* Welcome Kathy Sierra

[Tim Cooke]

This week, we're especially delighted to have Kathy Sierra helping to answer questions about the new book Badass: Making Users Awesome.

Kathy is very special to CodeRanch, because she is where it all began. Kathy started JavaRanch way back in 1998, and did a whole bunch of work to get the place all set up and stocked full of really great content. It's all the hard work from Kathy and everyone else who visits the Ranch that make it what it is today. Still the best Java forum on the internet.

The promotion starts Tuesday, March 24th, 2015 and will end on Friday, March 27th, 2015.

We'll be selecting four random posters in this forum to win a free copy of the book provided by the publisher, O'Reilly.

Please see the Book Promotion page to ensure your best chances at winning!

Posts in this welcome thread are not eligible for the drawing, and should be reserved for welcoming the author. Questions posted in this topic are subject to removal.

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Welcome back Kathy!

[Bear Bibeault]

Hi Kathy! Welcome back.

[Mary Mosman]

Hi Kathy,

I just had to say hello and say that I still use some of the analogies (like the remote control) that I picked up from you on the Java Jam cruise in what 2002 maybe?! The Head First books and the way you taught that material really helped stick some of those concepts in my head - and not just long enough to ace that certification test. I still go back to them 10+ years later as I teach the concepts to others today. I've had a great Java career and now I'm taking what I know and teaching others. Much of that is thanks to what I learned from you on that short little cruise so long ago. Just want you to know that you (and your books) really made a difference.

Thanks!

Mary

[Frits Walraven]

Dear Kathy,

A very warm welcome to the Ranch! Enjoy your promotion this week

[Dustin Wright]

Hello Kathy! I've just began to learn development with Head First Java 2nd Edition and it's great! I'm so thankful you wrote that book (the way it's written is FANTASTIC) and started this forum, everyone has been so nice and helpful.

Even "meeting you" on this forum, I'm starstruck!
Thank you again, and Welcome back!

[Eduardo Yañez Parareda]

Welcome back Kathy, the book looks good!

[Enrique M. Talavera]

Kathy is back , I love you!

PD:Back to twitter,please

[robyne vaughn]

Hi Kathy,
Looking forward to using the book!
Thanks,

[Linkon Manwani]

Hello Kathy,
How are you? Very Warm Welcome
I am new to this forum. I can't believe that you are here too

[Kathy Sierra]

Hi everyone! Ohhhhhh I've missed The Ranch So happy to be here under such wonderful circumstances. I'm sure you all know just how good it feels to have finally finished a project. The "Badass" book was supposed to be done many years' ago, but... it took a little more time to "cook" than I had imagined. I will say it's both strange and sort of a relief to have a book without worrying about runtime errors; this is my first book without code.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Linking to the thread in the new Books forum for this title.

[Marc Laffan]

Good job Kathy!

I'm currently reading Head First Java to go over the basics again and am enjoying it quite a bit.