Java 2 Bible

If Java 2 can do it, you can do it too...

This completely revised and updated guide offers you everything you need to write object-oriented programs using the latest Java release. You'll be able to build your programming skills using expert advice on the newest features of Java, including the latest JFC and Swing packages. These pages are also packed with plenty of code examples, which illustrate all the basic techniques of OOP, from encapsulation to inheritance interfaces. And, if you want to stay current on the latest Java information, you'll like The Future of Java, a "living chapter" that will be updated quarterly at the companion Web site!

While there are plenty of good introductory texts on the subject, IDG's Java 2 Bible distinguishes itself with an easy-to-understand yet thorough tour of today's Java. Newly revised for the latest standards from Sun, this book can help virtually any reader who has some previous programming experience learn Java efficiently.

This book does a good job of maintaining an informal and engaging writing style as it presents Java's essentials. Early on, it introduces key object-oriented design techniques, making Java accessible even if you don't have a background in C/C++ (although it certainly helps). The discussion on the foundation of Java syntax covers basic keywords, variables, data types, and flow control. Both the old and the new in Java are covered, with chapters on the collection classes that are available in both JDK 1.1 and 1.2, and the simpler AWT component library alongside the newer Swing standard. Short code samples are the rule here, with excerpts demonstrating important programming concepts. Readers will appreciate also the nuts-and-bolts explanation of compiling and running Java programs by using Sun's JDK command-line tools. (This title, therefore, will meet the needs of both Windows and Unix users.)

Sections on designing interfaces that work on multiple platforms (including Windows and Unix) will help you create more flexible software that runs successfully even on slower Internet connections. The Java 2 Bible offers practical tips for deploying Java applets and applications, including how to use the Java 2 plug-in and JAR files for distributing your finished software. Chock full of examples and never dull, the new Java 2 Bible can help virtually anyone get started with Java. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered:

• Overview and history of Java
• The Java Virtual Machine (JVM)
• Applets and applications
• Java tools
• Java and C/C++ compared
• Designing with Java objects (abstraction, encapsulation, interfaces, modularity, composition, and polymorphism)
• Object-oriented analysis and design
• Designing cross-platform applications in Java (bandwidth, network, and designing images for fast downloads)
• Source-code conventions in Java
• Tour of Java syntax (keywords, tokens, data types, expressions, operators, control flow, arrays, and strings)
• Java interfaces
• Packages
• Exception handling
• JDK 1.1 and 1.2 collection classes
• Tour of Java stream classes (including console, file I/O, filtered streams, reader, and writers)
• Multithreading
• Networking basics in Java (IP addresses, TCP/IP, sockets, URLs, and RMI basics)
• JDBC for database programming (queries, updates, prepared statements, stored procedures, and transactions)
• UI design and component programming by using AWT and Swing
• Event handling and inner classes
• Java graphics
• Deploying applets and applications (including JAR files and digital signing)
• Installing and running the Sun JDK