1.2 or 1.4

[bobby chaurasia]

Hi Dan,
I am not sure whether I should take certification exam for 1.2 or 1.4
What are the pros & Cons of it ?
I noticeds that for 1.4 there was no swing or graphics. Does that mean that degree of complexity will be more in 1.4 ? Also is there a change is the exam pattern for 1.4 compared to 1.2 ?
Thanks

[Dan Chisholm]

Bobby,
I think that studying for the 1.4 exam is a lot easier than studying for the 1.2. The AWT and IO topics are very large so their removal greatly reduces the amount of material that needs to be covered. The new assertions topic is very easy. The document, Programming with Assertions, provides all the information that you need.
The removal of the AWT and IO topics allows the 1.4 exam to include a lot more questions on Java fundamentals. I don't think that increased depth in the fundamental areas is a problem. I think that learning a narrow set of topics to a greater level of detail is easier than learning a wider range of material to a lesser level of detail. If you try to learn a wider range of topics to a lesser level of detail, then it is more difficult to determine how much detail is enough to pass the exam. If you are required to study a narrower set of topics to a greater depth of detail then you can just go ahead and study until you think you actually know the material.
My advice is to study for the 1.4 exam. The 1.2 exam will soon disappear anyway.

[Salim Mohamed]

Thanks for your insights Dan. IS there any good material available on threads and assertions (other than sun's link) you have provided ?

[Zafar Ali]

Hello Salim,
Plz click on the link, for assertion
http://www.ii.uib.no/~khalid/pgjc/jcbook/new-exam-note-020928.html http://www.ddj.com/documents/s=924/ddj9801d/9801d.htm#rl3
I hope these will provide help you enough,
Regards.

[Dan Chisholm]

Originally posted by Salim Mohamed:
Thanks for your insights Dan. IS there any good material available on threads and assertions (other than sun's link) you have provided ?

The "Programming with Assertions" document contains more than enough information to score 100% on the assertions questions. For the purposes of the exam, there is no need for additional information on the assertions topic. It really is that easy.
Have you seen the following link on Threads?
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/essential/threads/index.html

[Valentin Crettaz]

Also check out the following post:
java certification 1.2 versus java certification 1.4