Rent $18.14
- List Price: $121.60
- Save: $103.46 (85%)
- FREE return shipping at the end of the semester.
- Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with rentals.
Rented from Amazon Warehouse
Fulfilled by Amazon
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and .
If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Learn more about the program.
Buy new:
$134.12$134.12
FREE delivery:
Thursday, Feb 16
Ships from: Amazon Sold by: PACIFIC STARS
Buy used: $24.19
Other Sellers on Amazon
94% positive over last 12 months
& FREE Shipping
98% positive over last 12 months
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Building Java Programs: A Back to Basics Approach 2nd Edition
| Price | New from | Used from |
There is a newer edition of this item:
- ISBN-100136091814
- ISBN-13978-0136091813
- Edition2nd
- PublisherPearson
- Publication dateMarch 21, 2010
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions7.4 x 1.7 x 9 inches
- Print length1176 pages
![]() |
Frequently bought together

- +
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Marty Stepp is a computer science lecturer at the University of Washington where he teaches intro programming, web programming, and software engineering. Google highlighted his web programming resources in their Google Code for Educators initiative, and he was recently featured as the Seattle PI’s “Geek of the Week.” Stepp is the lead author of Web Programming Step by Step, with Jessica Miller and Victoria Kirst from the University of Washington. He is also co-author of Building Java Programs: A Back to Basics Approach with Stuart Reges. Stepp wrote an online tool for practicing Java problems to accompany the Java textbook, called Practice-It!. He is also first author of Computing Fundamentals with C#.
From 2004 — 2006, Stepp worked as a computer science lecturer at the University of Washington, Tacoma. Before that he spent a year as a developer at Microsoft on the Excel team. Stepp got a Master’s degree in computer science at the University of Arizona in 2003. He has done research in geometric algorithms and security, taught several courses as a graduate student, and was a teaching assistant for several years.
Product details
- Publisher : Pearson; 2nd edition (March 21, 2010)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 1176 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0136091814
- ISBN-13 : 978-0136091813
- Item Weight : 3.43 pounds
- Dimensions : 7.4 x 1.7 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,357,882 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,221 in Computer Programming Languages
- #4,242 in Introductory & Beginning Programming
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
gets weierder with this clueless response from pearson support
Nancy, obviously you aren't "working" on my issue since you don't seem to have a clue about the actual issue. it's all in this thread so all you need to do is read it. i bought one of your text books from Amazon. downloaded it and have been - without an iota of success - to access the additional material referenced in the book: sample code, video tips, etc. It's been a waste of time to try and access support as this email demonstrates.
tell me how to access the material successfully and we're done. Why do you need to work on that for a week? BTW another student complained about the sqme issue on Amazon so you must be working on that too. I'm going to complain to Amazon next.
On Friday, September 2, 2011, Pearson Customer Technical Support wrote:
>
> Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.
>
> We are continuing to work on your issue. If you have more information, update your question here: <[...]>
>
> Subject
> Worst experience
>
> Discussion Thread
> Response Via Email (Nancy)09/02/2011 07:51 PM
> Dear Susan Zellmann-rohrer,
>
> Thank you for contacting Pearson Education Customer Technical Support.
>
> We are sorry that you are experiencing difficulties while registering for our website.
>
> In order to assist you further, please provide us with the following information:
>
> 1. Access code:
> Note:The access code will be in a format like this PSBAT-GEORG-THOLE-PICON-HARRY-LOBBY
>
> 2. Exact error message(If any):
>
> 3. The website of the URL([...]) you are trying to register:
>
> 4. Exact title,author and the ISBN of the textbook you are trying to register:
>
> 5. Course ID(If any):
>
> Should you experience additional problems relating to this issue, feel free to reply to this message so we may assist you further.
>
> For your convenience, visit our 24/7 website for technical assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at [...] For help using our web site, view the video at [...]
>
> Thank you again for contacting Pearson Education Customer Technical Support.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Nancy
> Pearson 24/7 Technical Support
> Customer By Email (Susan Zellmann-rohrer)08/28/2011 11:29 AM
> Hey, don't break a sweat on my behalf but wait, clearly you don't do that ever thus the terrible registration, customer service, chat and faq experience. guess students aren't your audience.
>
> On Sunday, August 28, 2011, Pearson Customer Technical Support pearsoned@mailnj.custhelp.com wrote:
>
> Your question has been received. You should expect a response from us within 24 hours.
>
> To access your question from our support site, click here.
> [...]
>
> Discussion Thread
> Customer By Web Form (Susan Zellmann-rohrer)08/28/2011 10:35 AM
> Just purchased java text book from amazon and have spent +60 minutes in a ridiculous waste of time trying to register. I will register my huge disappointment on amazon with your terrible processes. Clean up your act.
> Customer By Web Form (Susan Zellmann-rohrer)08/28/2011 10:35 AM
> Just purchased java text book from amazon and have spent +60 minutes in a ridiculous waste of time trying to register. I will register my huge disappointment on amazon with your terrible processes. Clean up your act.
>
> [---001:002168:21407---]
If you are just beginning to learn Java and haven't had any experience with OOP (Object Oriented Programming), I believe this book takes the right approach. It's a very up-to-date treatment of the basics of the language, and like the cover implies, builds the wall brick-by-brick. You'll learn the components of Java in an order that is easy to follow, the progression to more advanced topics being just about as natural as possible.
One idea that this book emphasized that others I have read did not (very well), is handling common programing errors. From the get-go, the authors stress how important it is to catch your programming errors as you go along, encouraging the construction of more robust (although still very rudimentary) programs.
In my opinion, this book has a very "let's teach Java how it is practiced" approach. It's very, very practical in the examples it uses and the problems it gives in the back of each chapter. There is also a case study at the end of each chapter that is unique to that chapter, covering the concepts highlighted.
For Students: If you've already had some experience in programming Java, this text might be a bit inadequate because it emphasizes the basics -- perhaps it would be a good reference text (although I'd encourage using Sun's online service). If you're brand new to the language, this is the book to get.
For Professors: PLEASE teach with this book. It not only helped me learn Java, it helped me appreciate it. A text book can easily make or break a student's interest in a subject; this book will definitely encourage interest.
I think there is a serious omission left out in Chapter 3G. In order to work through the routines in chapter 3G the text book instructs one to place the following declaration at the top of your program:
< import java.awt.*; // for graphics >
In addition, the text book instructs that one needs to place the file "DrawingPanel.java" (which can be downloaded form the textbook website) under the same folder as your program you are writing.
I did that and it did not work (errors). From advice from a real professional programmer, in addition to the above text book instructions, one needs to also go into the "DrawingPanel.java" source file (the one that was just placed into the folder and add a < package name; > statement at the top of the DrawingPanel.java source code where the "name" is the name of the routine /package/project that you are presently writing. After that, your program should compile.
I am a newbe as far as Java is concerned and I am using this text book to self teach myself the JAVA language. I think this is an excellent text book for learning JAVA. I have tried to use others and got tripped up and discouraged. The examples, exercise, and projects are not only instructive but are very rewarding and enjoyable. I do recommend going through the optional Chapter 3G. This is a chapter that teaches you how to draw graphics to the screen and is very rewarding.
I am writing this as I am finishing up working through Chapter 3G. If the rest of the book is similar to the material I have gone through so far, I highly recommend it.









