Book Advice Needed

[Paul J Smith]

I completed the JAVA programmer cert and recently completed the BCD cert as well.

Currently I do use JAVA in my work and I'm not bad at fixing problems but I'm increasingly frustrated that I can't think OO in terms of new code writing. I think I need a readable book that helps me apply the basic coding structures and directs me on how to use the base classes as well as how to use those important design patterns.

I have read:
JAVA 2 (1.3 edition) (Ivor Horton) - but found it overly detailed - more suitable as reference manual
Sun Certified Programmer & Developer for JAVA 2 Study Guide (Kathy Sierra, Bert Bates) - great for passing exam but not very 'real life' - very readable
Head First EJB - Again excellent for passing exam but also short on 'real life' - very readable

Anyone got any clues?

Cheers in advance

P

[Ben Ritchie]

Try Bruce Eckel's "Thinking in Java" - http://www.mindview.net/Books/TIJ/

[Marlene Miller]

I would like to find such a book, too. People often suggest the book by Martin. I have not read it, so I don't know.

1. Agile Software Development, Principles, Patterns, and Practices
by Robert Cecil Martin

Read this from the Preface,
http://vig.prenhall.com/catalog/academic/product/0,1144,0135974445-PRE,00.html

People say you can ignore the agile discussions if you prefer and still get a lot from the book.

2a. Object Design: Roles, Responsibilities, and Collaborations
by Rebecca Wirfs-Brock, Alan McKean

2b. Designing Object-Oriented Software
by Rebecca Wirfs-Brock, Brian Wilkerson, Lauren Wiener

As I vaguely recall, these books do not have code and they teach design using CRC cards. For balance, you might also read a book that teaches design using use cases.

3. Object-Oriented Design & Patterns
by Cay Horstmann

This is a textbook for college students who know a little Java and nothing about OO. It is probably too elementary for you.

4. Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code
by Martin Fowler, Kent Beck, John Brant, William Opdyke, Don Roberts

This book is not what you are looking for, but people always mention it in this context.

6. Some people like Bruce Eckel�s Thinking in Patterns

How do I learn design?
https://coderanch.com/t/98750/patterns/do-learn-design
[ July 09, 2004: Message edited by: Marlene Miller ]

[Paul J Smith]

I'll give 'Thinking in Java' a shout then. Certainly won't do any harm to brush up on my basic Java skills in the process.

Cheers

P

P.S. Any clues on a good Patterns in Java book?

[Eben Hewitt]

I like Applied Java Patterns by Sun Microsystems Press.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0130935387/102-7544174-3161727?v=glance

Eben

[Andrew Monkhouse]

I have moved this thread to the "OO, Paterns, UML, and Refactoring" forum - the members there may have good book advice for you.

Regards, Andrew

[Ilja Preuss]

"Thinking in Java" is a good book. I've started to grok OO while reading "Refactoring", though. That was before Martin's "Agile Software Development" was out - I think that would have been even better.

[Mike Keller]

I liked "Applying UML and Patterns" by Craig Larman.


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