Head First book for SCJA

[Jessica Ngui]

Hello everyone,

Does anyone know if there will be a Head First book on SCJA?

Maybe the authours can share some lights here.

Thanks and Have a nice day..!

[Theodore Casser]

As far as the Java aspect of things, my wife used Head First Java (2nd edition) for her preparation. She seemed to find it a good starting place for the amount of knowledge that was needed.

[Jessica Ngui]

Yeah, you are right that the Head First Java will cover the Java requirement of the test. I am going thru the book now

I am just wondering if a Head First will be introduced to cover the test specifically.

[Peter Rooke]

Not a book, but this yahoo group helped me: SJCA Yahoo Group

If only I had time, would be fun writing a SCJA book.

[Nicholas Cheung]

So far, there is no plans for HF SCJA as Kathy and Bert are busying for the updated edition for SCJP Tiger book.

Nick

[Bert Bates]

Hey guys -

The Tiger book is done except for a few edits - we're giving serious consideration to an SCJA book - when we decide for sure we'll post the news right here!

- Bert

[Bill Mietelski]

... we're giving serious consideration to an SCJA book

Bert, that would rock! I know at least a half-dozen people that have started studying for their SCJA, after I got mine.

[Dibbo Khan]

Hi Bert,

I used your Head First EJB book and that was great. I know this is all about market demand and so on. But the Head First Series' main strength is that it makes subtle and difficult topics easy to understand. Instead of writing a Head First book on a very easy topic and cert exam, SCJA, why don't you write one for a challenging exam SCDJWS. Then it would complete the J2EE or JEE part of the Head First Series.

Writing a Head First Book for such an easy topic and exam is really unwarranted in my view.

Secondly are you certain that the demand for SCJA eclipses the demand for SCDJWS???

[Bill Mietelski]

Instead of writing a Head First book on a very easy topic and cert exam, SCJA, why don't you write one for a challenging exam SCDJWS.

You have to remember that "easy" is relative. I was fortunate to pass the SCJA on my first try, but I know folks that haven't. Besides, if you help more people "get their foot in the door" with an SCJA certification, the potential audience for your other cert books grow.

Think of the possibilities: more book sales, more royalties, and a kick-ass house on an oceanfront golf course. (Oops, that last one was for me).
[ November 12, 2005: Message edited by: Bill Mietelski ]

[Bert Bates]

Well you have a point when you talk about complexity... Tim O'Reilly, early on in the evolution of the Head First books said that they are great wherever there is pain associated with a topic

Certainly there is more pain associated with web services than there is with the SCJA exam, but there are a couple of issues with the web services exam:

1 - It's not as popular as the SCJA
2 - We don't like web services very much. We helped Sun in the early planning stages for their course and with the exam objectives - it was a nightmare! Planning that normally takes a couple of weeks, took almost 6 months. Perhaps this set of technologies has started to settle down a bit, but they have always seemed to me to have a kind of amorphous, hard-to-pin-down sort of feeling about them.
3 - It would have to be a bigger than usual HF book - and they're already big - so it's a much bigger risk in that way too.
Anyway, we are always waiting and watching for th right time... but frankly, we are MUCH more excited about SCMAD

hth,

Bert

[Hong Anderson]

Bates, I don't think SCJA is the attractive cert more than SCDJWS.
But SCDJWS is a hard cert., so there are few people take it.
Comparison to SCJA it's more people, and writing Head First SCJA book is much easier job than Head First SCDJWS. I think that is the way to go.

PS. sorry for my poor English

[Dibbo Khan]

Hi Bert,

I think the topics for the SCDJWS are way too broad and I am a bit intimidated by this exam.

But as you point out SCJA is not that complex and perhaps too simple a topic for a Head First Book.

I am some good arguments for you, I will attempt the exam way before a conceivable HFWS book comes out so I am not saying this for my personal benefit.

Two points

One - A Head First Web Services book might make the cert far more popular and thereby boost demand for the book.

Two - If you followed each Sun Cert with a Head First book they might become the defacto standard cert preparations materials for all Java certs.

The transcender practice exams kind of have this status with Microsoft cert exams.

I hope you do write a Head First SCMAD, although I already have mine.

Nevertheless, although easy is of course relative, SCJA was quite easy, and would require a relatively basic book to pass comfortably.

[Bert Bates]

Thanks for all the feedback -

Choosing a book topic is a big deal for us, so every bit of information is appreciated!

Bert

[Maddison]

I am using HF Java for my SCJAP cert and i'm finding it very useful, however I would have loved a book specifically on the cert. I will be taking my SCJP cert next and was wondering if there is a HF book specifically for this cert?

I have a computer science degree and have therefore taken three java subjects and the basics concepts of the language have NEVER been taught so CLEARLY as with this book. If only I discovered it back in first year. It would have saved me many a sleepless night mulling over assignments.

THANKS!

[Bill Mietelski]

I will be taking my SCJP cert next and was wondering if there is a HF book specifically for this cert?

It's not part of the Head First series, but Kathy & Bert have written a book called the Sun Certified Programmer & Developer for Java 2 Study Guide that's geared to the 1.4 exam.

They're also very close to finishing a follow-up 5.0 book, SCJP Sun Certified Programmer for Java 5 Study Guide.

[Cameron Wallace McKenzie]

There are always these two books:

ExamScam Sun Certified Java Associate (SCJA) Study Guide

SCJA: The Exam Questions - Over 250 Mock Exam Questions for the SCJA Exam

I think they're the best, but I'm biased.

Cheers!

-Cameron McKenzie

[Rob Parsons]

Originally posted by Cameron W. McKenzie:
There are always these two books:

ExamScam Sun Certified Java Associate (SCJA) Study Guide

SCJA: The Exam Questions - Over 250 Mock Exam Questions for the SCJA Exam

I think they're the best, but I'm biased.

Cheers!

-Cameron McKenzie

Without wanting to expand Cam's already super-size ego , they are good books and just got me through the exam first time. Thanks Cam!

Rob.

[Amir Alagic]

Bert I hope that you�ll write new Head First EJB before HF SCJA...

[Cameron Wallace McKenzie]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Rob.

The books are actually even better than ever. After a few short print runs, the SCJA guide is now just under 400 pages, and the quality of the material is even better than the first few iterations.

Cheers!

-Cameron McKenzie
[ November 25, 2006: Message edited by: Cameron W. McKenzie ]

[Arijit Mahapatra]

Originally posted by Cameron W. McKenzie:
There are always these two books:

ExamScam Sun Certified Java Associate (SCJA) Study Guide

SCJA: The Exam Questions - Over 250 Mock Exam Questions for the SCJA Exam

I think they're the best, but I'm biased.

Cheers!

-Cameron McKenzie

Hi Cameron,
I have basic familiarity with Java & would take up the exam. I have 2 questions for you.

1. If you were to select one out of these 2 books, which one would it be? I am trying to maximize the return/dollar off course..

2. Do you have any special/local edition for India? Any thing in the pipeline? or buying from Amazon/pulp java is the only recourse?

Pls advice.
Arijit