new to java :)

[john Mctavish]

First off if this info I�m after is already here sorry just want to say hi and get some people feed back.


I�m new to java I start university in 4 weeks and I have never done java before.
Could you give advice on books to buy and site�s with information on java programming for beginners?

Any help would be most appreciated

john

[celine mcgowan]

Hi John,

Welcome to JavaRanch. You've come to the right place!

Sun have a great Java tutorial online: Sun's Java Tutorial
In fact, for pretty much any info you need on java, check out http://java.sun.com/. If you get stuck, the people here will help you thru!!

As for books, i can't recommend any 'cos i haven't found my ideal one yet!!!

Enjoy!
Celine

[Sania Marsh]

You probably will be asked to change your name soon,

Regarding book, if you will be taking java class, probably you better wait to find what your teacher will suggest, if you want to start on your own,
I think Head First Java is one of the greatest books, but that's my personal opinion, wait to see what others will suggest. Also, get some reference book, those usually have lot of usefull code examples.
You can use this site or experts-exchange.com to ask questions.

[Dirk Schreckmann]

john hi it's me,

Welcome to JavaRanch!

We ain't got many rules 'round these parts, but we do got one. Please change your display name to comply with The JavaRanch Naming Policy.

Thanks Pardner! Hope to see you 'round the Ranch!

[E Pease]

I found Deitel's "How To Program Java" book to be very helpful. A friend just took and online class and they used that book. I have been told that it has too much information in it for a beginner but I think too much info is a good thing. This site, JavaRanch is great for additional help when you get stuck or if you need a better explanation on something. I hope this helps.

[Dirk Schreckmann]

Here is a list of free on-line Java tutorials and books that I have found useful:

Sun's Java Tutorial

Introduction to Computer Science using Java by Bradley Kjell

Introduction to Programming Using Java by David J. Eck

Dick Baldwin's Java Programming Tutorials

Interactive Programming In Java by Lynn Andrea Stein

Bruce Eckel's Thinking In Java

JavaRanch's own Campfire Stories

Allen B. Downey's How To Think Like A Computer Scientist

[john Mctavish]

Thanks for the info I�ve have truly never used java before I only found out it different from JavaScript.

I did studied vb6 for a year, yuck and now its java for 3 year and other various computer related torture devices. But my initial impression of java is I like it

Thanks for the support.

Regards j

[Dirk Schreckmann]

john121,

Welcome to JavaRanch!

We ain't got many rules 'round these parts, but we do got one. Please change your display name to comply with The JavaRanch Naming Policy.

We request and display names be of the pattern FIRST_NAME+SPACE+LAST_NAME, with no numbers.

Thanks Pardner! Hope to see you 'round the Ranch!

[john Mctavish]

Dirk Schreckmann
hi and thanks for the web sites they sure will help, err partner.
The name thing has got me stumped generally as a rule I don�t use a second name, I�m sure there is a good reason for it, ill change no problem, sorry at first I thought you where all kidding around, no harm meant.

Great info, it�s defiantly a place to start, as I said above I have never programmed in java before any tips on how to or advice is very much appreciated.

I tend to find there is a method or mantra to do anything, as in the 7 habit of highly effective people sort of thing, at this stage I�m wondering what java is, see you around I�ve got some reading to do.

regards john

[Dirk Schreckmann]

john wayne,

Welcome to JavaRanch!

We ain't got many rules 'round these parts, but we do got one. Please change your display name to comply with The JavaRanch Naming Policy.

Obviously fictitious names don't pass muster.

Thanks Pardner! Hope to see you 'round the Ranch!

[john Mctavish]

In a million years if I told you, you would not believe me so ill make something else up. My parents name originates from there great, great, great, grandparent they made thing that apparently gave them there name, can you guess what is was, and unlike the movie start Marion Michael Morrison mines is not made up!


You guys sure take your names seriously
john Mctavish formerly know in real life as Mr Wayne....

[Dirk Schreckmann]

Oh, if you insist it's a real name, then go ahead. I was just making sure you'd finally caught on to the spirit of our simple little rule.

[Kene Francis]

Hi..I think i like the way this book takes java in particular...Ivor Horton..Beginning java

[David Powers]

Originally posted by E Pease:
I found Deitel's "How To Program Java" book to be very helpful.

I agree. I have the same book and I love it. I like that it breaks the programs down line-by-line and explains what those lines are doing. Also, there's plenty of exercises/programs.

[Warren Dew]

I still like the classic "Java in a Nutshell" by David Flanagan. It requires a little previous programming experience, but if you're familiar with Javascript, it should be fine.

[JulianInactive KennedyInactive]

I agree with Warren in that my book of choice is Java in a Nutshell. It wouldn't be to everyone's taste, IMO however, because the style is rather terse; it gets straight to the point and doesn't do any hand-holding, although all the information is there. If you like that style, as I do, it's a great book. The reference section (most of the book) is, IMO, mainly useful for a quick reminder of available classes, methods and arguments. For an explanation of what they do you'll need to refer to the API docs (which you probably should do over a book anyway).

Jules

[Ayukawa Madoka]

Originally posted by David Powers:


I agree. I have the same book and I love it. I like that it breaks the programs down line-by-line and explains what those lines are doing. Also, there's plenty of exercises/programs.

Which edition are you using? Does it cover Circular-LinkedList and Doubly-LinkedList? Methods Overidding?

Today i went to the Kinokuniya bookstore just 15 minutes walk away from my college.. i wanted to get a Java reference book that covered most of the syllabus that my lecturer taught us so i browsed through almost every one of it but most of them are packed with plastic sheet.. dang! however i could only remember a few which are Java In A Nutshell, Thinking In Java, Complete Guide to Java... most of them are from the publisher Prentice Hall and Addison Wesley. Btw.. do you guys know why some of the Java books aren't selling in the United States and Canada? It's written there Internatinal Edition.. what does that mean?