Agile Java Development with Spring, Hibernate and Eclipse

When I was at the beginning of a long project-it started last year and as of right now is still going on-I bought a whole lot of books because, while I knew that whatever I wrote had to be developed on a linux box, be written mostly in java and had to use JSP, I still had a number of issues to resolve: How do I keep track of this project? What editor/ide do I use, and how best to use it?-I had been using a mac and xcode before, and, whenever I used linux, I had used emacs. I had some experience with eclipse, but not enough knowledge to set up all of the plugins, paths, configure it with the ant build file etc. I also needed a working plan for how to use JSP/Swing, and what to use for data persistence/database. This book has an introduction to Eclipse(and leads you through setting it up) and introductions to both Swing and Hibernate. There's also a summary of agile methods to manage your project, a summary of unit testing, logging, and example code... So while other books covered things like project development methods and data persistence in detail, this book gave a very good summary of most things I needed and led me through each subject as if I were starting a brand new project<-which I was. I still have the book on my desk, and it looks well loved

This is very good book ... if you do not pay too much attention to the title. This book is not a Spring or Hibernate tutorial. It presents an excellent overview of the development process in an enterprise Java shop. The author is an experienced practitioner, and this book is a jewel for any Java architect or a development manager. You'll learn how to set up the environment, how to gather business requirements and build the project deliverables agile way. The author explains where Spring, Hibernate, build and test tools fit by going through the process of development of a sample Java application. Here and there he sprinkles concise Java or XML code samples that are short enough to not get you carried away with details, but at the same time they help you to put all pieces of the puzzle called Java Enterprise Application in the right places. Yakov Fain, Java EE Editor of Java Developers Journal

This book is certainly different from the typical programming books. Buy this book if you are a developer who wants to elevate yourself to an architect/tech-lead or someone who wants to understand the entire software development lifecycle for building enterprise-class Java apps using POJOs with light-weight frameworks/tools, here is why... This book is rare in that, it actually covers the process of developing enterprise Java apps from conceptualization through deployment. For example, it covers everything from gathering user requirements, disseminating those into high level architecture/design diagrams, getting the appropriate development environment setup, and then using efficient open source frameworks/tools (i.e. hibernate, spring, eclipse) to develop enterprise-class Java applications. However, this book doesn't stop there since it covers topics applicable to deployment/monitoring of Java apps such as logging, JMX, debugging, application security, declarative transaction management, and more. To top it off, this book comes with a downloadable, completely functional/deployable web application built using ant, junit, spring, hibernate, etc. -- this is precisely one of the things the Agile Manifesto states ("working software over comprehensive documentation"). As stated in a couple of the earlier reviews here, yes, in a few places it does seem like it is more about the author than agile Java development and yes it would have been nicer to have the complete code in the book rather than online but despite these minor setbacks, this book is for any Java developer wanting to move up to the next level in their career. Also, don't buy this book only for spring and/or hibernate since it is much more than that (as stated in the preface) ... it is truly an end-to-end guide for developing enterprise Java apps with POJOs.

Agile Java Development (AJD) presents a complete view of current java technologies and development process. The initial chapters 2, 3 and 4 gives a good overview of aspects involved in the initiation of a project. These chapters are power packed information to quick start for project managers and architects for java based technology projects with Agile methodology. Then AJD gets into real tech action with Hibernate, Spring and Eclipse. Each component is detailed in chapter dedicated for it. Very vivid details like setup, architecture, and usage with screen shots and code snippets are provided. The Spring Framework chapters explain how spring is core of Java applications. The chapters on Eclipse are especially great as it ties application development process together and unravels the power of eclipse beyond just being an IDE. Once the functional aspects of application are developed, chapter 9 and 10 add value to application through JMX monitoring, logging, profilers, JUnit and introductions to advanced features of hibernate and Spring framework. I would also mention that the AJD author's candid comments are of great value.There are several tidbits about technology based on his vast experience. This is very relevant rather then a typical theoretical description to use the components like Hibernate, Spring available in other books and on internet.This also makes it very interesting and easy to read. The screen prints are very useful in relating to the chapter while try to use development. The emphasis of controlled process use during designing and testing is very relevant for application development now days. We are actually using AJD as reference for our project.

To call this book just an introduction to Spring and Hibernate does it gross injustice. It definitely does that, but it does it in the bigger context of Agile Modeling Driven development and XP, and thus provides a complete roadmap for planning and executing Java-based projects. I liked the book. While it is definitely not for a Java novice, it is definitely for a mid-career Java professional who is either trying to keep up to date or trying to move from a project using old-style Java development to one that uses lighter frameworks. The best feature of the book, IMHO, is the simple, straightforward language that it uses to introduce and explain the concepts. This almost laidback style of writing makes the book a very fast read. Also, the fact that it takes a sample application and takes it through a full development life-cycle really gives it a good narrative flow. Interspersed throughout the book are insights from the author in the form of side-boxed personal opinions. Anil uses these for narrating experiences from his career and they provide relief from the academic content as well as real-life perspective into the subject matter. The only negative points I can make are a) the chapter on Eclipse need not have been that long - a GUI tools such as that does not need such detailed explanations. And b) there are cartoons in the book - when I see them in books, I expect a chuckle out them - but these are not funny cartoons :-( All in all, a good book that provides useful and usable insights into Agile development and introduces all the tools that one needs to practise it. In the foreword to the book, Scott Ambler says that the greatest strength of the book is that "it presents real-world advice that reflects what top-notch developers actually do in practice". When I read it I thought it was high praise. But after reading the book, I think he is exactly correct.