Java in a Nutshell Third Edition: Amazon.co.uk: David Flanagan: Books

Amazon.co.uk Review

The 3rd edition of the well-known reference Java In a Nutshell covers the essential APIs of Java 1.2, including networking, security, input and output, and basic language and utility classes. Due to the size of the Java 1.2 API, graphics and graphical user interface classes are now examined in a volume called Java Foundation Classes in a Nutshell and server-side and enterprise programming are detailed in Java Enterprise in a Nutshell.

Though primarily a reference, the book starts off with a thorough, fast-paced introduction to Java, exploring all the key topics including syntax, Object-Oriented programming, security, beans and tools. These discussions are brief and very information-dense but if you are buying this book to learn the language, you will probably be overwhelmed by the speed of this initiation.

This book intends to document quite a bit of Java and it easily succeeds with broad coverage of Java programming in Part I and API cataloguing broken down by package in Part II. For example, discussions in Part I explain types, reflection, and dynamic loading. The handling of these topics takes a little over a page but the book gives a useful overview with code examples that clearly illustrate the points made. It is one of the clearest and most concise treatments of these three topics available.

The chapters in Part II include an introduction, diagrams, and sections for each class in the package. The sections for each class can be very informative, as in the discussion of the Socket class in the java.net chapter, which includes how to instantiate a Socket object, getting I/Ostreams from the object you instantiated, and how to alter the behaviour of sockets. This discussion, like most in this book, is brief, clear and to the point.

If you are looking for a Java reference, this is a solid volume that will provide lasting value. --John Keogh

Topics covered: Part I, Introducing Java, provides broad coverage of Java programming topics, including: data types, syntax, classes and objects, Java file structure, inner classes, interfaces, packages, creating and initialising objects, destroying and finalising objects, input/output, cryptography, networking, security, threads, Java Beans, Java Doc and tools that come with Java 1.2 SDK.

Part II, the Java API Quick Reference, includes chapters on the following Java packages: java.beans, java.beans.beancontext, java.io, java.lang, java.lang.ref, java.lang.reflect, java.math, java.net, java.security, java.security.acl, java.security.cert, java.security.interfaces, java.security.spec, java.text, java.util, java.util.jar, java.util.zip, javax.crypto, javax.crypto.interfaces, javax.crypto.spec and a final chapter which provides an index for classes, methods and fields.

Product Description

This bestselling quick reference contains an accelerated introduction to the Java language and its key APIs, so seasoned programmers can start writing Java code right away. The third edition of Java in a Nutshell covers Java 1.2 and Java 1.3 beta and includes:

A description of the syntax of the Java language, written in a tight, concise style, that can serve as both a fast-paced tutorial and a language reference.
An explanation of the object-oriented features of Java that does not assume any prior object-oriented programming experience.
An overview of the essential Java APIs that shows how to perform common tasks, such as string manipulation, input/output, and thread handling, with the classes and interfaces that comprise the Java 2 platform.
Documentation for the Java development tools shipped with Sun's Java SDK.

This book also includes O'Reilly's classic-style, quick-reference material for all of the classes in the essential Java packages, including java.lang, java.io, java.beans java.math, java.net, java.security, java.text, java.util, and javax.crypto. This reference material covers all of the new classes in Java 1.2 and 1.3. Once you've learned Java, you'll keep this book next to your keyboard for handy reference while you program.

This book is part of the two-volume set of quick references that every Java programmer needs. It is an essential companion to Java Foundation Classes in a Nutshell, which covers the graphics and graphical user interface APIs in the Java 2 platform, including Swing, AWT, and Java 2D. A third volume, Java Enterprise in a Nutshell, focuses on the Java Enterprise APIs and is of interest to programmers working on server-side or enterprise Java applications.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Perfect for getting to grips with Java 21 Feb 2001

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

In many ways it all depends if you like the O Reilly "style", but if you do, and you've had some experience of programming then this is the ideal book to get you started with Java. It's clearly written, no waffle and very detailed.

Complete programming novices might be better off with a book with a more introductory style - I'd suggest Bruce Eckels Thinking in Java. If this is you then Java in a Nutshell will be an ideal second book.

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Clear, Concise and to the Point 25 Jan 2001

By James Grant

Perfect book for any experienced programmer in another language - it teaches you the *Java* programming language, not how to *program* in the Java language.

This book will also get constantly revisited as you develop - its small enough to carry around with you, and is well structured for use as a reference.

Excellent reference guide 13 Mar 2000

Java in a Nutshell is an excellent Java reference guide for both beginners and experts alike. Unlike most Java references, flicking to any page gives easy to understand details of classes or methods that the reader will be instantly able to understand. Whether you are a new programmer struggling to get to grips with such a large language, or an expert looking for that little bug in your methods, this book is a must own.

Excellent reference

As many of the other reviewers have suggested, this is an excellent reference, but perhaps not the best book available to 'learn' Java. Read more

Published on 7 Jun 2001 by The Scribe

Good step from C++

I am studying for a degree in computer science and found this book very useful. In my course we had done a lot of C++ (about two years worth) and breezed over Java. Read more

Published on 29 May 2001

Great Book, but not Really for Beginners...

I've always hated books and this is the first Book I ever decided to read. The Book is Great and I, with only 3 Months Self-Experience in Visual Basic, found it very easy to... Read more

Published on 24 Feb 2001

Good book for 4gl programmar

This book helped me a lot in understanding JAVA without going into lot of details which is important for a starter like me who has done programming with informix 4gl and esql C. Read more

Published on 12 Feb 2001

A must for a good intro to JAVA and as a decent reference

This book would be useful for complete novices to learn but is also excellent for anyone cross training from another language. Read more

Published on 30 Sep 2000

Essential Kit

A must have for any Java Programmer, never leave this book at home...unless you work from home.

Brilliant examples and concise explanations. This guy knows his onions. Read more

Published on 19 Sep 2000 by tomi_adebayo@yahoo.com

The definitive reference for Java

If you are like me a programmer that needs his documentation dense and fast to access - and don't we all? Then this is it... Read more

Published on 17 Sep 2000 by Simon Beaumont

Essential reading for neophytes and experienced programmers

The text is clear and concise with a good layout. The early chapters are probably not for those with no programming experience unless they have access to other tutorial material. Read more

Published on 9 July 2000 by Martin Sladdin

third time perfect

This new edition addresses the one failing of the previous two. The introductory chapters explaining Java have been rewritten; it is no longer necessary to know C. Read more

Published on 19 Jan 2000

Good for beginners in Java

Amazingly, even as a complete java/C beginner, I found this book an excellent introduction and now a reference to java. Read more

Published on 15 Jan 2000 by Kevin Golding

Java in a Nutshell Third Edition [Paperback]

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