Addison-Wesley
an imprint of Addison Wesley Longman, Inc.
Reading, Mass.
1998
This book introduces the basic elements and concepts of the Java programming language. Java is being rapidly adopted as a new approach to creating platform-independent applications; that is, using Java, software developers can create applications that do not have to be rewritten for each software and hardware platform.
Many internet users are familiar with Java applets, which are mini-applications that run inside a web page. These applets are downloaded to the user's computer with the web page and can be interactive. Once on the user's computer, they can run without further interaction with the web server.
This book is a well-written and comprehensive introduction to the Java language, but we would recommend it only for people already familiar with basic programming concepts.
The book begins with a quick tour of the Java language and its basic concepts. If you are familiar with the traditional "Hello World" example that prints a brief message on the computer screen, you will recognize the form in the Java example below.
class HelloWorld {
public static void main(String[ ] args) {
System.out.println("Hello, World");
}
}
The book suggests the reader use any text editor to enter this example and then use the Java compiler to compile the source into Java bytecodes, the "machine language" for the Java Virtual Machine. The book then describes the elements of the example. This use of initial use of the "Hello World" example illustrates the approach used throughout the book: after introducing the basic elements of the language, the authors use illustrative examples to introduce each new concept. Following the introductory chapter, the chapters that follow describe the concepts of the language in detail.
Does this sound like a typical approach to introducing a programming language? It should because it is. In fact, the strength of this no-nonsense book is in its systematic and well-organized approach. It is a careful, easy to understand introduction to this structured programming language.
It first introduces the concept of classes and objects, describing the basics of each and their components.
The third chapter describes how to extend classes. The fourth introduces interfaces, describing (in detail) an example interface, how interfaces can be extended, and when to use them. The chapters that follow introduce Java issues such as tokens, operators, expressions, and control flow, as well as standard programming issues such as string handling and I/O.
Because of its straightforward approach and clear writing, this book would be a good choice for anyone with basic knowledge of structured programming who is ready to learn Java programming.
