Amazon.co.uk: Beginning Java 2.0 (Programmer to Programmer): Ivor Horton: Books

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
Beginning Java 2 is one of the two best introductory Java 2 books available. (The other is Peter van der Linden's Just Java 1.2.) Assuming nothing more than curiosity and tenacity, this book explains how to create programs with the Java programming language. And not just simple, academic programs either--the applets and applications that Ivor Horton describes in later chapters take advantage of the latest features of Java 2.

After a brief introduction to the characteristics of Java, Beginning Java 2 digs into variables, data types, operators, control structures, and basic Java syntax--the stuff you absolutely have to understand in order to get anything done. Horton then explains streams, files, and threads before getting into the graphical stuff, where he details how to build attractive, functional user interfaces with the Swing components (with solid coverage of the Java 2 event model). Later chapters address Java2D graphics and database connectivity. The author treats object orientation as integral to the rest of Java programming, which is appropriate to the language.

Readers get to see how concepts work, as regular Try It Out sections include illustrative code listings and the resulting output. The author and publisher deserve kudos for printing the complete source code of example programs rather than just key excerpts. These example programs also appear on the publisher's Web site. --David Wall

Book Description
This book has now been updated to cover JDK 1.3. This updated book is Beginning Java 2, JDK 1.3 edition, by Ivor Horton (ISBN 1861003668).

The Java 2 platform, which is the release name for JDK 1.2, was released in December 1998. Java 2 is an important stage in the evolution of Java as a serious programming language. There are no substantial changes to the language - instead JavaSoft have focussed on extending class library support for common programming tasks.

This includes an improved, device-independent set of graphics libraries, the Java Foundation Classes (JFC), which includes Swing, Java2D and improved printing. These answer many of the criticisms of the original AWT graphics packages, and are both very flexible and very complete.

There's also a new Collections API, a set of classes to help you look after collections of related objects. There are also substantial changes in threading, serialization and JDBC 2.0.

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24 Reviews

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

A very thorough, very verbose introduction to Java, 4 Jul 2000

By A Customer

This book has obviously been a big hit with a lot of readers, but if you're a beginner to programming you should definitely tread carefully. Java IS a big language but the material in this text could have been covered in half the space and been better explained. Horton's examples are often horrendously convoluted and boring: for the first six chapters or so (probably more - I don't have a copy to hand) you're subjected to more and more variations on a phenomenally tedious prime numbers program, clearly a morbid fascination for the author. Each time the code is given in full (in a very difficult-to-read dark grey font on a slightly less dark dark grey background) and it's very easy to lose the main points of the current topic as a result. That's probably the main problem with the book as a whole: it's too static. Things that should take just a couple of lines to explain or perhaps just a well thought out table occupy half a dozen pages. This makes it very difficult to read more than ten or so pages at a time without nodding off and/or just throwing the whole thing out of the window. Some topics ARE well served by Horton's style - you'd have a hard time finding a better explanation of the Observer-Observable model, for example, but too often the big picture gets lost in piddling details and needlessly complex examples (- in the section dealing with animation, for instance, something very easily accomplished in Java, the author starts bombarding us with formulas for modelling acceleration). The Sketcher application at the end of the book (spread out over a number of chapters) is probably OK but I could never be bothered to work through it. Once you've got a basic understanding of Java, the best way to advance that knowledge is through the online documentation at Sun's website (the API and tutorials). Chances are you may take to Horton's style but I'd strongly recommend you borrow this book for a couple of weeks before forking out your hard-earned cash. I was already reasonably compentent in C when I got this and didn't have any problems following it, but ALL the beginners I know who bought it hated it (it was a set text on a course I recently did). If you're new to programming you might want to try SAMS' 'Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days' (basic but very readable). I've also heard good things about Deitel's 'Java: How to Program'. Also, bear in mind that with this book you've got that photo of the author staring at you from the front, back and side - an Ivor Horton is for life, not just for Christmas.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Surprisingly Good - Pity Author's Face Is On Every Surface, 1 Dec 1999

By A Customer

Being part of the "most recommended" reading list for my course, I approached this weighty tome with some relucance - I've tried (in vain) to get an interest in learning Java before, from such books as Microsoft Press's "Learn Java Now" (as supplied with Visual J++), and Sams Net's "Teach Yourself Java In 24 Hours".

However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book is not only deeply informative, well laid-out, and expansive, but is also mistitled! 'Beginning' Java suggests a book that'll teach you the basics, but don't be fooled - this book goes into great depth, and is as good as a reference as it is as a learning aid (my copy virtually falls open on the pages on operator precedence, event listeners, and file streaming)!

Jokes have been made about the fact that Ivor Horton saw fit to splatter his face on both covers and the spine of the book, but that's okay, because there'll rarely be a time that it's not lying open on your desk, anyway! A must-read for anyone who wants to learn Java.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Well written and comprehensive, 29 Jul 1999

By A Customer

There is a lot to like about "Beginning Java 2." It provides excruciatingly detailed coverage of Java, written in a clear, intelligent way. The author does an effective job of tempering the extensively technical content with a friendly writing style that is never flip or insulting to the reader.

I also appreciate the abundance of examples, illustrations, and diagrams, which support the text well and are easy to read. Pertinent code samples are shaded in gray, which enhances readability. Diagrams are clear and and are supported with well-written callouts.

Although the book's title is "Beginning Java 2," it could be daunting to readers with little or no programming background, especially as they progress beyond the first two chapters. Chapter 1 provides an excellent introduction to Java and object-oriented programming concepts. The first part of Chapter 2 provides a good introduction to variables and data types. About the middle of Chapter 2, however, when the author begins discussing additional mathematical concepts, the reader is led into deeper waters and at this point, "absolute" beginners may start to feel overwhelmed. This doesn't mean that they should abandon the book, but they may need to take additional time to absorb the concepts.

Each chapter concludes with a summary of its content and several practice exercises. Although such practice is certainly valuable, I would have liked to see an additional appendix with "answers" to the exercises so that readers could check their work and benefit from the author's expertise. Without such author feedback, the exercises are less effective as learning tools.

Overall, I see "Beginning Java 2" as a potentially valuable addition to the bookshelf of any programmer new to Java. I recommend it with some caution to "absolute" beginners -- although with patience, determination, and a commitment to learn, they, too, may find the book very beneficial.

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