Kathy - some suggestions for your new book

[Ben Sullivan]

Hi Kathy
Here's some things I would find useful in the study guide for SCBCD:
1. Single discussion points for transactions, exception handling, permissable method invocations, and security contexts - the specification, although complete organises this information based on bean type and therefore makes it harder to assimilate. If each of these topics were in their own chapter and a discussion provided for how they worked in relation to each bean I would find it a lot easier get the rules straight in my head rather than jumping around to different sections to try and put it all together.
2. Mock exams included on an accompanying CD.
3. Printable PDF containing key points from each chapter (to print out and read on the train into work!)
I took the exam yesterday - my brain was fried by the end but it was a very good learning process. I have experience supporting a J2EE system but not much in the way of getting my hands dirty with bean coding. I thought this exam was an excellent opportunity to consolidate my knowledge. I spent two weeks reading the Ed Roman book, the spec and the postings in this forum but for me, I think a good study guide like the SCWCD book by Hanumant Deshmukh and Jignesh Malavia makes the difference between a pass and a great score.
At times I found the specification confusing (see point 1 above) and repetitive and it was hard to see the wood through the trees. I am looking forward to what you guys come up with!
Thanks
Ben

[Ramon Gill]

Ben,
Did you think the Ed Roman book, the spec, and this forum was enough to get a pass? I have taken a similar approach to yourself, and would like to know your views.
Also, I'd like to point out that the 3 sample chapters available of Kathy's book are excellent, and well worth looking at.
Ray - scjp, scwcd

[Ben Sullivan]

Hi Ramon
I think you could get a pass with these resources - make sure you go through as many questions on the forum as possible. I would definitely focus on the topics I mentioned above as part of your revision programme. There is a lot to learn and I was studying full time for nearly two weeks and still was not 100% confident on all the questions.
Could you post a link to Kathy's book that you mentioned?
Thanks
Ben

[Valentin Crettaz]

Ben,
please refer to the following discussion from which you can get the instructions to download the sample chapters
https://coderanch.com/t/157797/java-EJB-SCBCD/certification/Head-First-chapter-EJB-Overview

[Kathy Sierra]

Thanks for the helpful comments for the book!!
I wanted to point out that these are *not* sample chapters that we've posted, but are bits and pieces from different parts pasted together to make some last-minute cheat-sheets for a few of the objectives. We just didn't have time to do any more.
From this point forward, we are now working on actual chapters, and we will continue to post some pieces from each chapter as they become available. If you are on the book review list, you will get instructions for getting the whole chapter. If you are planning to take the exam right when it comes out (late August/early September) and want to be one of the full reviewers, you can write to me directly. Right now, we can probably take only one or two more people.
But... we will still post pieces, probably almost every week. Your feedback is SO helpful!!
cheers and thanks,
Kathy
(and a special thanks to Gus and Valentin who have provided the most detailed and picky comments so far )

[Sudd Ghosh]

I agree to this:
I think a good study guide like the SCWCD book by Hanumant Deshmukh and Jignesh Malavia makes the difference between a pass and a great score.
Kathy - I was just looking into the IBM-484 exam's contents. It has a good amount of EJB2.0 in it. One suggestion. If you can make your book compatible with its syllabus too, in addition to SCBCD, I guess it'll be more useful and sell more.
Thanks and regards, Sudd