B> This book provides a thorough introduction to the Java programming language. It introduces the main aspects of programming, explains the constructs available in Java, and lays a foundation for the construction of large programs. The author clearly presents interface declaration at the same time as classes, allowing aspects of Java such as GUIs and Java 2's Collections API to be used and understood. He gradually introduces the various aspects of exceptions in order to get this topic across more solidly. Applets are presented later in the book so readers grasp the concepts needed to understand them. Coverage of Swing (rather than AWT) is also presented here. This book requires no programming experience, and is appropriate for those looking for and introduction to Java that focuses on solid programming practices rather than the intracacies of the language.
Books on Java abound. What makes this book different is that it not only provides a thorough introduction to the Java programming language, but it also imparts an understanding of the way things are in Java.
The overall aims of the book are to:
+ introduce the main aspects of programming
+ explain the constructs available in the Java programming language
+ create an appropriate foundation for the construction of large programs
Barry Cornelius has taught courses in Java at the University of Durham since 1996. This book is based on material taught by the author to students that are new to programming. His unique and exciting approach has successfully introduced many students to the principles of programming and at the same time it has given them an understanding of the Java programming language.
Key features
+ teaches interface declarations at the same time as class declarations.
+ suggests that each class should have methods called equals, hashCode, compareTo (if appropriate), toString and a constructor for cloning.
+ demonstrates how to provide a Java program with user interfaces involving components such as buttons, textfields, dialog boxes and menus (using the Swing API).
+ uses the Collections API in preference to teaching the student to implement the code for the classic data structures.
+ uses the WWW pages that document the Core APIs.
+ Each chapter of the book ends with some useful tips for programming and debugging, and a section entitled `curios, controversies and cover-ups'.
+ As well as containing the code of all the examples that appear in the book, the book's website at www.booksites.net/cornelius contains the code of a WWW browser written in Java and a set of suggested solutions to some of the exercises.
