Introduction to Java Programming With Jbuilder 3

I bought this book with the intention of learning Java, this after buying a number of other books on the subject, which either assume you have advanced knowledge of C++ or concentrate on coding applets. The book covers Java from a structured programming point of view, with plenty of exercises for hands on practice. If you are really serious about developing industry standard code this book is for you. If however you just want to liven up your personal web page with some applets, perhaps try one of the 'Dummies ' range.

Beginning a study of java can be a frustrating stop and go experience. You can spend valuable time and money concentrating your efforts in the wrong direction. Please, don't be a time waster and BUY THIS BOOK. This book will cover all the areas you will need to know in order to become a competent beginner Java/Object Orientated programmer. The key to this book is the examples. They are well crafted and succinctly demonstrate the concepts being taught. If you know UML, chart the examples and discover the architectural design of java and of the authors programs. You will discover how the author builds classes, and then reuses those classes in other examples. You will discover Patterns that the author uses. You can then incorporate them into your programming vocabulary. I recommend that you seriously study this book from start to end not using any other reference. You should learn it right the first time, thus avoiding the old One step forward Two steps back syndrome. Obviously, Java is more then syntax and this book will help you discover all the potential this great language has.

I purchased JBuilder3 over 6 months ago hoping to learn Java using it. I discovered immediately that the help was useless and the examples shallow, to say the least. The CD gathered dust for months... I purchased this book recently and finally found a book that I could REALLY use and apply in the JBuilder environment. This book is well-structured and uses a step-by-step approach to introduce you to Java with relevant examples and exercises. I took the approach of manually typing in each example as I went through the book which is what I would recommend. In addition, at the end of each chapter there are exercises that I would recommend you go through.The book details all the building blocks needed to get started with Java, including class inheritance, event handling, exceptions, basic graphic programming, the development of applets, and networking. Another person's review mentioned that the book code had syntax errors; and the menus, and wizards did not correspond to JBuilder. I did not find this at all. Perhaps he was using JB3.5 (which I have not seen), but I found all the examples worked perfectly. I would recomend that if typing in the examples or doing exercises, you DO NOT use the components on the speed bar provided by JB as it adds a lot of 'gunk' which would normally help you, but in this case hides the basics of what you are trying to learn.The Tips and traps sprinkled through the book are also really good.I just ordered the author's more advanced book... Need I say more?

An interested reader let me know my previous review was too general, and therefore unhelpful, after all, the devil is in the details... So, here's the DETAILS why I believe this book is an excellent introduction to both Java and JBuilder3. I'm taking the time and trouble to tell you this because I feel I owe it to the author. This book really worked for me. One of the biggest reasons it worked for me is that I rigorously worked through each example. I strongly recommend this "workbook" approach to this textbook. I hope the following detailed review helps you with your decision to purchase this book.The book is absolutely about version 3. It wasn't written about a previous version and grafted onto JBuilder3 a few weeks before going to print.The book is both a text book and a workbook. It's really intended for you to work your way through the examples. Immediately before and immediately after each example you'll find an explanation on multiple levels of abstraction regarding the whys and hows of the example.The examples throughout the book THOROUGHLY demonstrate the discussed topics, and they work. The examples don't contain defects and typos. After each example is an Example Review section that reinforces key or tricky elements of the preceding example.The chapter on Event Handling is terriric. You'll never find a better explanation or coverage of Event Handling anywhere. After MASTERING this chapter you'll be extremely confident in your ability to make your application respond to any GUI event, and make your GUI components interact with each other any way you choose. Take the time to master this chapter, and you'll FULLY UNDERSTAND the all important topic of event handling.The chapter on objects and classes contains lots of great examples that truly demonstrate important OO aspects, and highlight the differences between instance and class members, so you instantly see things such as where you're trying to refer to instance members in a static context, and why you can't do this.The book really delves into the Java API, so that you understand how the classes and interfaces in the library are structured, what they offer, and why you do things a certain way when using the API. You'll totally understand the whys behind syntax such as "this.getContentPane().setLayout(new FlowLayout() );" The book's solid coverage of the API is important because understanding the API means you'll never (...o.k., rarely) be confused by anything you see in the JBuilder source pane.The chapter on GUI (Java Swing) deftly covers Swing components. The explanations cover the component hierarchy and essential Swing component methods and attributes. The examples nimbly show interaction among swing componentsThe chapter on error trapping is solid. Exception Handling is made crystal clear. You'll also find good coverage of the String Tokenizer, and String operations.The chapter on network programming makes sockets easily understandable. The

The first two words of the title are "An Introduction." That's exactly what this book is, an excellent introduction to both Java and JBuilder3 sans database development. This is a well laid out software engineering text book. The format is excellent. The writing style is excellent. The examples are excellent. The book contains very few errors. It reinforces many sound software engineering practices. This is the best introduction to JBuilder I've seen. Database development is a large, complex topic that is outside the scope of this book. If you're looking for an introduction to JBuilder, buy this rather than the "JBulder Essentials" book.