a lab-based introduction to programming, using Java™ as the programming language of choice. Decker and Hirshfield introduce students to Java and object-oriented programming (OOP) by presenting the empowering features of Java - and OOP classes, packages and inheritance - first, and bringing in the algorithmic details later. The first part of the book is devoted to using and experimenting with Java's Abstract Windowing Tool kit (the "AWT"), providing students with code that is algorithmically simple but produces interesting graphical results. Then, in the second half, students add code to implement these graphical shells (GUIs), resulting in a variety of visually appealing and functional programs. By following this interface-first approach, students effectively prototype their Java programs before writing the detailed code. All code examples in the text are updated to Java 2. The accompanying Lab Manual (with sample programs), developed by the authors, supports the example programs discussed in the text. This construction directly links the lab experience with the reading and lectures. The Second Edition of the Lab Manual has been fully updated to Java 2, the latest version of Java.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rick Decker is Professor of Computer Science at Hamilton College. In addition to authoring numerous textbooks, Dr. Decker's research interests include computer science education, algorithms and computability, and topological graph theory. He has won teaching awards from Ohio State, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and Hamilton College.

Product Details

• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: Course Technology; 2 edition (December 24, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534371094
• ISBN-13: 978-0534371098
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #812,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars programming.java, September 15, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: programming.java: An Introduction to Programming Using Java, Second Edition: An Introduction to Programming Using Java, 2nd (Paperback)

One should always be wary of a Java book that places a chapter entitled "Java Language Basics" on page 163. Like too many authors, Decker & Hirshfield somehow feel the reader will bebefit from delaying such a topic until chapter 5. The first 4 chapters are filled with examples begging for basic explainations. The very first page of chapter 2 has code demonstration applets and as such contains inheritance. This is immediately followd by a discussion of methods, overriding and graphical programming.

If you want to jump into Java head first without a clue to the basics, this is the book for you. When I wonder why software has such quality and reliablity problems, it's probably because the programmer learned a language from a book like this one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for the initialted, January 11, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: programming.java: An Introduction to Programming Using Java, Second Edition: An Introduction to Programming Using Java, 2nd (Paperback)

This book doesn't have the greatest reviews and I think it's because it has the wrong audience. I'm an old time Cobol programmer who's read some books on java but really had a hard time sitting down and getting a program organized and working. This book solved my problems. Between the hands on lablets and the numerous problems in the quiz section at the end of each chapter I finally began to be able to use what I knew. Also there's a fabulous chapter in which the authors actually build an application from scratch, explaining their thinking and ackowledging the time it takes to get it up and running. This book is for people who want to be able to use java when they're done but I think it's too hard for total novices. It would have been nice however if there were solutions to some of the problems.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Be sure to get the lab manual that accompanies this book, February 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: programming.java: An Introduction to Programming Using Java, Second Edition: An Introduction to Programming Using Java, 2nd (Paperback)

This book works much better when used in conjunction with a lab manual. I have used this book successfully in teaching a beginnning Java course to non-computer science students.

The approach is non-traditional in the sense that the students start programming a graphical user interface from the very beginning. This approach engages the students and helps them learn more quickly because they can "see" the effects of the changes they make to their code.

The authors take a top-down approach and avoid overwhelming students with too many details.