JSP Book recommendation

[Saumendra Poddar]

I am looking for a good book that talks about JSP with JavaBeans. Well there is a book called "Professional JSP 2nd Edition -Wrox" that I am a little interested in, but it seems like this book is not being available any more. The major book stores in Toronto (Chapters & Indigo) are not carry this book and they mentioned that they have no plans to carry it either. It looks like that WROX is not printing this book anymore.
I went to the Bunkhouse to read book reviews on JSP, and I am just confused and cannot make a decision.
I am looking for a intermediate JSP book that talks about javabeans, and custom tag. Can any of u provide some recommendation.
Thanks

[Marty Hall]

I am looking for a intermediate JSP book that talks about javabeans, and custom tag. Can any of u provide some recommendation.

I am highly biased, of course, but you might want to look at the free online version of Core Servlets and JavaServer Pages at http://pdf.coreservlets.com
It has a chapter on beans and another on custom tags.
Cheers-
- Marty

[Pauline McNamara]

Welcome to JavaRanch, "Green Cap"!
Your display name doesn't quite fit the famous JavaRanch naming policy. Could you please take a minute to change your display name to show 2 names, preferably your real name. (It's all about maintaining our professional image - don't let the one-eyed moose fool you!).

Hope you'll be visiting the ranch often!
Thanks,
Pauline

[Sudd Ghosh]

Hi -
I am preparing for the SCWCD exam, so my opinion may be a little biased.
I read the "Core servlets.." online book. It gives a good overview of both servlets and JSP, but I did not find the specifics/intricacies well-covered. Moreover, it carries the old version of servlets/JSP (NOT servlets 2.3, JSP 1.2). May be the "More Servlets and JSP" book is good, as it appears from its content list. But then you have to buy this.
I think Hanumants's SCWCD study guide from Manning is very good in explaining even the language intricacies to the smallest detail. Though it is meant mainly for the exam preparation, IMHO you should have a peek at this book.
Thanks.

[Jessica Sant]

I've read all three books: Core Servlets and More Servlets by Marty Hall as well as the SCWCD Study kit.
As noted above -- Core Servlets covers the servlet 2.2 and JSP 1.1 spec. More Servlets covers the newer Servlet 2.3 and JSP 1.2 spec. Both are excellent books (check out the review in our Bunkhouse). Marty gives great practical examples -- explains the technology -- where it comes from -- and how to use it.
The SCWCD Study Kit is also an excellent resource, but for a totally different purpose -- this will help you to prepare for the SCWCD exam. As I noted in my review in the bunkhouse, you can use it as a resource even after the exam -- but I wouldn't use it to learn JSPs and Servets (tags and beans too) from a practical perspective -- the book doesn't show you how to use the technology in practice. The book does it job very well -- it'll help you pass the SCWCD exam. But don't expect it to teach you to effectively use the technology as well as MoreServlets or CoreServlets will.

[Saumendra Poddar]

Well "Core Servlets and JSP" looks like it is a little out dated, whereas "More Servlets and JSP" is based on Servlet 2.3 and JSP 1.2 technology which is still the current technology till date. Although Servlet 2.4 and JSP 2.0 are knocking on the door, and there are two or three books out already on these latest technology. There is a book called "Servlets and JSP - the J2EE Web Tier" by Jayson Falkner and Kevin Jones, and covers Servlets 2.4, JSP 2.0, and JSTL 1.0 published by Addison Wesely. Another one called "JSP2.0: The Complete Reference" by Phil Hanna, published by McGraw-Hill has also been released. I don't think there is much of a difference between JSP 1.2 and 2.0 apart from the addition of JSTL and EL language, but I am not sure. As to my knowledge, the only servlet engine available right now that will support servlet 2.4 and jsp 2.0 is Tomcat 5 beta version. Now back to the main topic of this discussion, "More Servlets and JSP" sounds like a book to be in favor for chapters on "jsp with javabeans" and "custom tag".
Does any one else has any other JSP book recommandations (apart from redirecting to the Bunkhouse :roll: )

[boyet silverio]

for custom tags, try Advanced Java Server Pages by D. M. Geary. I admit though that understanding many concepts in the book was gradual, and was helped by other reference readings. It's been a year since I bought the book and up to now there are still some parts I still do not fully understand (XML, etc.. but in due time...). The best thing I like about the book though is that it provides many custom tags (and good supporting java code) that can readily be identified with actual web app dev situations, hence are readily usable.

[Simon Brown]

Yes, with JSP 2.0 and Servlets 2.4 just around the corner we're going to see several new books released that cover these topics.
I'm working on several chapters for Professional JSP 2.0 (Wrox Press, March 2003).
There are some great new additions to the JSP specification and of particular interest to me are the ways in which custom tags can be built - tag files and simple tags. Tag files allow you build custom tags using JSP syntax (very useful for page authors and designers), while simple tags provide a much simpler lifecycle and interface from which to build code-centric tag handlers. Couple this with the other new features (such as the JSP EL) and I think that JSP 2.0 will certainly change the way in which JSP-based web applications are built in the future.
Simon

[Jason Menard]

I agree with the recommendations for Marty's books. Additionally I really like Manning's "Web Development with JavaServer Pages".