Java Programming

I had zero experience with java before reading this book and it was assigned during two of my courses (so I have officially read the whole thing). I thought it was the best of all my text books; it helped me to understand the basics of java as well as the basics of object-oriented programming. The exercises that followed each chapter were challenging and fun. Would definitely recommend for anyone trying to learn java.

This is an earlier edition of the textbook that will be used in a three-course series at Central Carolina Technical College. I look forward to being able to get even more in depth into the book once the course starts next month, but meanwhile, I am enjoying the book for pre-reading.

I like the book a lot. It is required for my Java programming class I am taking. Very easy to follow for me. I specifically like the "you try" parts, it helps reaffirm the readings. There are only a couple of places that I had to re-read but I think it was more understanding the concept vs the book being hard to comprehend. I would recommend this for anyone that is looking for learning Java. The reason I took one star away is that I feel it should have come with a CD or website that you can download some of the programs it talks about and shows you where you can play with them yourself.

This is the book we are using in class has good illustrations and helps make the java languange really understandable. This is the copy Troy University is currently using for advanced computer programming.

The only reason I rented this book is because it was required for my intro to programming class. I am only three chapters in and I am completely confused by this author's writing style. The author uses a bunch of extremely technical terminology right off the bat and doesn't provide any context or explanation as to why these things are important. A great example of this is the term "instantiate" which is used and (poorly) explained on page 6. If you are considering using this book as a tool to learning to program in general, take a quick google of "instantiating java" and see if that is an easy concept to understand or explain and if you think it should be brought up on page 6 of a book designed to teach you to program. Two more advanced concepts brought up within the first 10 pages are Encapsulation and Polymorphism. It seems like the author made no attempt to explain programming in general or at a basic level and jumps right into advanced concepts. A perfect example of this is that she makes no attempt to explain what a variable before explaining the more advanced concepts I mentioned above. Probably the worst part of this book is that the author continually makes use of this asinine "two truths and a lie" method of trying to get people to retain information. Instead of presenting information in a clear, organized way you are interrupted by a box that takes up a third of the page and actually has a sentence that contains false information. The 'lie' is presented upside down at the bottom of the box. Not only are you going to have to remember which of these three things was the 'lie' when you think back to what you have read, but you will have to turn the book upside-down to figure out which one was the 'lie'. This method is not only an unnecessary waste of time, but goes against the basic principles of learning. If you are required to use this book for a programming class and do not already have a good understanding of computer science, I would recommend finding some other book or online resource to teach you how to program.

Great resource for learning java. I don't think it would be a great book to just pick up and learn java, I would start with a different more basic book.

This book is extremely difficult to read as the information is presented in reverse-thought paragraphing, with the topic sentence usually buried inside the paragraph, the example sentence is often first, but never makes its point, and the final sentence sometimes supports the second sentence or references something in a future chapter. Whaaat? I have very little programming experience with only minor HTML & CSS writing. The Preface specifically states, "This textbook assumes that you have little or no programming experience...The explanations in this textbook are written clearly in straightforward sentences..." Yay! Wait... Huh? Um, no. I heartily disagree. By chapter 2, I felt overwhelmed with programmer mental processing. I am married to a programmer and know what this feels like. To a non-programmer, it is like being an amateur hiker and trying to climb straight up a mountain no matter the terrain or mega-sized rocks, rather than using the switchback path. This book needs a serious overhaul with a non-techie English major to help remove the floundering illogical and non-comprehensible writing structure. It is written with too much of a programmer's hand, and not enough of a "How'd ya do that?" view. The further I read, the more this became status-quo. This book is 1000 pages because it is often wordy without any supporting or concluding examples and statements. Although many of the Figures/examples seem accurate, they usually require the reader to turn the page in order to view them, flipping back and forth to re-read the slacking explanation. It is difficult to move forward from a chapter because the exercises do not always match with the current knowledge base. I have had to spend a lot of time online finding clarification on concepts as the book does not provide assistance. (I am an 'A' student and rarely need outside assistance to "get" the instruction or text.) The author makes too many leaps and assumes too much reader understanding. Even my spouse agreed there were some big steps without structure. Further, and most frustrating as a student, is the book's lack of instruction. There are no formal or informal step-by-step instructions, no base explanations of concepts, no ease of understanding the vocabulary, too many references to what the student "will be learning in future chapters," and each current example lacks presentation consistency as though written by different authors. In conclusion, if reading a tech-manual written in a foreign (programming?) language is your thing, then this book is the ticket. However, if you are wanting to learn Java, but do not want to pull your hair out and cry in front of your spouse, this is NOT the book for you.

Excellent book My tip: Theory is not important The problem section is very good. Just practice it.

Good condition- as described

great book for the beginning programmer. teaches you how to program in a logical progressive manner that makes it easier to understand