Developing Java Software (Second Edition): Amazon.co.uk: Russel Winder, Graham Roberts: Books

Amazon.co.uk Review

Java has the advantage of being platform agnostic, free, object-oriented and based on current best practice. Interestingly, the authors of Developing Java Software say they will teach you to develop software in Java starting with objects and working down to individual elements of the language rather than the more usual reverse approach. They don't quite pull this off because, without some knowledge of operators, structures and syntax you can't do anything at all with an object, however elegantly implemented. However, this approach does leave the authors with a goal-oriented approach, which works well.

In effect, they approach Java program development from the point of view of a working programmer, more interested in achieving an end than in the philosophical underpinnings of the means. However, this isn't a Java cookbook, but rather more of a self-teach or course book. Each chapter is largely self contained and ends with a series of tasks, for some of which sample solutions can be found online. The main thrust of Developing Java Software is, if anything, creating well-documented, efficient and robust Java programs suitable for real world use. To this end it emphasises good style, error handling, defensive programming, testing, testing and testing.

Developing Java Software is particularly strong on programming with graphical interfaces. Almost all programs intended for end users must now work graphically with familiar GUI components. The authors demonstrate the GUI basics but go well beyond them into practical problems, such as graphing data, layout managers and even a simple text editor. Toward the end of the book the authors tackle a number of larger problems, including mail merge, a pedestrian crossing simulator (with author errors included as an object lesson--sic) and ants. The last is fun as well as informative. This well-designed book is a perfect place to start learning about Java for anyone confident enough to install the JDK. The only complaint is JDK2 doesn't come with it.--Steve Patient

Review

"Java has the advantage of being platform agnostic, free, object–oriented and based on current best practice. Interestingly, the authors of Developing Java Software say they will teach you to develop software in Java starting with objects and working down to individual elements of the language rather than the more usual reverse approach. They don′t quite pull this off because, without some knowledge of operators, structures and syntax you can′t do anything at all with an object, however elegantly implemented. However, this approach does leave the authors with a goal–oriented approach, which works well.

In effect, they approach Java program development from the point of view of a working programmer, more interested in achieving an end than in the philosophical underpinnings of the means. However, this isn′t a Java cookbook, but rather more of a self–teach or course book. Each chapter is largely self contained and ends with a series of tasks, for some of which sample solutions can be found online. The main thrust of Developing Java Software is, if anything, creating well–documented, efficient and robust Java programs suitable for real world use. To this end it emphasises good style, error handling, defensive programming, testing, testing and testing.

Developing Java Software is particularly strong on programming with graphical interfaces. Almost all programs intended for end users must now work graphically with familiar GUI components. The authors demonstrate the GUI basics but go well beyond them into practical problems, such as graphing data, layout managers and even a simple text editor. Toward the end of the book the authors tackle a number of larger problems, including mail merge, a pedestrian crossing simulator (with author errors included as an object lesson––sic) and ants. The last is fun as well as informative. This well–designed book is a perfect place to start learning about Java for anyone confident enough to install the JDK. The only complaint is JDK2 doesn′t come with it.––", Steve Patient , , Amazon.co.uk#"Aimed at developers creating well–documented, efficient and robust Java programs for the real world, the authors of

"Developing Java Software" start with objects and work down. They emphasise style, error handling, defensive programming and testing in this excellent, hands–on course book.", , , Amazon.co.uk#

"This book bridges the gap between academic computer science and the reality of IT by interspersing coverage of subjects such as data structures with emphasis on project case studies. The resulting hybrid is interesting and often fast–paced". (Computer IT Bulletin, May 2002)

"This book bridges the gap between academic computer science and the reality of IT by interspersing coverage of subjects such as data structures with emphasis on project case studies. The resulting hybrid is interesting and often fast–paced". (Computer IT Bulletin, May 2002)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

starightforward at first but then gets rapidly more difficul 12 Oct 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

having just started a Masters course in computer science this book was recommended to us as a must-buy purchase. Having programmed before but not in an object oriented language this book does its best to teach the basics without entering into all the complexities in the initial chapters. Nevertheless, despite the author's best efforts this means that on arrival at chapter 6 there is a sudden jump in difficulty.

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The fastest way to become proficient programmer!!! 16 Jan 2010

By Nyein Chan

I am a mathematician and a physicist reading PhD in Mathematics and I have very little programming knowledge. This books perhaps the best programming book I have ever read! I have been looking for programming books in C, C++, Java etc amongst others in order to teach myself programming for mathematical problem solving within the context of physics and maths as well as for application development for my own interests outside main objectives. This book is really good as it has a mixture of example programs and programming exercises that are both mathematical and relevant to application development. I quickly fell in love with it. Also Dr. Graham Roberts is a great lecturer whose lectures I've been attending and he is one of the best lecturers for object-oriented programming. The examples and exercises in this book are stimulating! Problem-solving skills acquired by doing programming exercises make me feel like a real programmer and I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn Java "fast track" to become a proficient programmer. My advice is read the text (although you may skim through certain parts), write the example programs yourself and test it, and do the exercises! You won't be disappointed with this book. I wish Dr. Roberts and Prof. Winder wrote (or I hope they will in the future) a book like this on C++, Python etc. I like this book even better than Programming in C by Stefan G Kochan which is also another excellent programming book!

Very Good Book For Beginers 19 May 2006

By James Byrne

This book helped me (in 2001) in learning Java from knowing absolutely nothing about the language (admittedly i did know C++) to giving me an in-depth knowledge. The author doesn't assume you know anything from the beginning, the learning curve is fairly ok, and there are no childish images to get in the way (unlike some other books). The author tells you exactly what you need to know about Java, so that you're programming at a reasonably good level by the end of the book, and it's great for reference. Not sure what the editions after 2001 are like though, and things move fast in 5 years..