Profile for HeadFirst EJB

[Francois Yergeau]

Hello.
I have 10 years of experience in application development. But none in Java(I am a cobol/IMS-DB/IMS-DC/mainframe person!). Now I can sense a shift in my enterprise's IT department to new technologies. I recently bought the HeadFirst Java book, and it was the perfect tool for me to become a specialist in Java . Now do you think that with only that Java background I can still benefit from the new HeadFirst EJB book? I have waited for it for so long! Note that I have no intention to get any certification for the moment. So will I be buying the book for nothing?

[Kathy Sierra]

Howdy!
The book requires no other previous knowledge other than Java, and no Java beyond what is in Head First Java, so yes -- you're good to go with the EJB book. That is, assuming you really do want to learn about EJB. Of course, we think that *everyone* should have this book, even if they don't but that's just a starving writer talking
Actually, if you're interested in distributed programming, some of the early parts of the book do cover a lot of background that's helpful even if you don't ultimately go down the EJB road, but still, most of the book is very EJB-specific. If you're interested and new to EJB, then I'd recommend the book regardless of whether you plan to take the exam -- you can use the mock exam questions to simply guage how well you're really learning the material. But EJB is not a technology that everyone will need, so unless you think there is really *some* reason why you might *some* day move in that direction, then there are probably other Java technologies that might be more helpful, like servlets. (Of course, Head First Servlets is coming too but not until next year).
Thanks for asking!
cheers,
Kathy

[Francois Yergeau]

... so unless you think there is really *some* reason why you might *some* day move in that direction ...[/qb]

Thank you, Kathy.
Yes, it seems that we are going to use EJBs in a near future in my enterprise, so I think I will buy the book (unless I win it, who knows?) In fact, I went to look at the book's TOC using a link in the forum, and it convinced me the book was for me.
By the way, since you are my very first contact with JavaWorld, you are kind of a goddess to me! Now, I must be hallucinating, I am chatting with God!!! Please say hello to God Bert, if you meet him...
[ October 29, 2003: Message edited by: Francois Yergeau ]