Some Thoughts for Kathy and Bert

[chetak faldesai]

Hi Kathy and Bert,
My Question is whether the book goes through a simple small application which shows how everything fits in. What I mean is sometimes things start to become a lot clearer when you see where all the pieces fit.
I like your style of writing, and believe me, my fundamentals in java are much much stronger after going through the Head First Java book and I am sure that this book is going to make my life very easy learning EJBs properly.
But as a suggestion ( if this book does not cover it already ), I would like to see
1. a simple small application which shows how all the pieces fits in.
2. information about some specific application server (weblogic for example ) and how to get the maximum performance from EJBs with that app server.
I know that with the size of the book being already so much, its tough to put in everything in the book but still its just a suggestion or just something that I would have liked to read.
Thanks,
Chet

[Kathy Sierra]

Howdy -- yes, it's a great suggestion, and we don't really do a full application putting all the pieces together, as you're suggesting. We *are* planning on putting something like that on the web site, because we agree that it's really important, and we couldn't fit it in.
So, your suggestion is really important, I think, and it will be VERY helpful to a lot of folks. It isn't in the printed book, but we are planning to put that on the web site. We need another week or two to get everything up there, though... so be patient... hopefully what's already in the book will keep you busy for a couple weeks
cheers,
Kathy
and thanks for your comments on Head First!!

[Ko Ko Naing]

There is another thread, in which Kathy has already talked about the vendor-specific issue... Here is the link...
https://coderanch.com/t/158110/java-EJB-SCBCD/certification/Head-First-EJB-App-server

[chetak faldesai]

Thanks Kathy for the quick reply. Another thing I am curious about is whats next ? Which is the next book in the head first series?
Regards,
Chet

[Kathy Sierra]

What's next in the Head First series?
We have plans (or are already working on) the following;
* Head First Servlets/JSP (also a certification study guide, just like this EJB one)
* Head First PHP (a learning book, like the Java book)
* Head First Design Patterns and UML (a learning/intro book)
plus three others I can't talk about quite yet, but ONE of them is on a new exam that doesn't exist yet, but will next year
Also, since you asked, O'Reilly and Bert and I are VERY interested in hearing what you would LIKE to see in this format, so please let us know your wish-list.
cheers,
Kathy

[Ko Ko Naing]

Hi Kathy,
Will the "Head First Servlet/JSP" book be for SCWCD 1.4? (It is not the time to ask about "Head First Servlet/JSP", but to ask about "Head First EJB")
Coz I'm waiting for the new version of SCWCD coming up in January... Meanwhile I'm reading for SCBCD so that I can go for SCBCD as soon as I finish the new SCWCD... I guess the first quarter of the next year will be a climax for me...

[chetak faldesai]

Hi Kathy and Bert,
Sorry for the late reply.
I like the idea of head first design patterns and uml. Also a book about weblogic application server and how to improve the performance of a J2EE application.
Regards,
Chet

[Burk Hufnagel]

Originally posted by Kathy Sierra:
What's next in the Head First series?
We have plans (or are already working on) the following;
* Head First Servlets/JSP (also a certification study guide, just like this EJB one)
* Head First PHP (a learning book, like the Java book)
* Head First Design Patterns and UML (a learning/intro book)
plus three others I can't talk about quite yet, but ONE of them is on a new exam that doesn't exist yet, but will next year
Also, since you asked, O'Reilly and Bert and I are VERY interested in hearing what you would LIKE to see in this format, so please let us know your wish-list.
cheers,
Kathy

Kathy,
I'd vote for the Design Patterns and UML book -- and if you've got to split them then DP first. Seems like there's too much emphasis out there on the pattern and not enough on when to use it and when not to. And if you need any beta-testers (beta-readers?) for it, I'd be more than happy to volunteer.
Thanks,
Burk

[John Liang]

Kathy,
I think a book about SCEA would be great too. In addition to that, I believe that every Java Technology should have a Head First Book for it.
That will be the *Ultimate Goal* for year 2004, I think
Great effort in the SCJP book. I have obtained 96% from reading your book with some of the official books.
Thanks for your help,
John
SCJP