Java Thread Programming (Paperback)

This tittle assumes the reader is profficient with the Java language and core API it address the needs of a Java developer using threads.

While Java threads appear at first quite simple (especially compared to threads in other environments like win32) the unwary developer will quickly be caught out unless he has a copy of this book by his side which will epxlain all the intricacies of Java threads.

The book is divided into three parts, the first part covers using the Java APIs associated with threads including: starting/stopping and controlling threads, thread groups, the implementing Runnable vs extending Thread debate, thread prioritisation, inter-thread communication and synchronisation and threads & swing. The concepts introduced in the first part are presented clearly and good advice is offered concerning 'bad practices'. In particular this section covers in great detail the precise sequence of events when using inter-thread comunication techniques (wait()/notify())

The second part presents a number of techniques for dealing with commonly encountered design problems. The problems covered are well presented and simple with little additional clutter to hide the real issues. My only complaints about this part would be that there could be more scenarios presented, and that there could be some complex real-world scenarios.

The third part is reference on the java.lang.Thread and java.lang.ThreadGroup APIs, it seems quite good with more information than in the usual Java API specification.

Overall the quality of the book is excellent with nice readable typesetting and few errors or typos. The examples given are mostly clear and simple with a bold font being used to highlight the important method calls and variables, the diagrams presented are clear and useful, unlike in many programming books. The book does not come with a CD-ROM with the source code and loads of out of date JDKs as is the norm with this type of work, instead the source can be downloaded from the publisher (although why the source archive is as a Windows self extracting archive I do not know?)

I would recommend this book to any reasonably experienced Java developer.

plus points are clear writing and diagrams, going beyond re-explanation of thread API to include some useful patterns and plenty of lengthy examples if that's what you're after.

minus points are not a lot on finest, trickiest points and some dodgy assertions when you get into those realms. 2 examples:

1 - does not address lock-ordering in its "deadlock avoidance" section.

2 - "as a rough guideline, try to avoid calling Thread.yield() more than 5 times per second" (in my view a bit outrageously woolly/unqualified).

depends on what you're after.