Core Servlets and JavaServer Pages Java 2 enterprise edition series: Amazon.co.uk: Marty Hall: Books

Amazon.co.uk Review

Aimed at those with some previous Java experience, Core Servlets and JavaServer Pages covers all you need to know to create effective Web applications using server-side Java. Combining plenty of practical advice with detailed information on these APIs, this book provides both the necessary background on Web programming and how to use Java effectively to power your Web site.

Similar in spirit to the author's previous title, Core Web Programming, which covered the disparate tools and technologies for successful Web development centred on Java/CGI/JavaScript, this newer book covers all the APIs and standards you'll need to work with today's Java 2 standard. This means a solid tour of servlets and JavaServer Pages (JSPs), but also related standards like HTML forms and JDBC for database programming. The hands-on approach here means there are tips for installing and configuring today's Java platforms (including Apache's free Tomcat servlet package).

For sample programs, this text shows off an e-commerce online travel web application, as well as more theoretical (but still interesting) examples using large prime numbers. The author--a physicist and accomplished teacher--makes use of many of his skills here with a lively and effective presentation.

The second half of the book explains JSPs (which simplify using servlets through embedded Java statements in HTML). A standout chapter here explains how to combine servlets with JSPs to create maintainable Web sites with plenty of dynamic content. Sections on database programming with JDBC are supplemented by a discussion of connection pooling (including a custom class for better performance).

With its tour of the essential APIs and design techniques, Core Servlets and JavaServer Pages delivers what every programmer needs to know to use Java effectively for the Internet. It's a great choice for anyone wants to take advantage of the latest standards from Sun for serious Java web development. --Richard Dragan, Amazon.com

Topics covered:

Overview of Java servlets and JavaServer Pages (JSPs)
servlets vs. CGI and ASPs
survey of servlet products
installation and configuration hints
the servlet life cycle
initialisation parameters
debugging tips
submitting and processing form variables
HTTP request and response headers,
session tracking with servlets
JSP scripting elements and attributes
including files, using applets, JavaBeans and tag libraries with JSPs
strategies for combining servlets and JSPs effectively
database and JDBC tutorial

Product Description

For JavaScript and Java for Web Programming courses.

This complete guide to the current generation of Java servlets and JSP technology provides insight, advanced techniques, industrial-strength code, and hands-on coverage of three top servlet/JSP engines—Apache Tomcat, the JavaServer Web Development Kit and Java Web Server.

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Practical and intelligent. 8 Mar 2001

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

One would expect the probability of Sun Microsystems Press endorsing a bad Java book to be quite low. It was with this rationale, together with the positive on-line reviews, that I decided to order this book without having read a single word of it. (Not something I like doing).

It is my opinion that the gamble paid off. I say this for two good reasons: (i) this book combines servlets and JSP technologies, whereas many related publications deal exclusively with one or the other; (ii) the author is brave because he attempts to give practical advice regarding setting up web, servlet and JSP servers. Many other books shy away from these aspects (shame on them!).

The book wastes no time in getting the reader up and running and, of course, as with most of the 'core' series, this book feels good in my hands, and I feel I am in good hands, for it covers topics adequately, doesn't insult my intelligence and explains in an easy-to-follow fashion.

A word of caution: prerequisites to this book is firm knowledge of Java fundamentals.

Enjoy.

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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Good attempt to unite JSP, Servlets and Beans 31 Jan 2002

First of all I have to admit that this is a very good book among those of a kind. By sorting the chapters in a progressive learning manner, nevertheless giving a consistent information for each technology approached, the book is very useful for both beginner and experienced developers.What is remarkable is that Marty exposed a technique to merge the three Java technologies(JSP, Servlets and Beans), however the book misses the exposition of the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture which stands as a basis for this technique.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Absolutely the Best Servlet / JSP book around! 19 July 2001

There are loads of books of similar topics in the market, but you can't find a better one -- the usefulness and depth of details is just amazing if you consider the size of the book! I've got some books double of its weight yet with far less substance. Most important of all, the concise and no-nonsense style of writing makes you feel extremely easy and efficient to absorb the material inside. I borrowed this book from my friend and now I regret buying other nuff books myself!