Core Java 2, Volume 1: Fundamentals

I've been updating my copy of this book since the second edition, and it is still the best book around for explaining the Java programming language to beginners in a classroom environment where there is an instructor to fill in the details. The book also succeeds at updating veterans on new features of the language and is a very excellent reference. Chapter two is great for customizing your programming environment, since there are always new versions of Windows and Solaris being released. Chapters three through six introduce the fundamentals of Java, including object oriented concepts. It would be best if the reader had some previous exposure to object-oriented programming, as teaching the theory of OOP is not really the focus of the book. Chapters seven through nine deal exclusively with Swing and graphics. The explanation of the Java graphical event model is particularly good and unmatched in any other book I have run across. The final chapters of the book deal with making sense of the "streams zoo" in Java and the newer feature of generic programming. Streams, used for file handling in Java, is very well presented here. This is good, since I/O in Java is probably unlike anything you will have previously encountered. There is also a dedicated chapter on applets which is a somewhat dated subject, but still necessary for a complete treatment of the language considering its roots. After you read and understand the code in this book you would do well to pick up a copy of "Java Swing" for an in-depth treatment of building user interfaces, as well as "Java I/O" by Knudsen for deep coverage of Java streams. Finally, pick up volume two of "Core Java" and continue your education in the more advanced features of the Java language. If you are a complete novice to the Java language, you would be well advised to buy "Head First Java", which works well whether you are learning in a classroom or if you are teaching yourself the language. Even if you are a novice, you are going to want to have a copy of "Core Java" around for reference.

I was a bit reluctant to buying the book, principally because I had bought many Java books already with very little success. After reading all the reviews for its new edition and the previous edition I was even more confused, specially when you read very positive reviews and a few practically destroying the book, so you really don't know what to expect. Anyways I finally made the decision to buy it and all I can say is that I am pleased I made that decision, I finally got the main concepts of Java and I can code, maybe not as well as a Java programmer, but being a newcomer in the Java world I feel very happy that I was able to overcome the frustration of feeling that I was in the middle of nowhere without understanding what I was supposed to code.This book is very well written and its examples are of a great help, moreover the explanation of the examples are simply outstanding. Some other books are great and they might be great for other readers, example Thinking in Java, but in my particular case it was hard to get up to speed as quickly as I am doing it with Core Java 2, I am sure that later on I will be using more advanced books, but for now Core Java 2 is doing a great job teaching me the basics. I look forward to buying Volume II, even though I have read some negative comments about it. As a final point I think I should say that although the book specified that it is aimed at a more advanced audience, it certainly provides the information in a way that beginners can benefit from the book by understanding the concepts quickly without struggling with advanced technical jargon and complex explanations that can take a long time to digest. Cay Hortsmann did an excellent job with this book, I say Core Java 2 should be a "should have" for anyone that wants to become familiar with Java, for other advanced users it might not be sufficient, but for people struggling with getting a solid understanding of the language this book is definitely the way to go. Bottom line, I was finally able to like, enjoy and particularly overcome the frustration from reading other titles that were killing me to point that I was totally disliking Java. ! Great Book !

My department is changing from teaching C++ to Java in the intro CS courses. I have been learning Java over the past few years and have amassed quite a large library of Java texts and references. As with other areas of CS, in which I accumulate many texts, I find that I eventually gravitate toward a select few, key, references. With C++, it was the Lippman text. For Java, I frequently find myself returning to Core Java, Vol 1 after giving up on other texts. I've even used this book as one of the two course texts in a topics course (Design Patterns with Java). My students seem to agree with me in that this book serves as a good in-depth reference for core Java questions. It's not a tutorial, not a textbook full of exercises and testing material, and not a GUI reference (but does include swing and AWT material). It's just the best general reference I've found. I have two copies - one for home and one at the office.

I am a Java instructor, and I can tell you - I spent a LOT of time looking for a decent introductory book to Java that didn't assume the reader (a) already knew C++, (b) was an idiot, or (c) was clairvoyant. This is simply the best and most thorough introduction to the Java programming language I've found, with practical examples, and intriguing commentary on what is good and bad about the Java language. Easy to read. The best book to get you started.

I learned JAVA with the 2 CORE JAVA books (1 & 2)The reader form PA who rated it a 1 star book is nuts.>First off, does it have to be so fat? I don't think so. I am tired of the bloated technical books. Our time is too valuable. <p>Its comprehensive, well written, full of examples, and actually FUN to read. Very rare for a technical work.<p>>Second, the examples are bad and explanations are horrible. <p>No the examples are comprehensive and excellent. Very helpful for some of the Swing/AWT classes.<p>>Note how the authors explain how local anonymous inner classes should be avoided and then use them in every example afterwards. <p>In general Anonymous inner classes should be avoided, but small ones are ok, and the authors give an example. If you dont want to make the class anonymos then dont. Its just an example, and they explain all you need.<p>>Notice how OO principles are disregarded in the first big example.<p>No I didnt notice, they do an excellent job explaining OO principles.<p>> Notice how the chapter on inheritance talks extensively about reflectivity which has only tangential bearing. Also, there is a lot of "This doesn't work here, but don't worry about that now" and "I know we didn't bring this up yet, but you will see this 5 chapters on". It's called forethought - try it!<p>No its called complesity. Rather than assuming the readers have extensive OO experience they provide some background. To throw in everything would be too complex at the start.<p>>Third, too much time spent on GUI topics.<p>I disagree. Its an important subject and complex. To spend less time would be worthless. I found the GUI coverage to be good, and bought the 4 volume set to get complete coverage. <p>>This takes up nearly half the book. I have to buy the equally bloated Volume 2 to learn enterprise programming.<p>The combined books are 1500 pages. GUI takes up a chunk, several hundered pages. Skip it if you dont care.<p>>Forth, no diagrams. Perhaps a sprinkling of UML would help understand what is going on.<p>I had no problem understanting what was going on. Well written, lots of examples, and screen shots. Far more useful than some diagrams. Not everyone knows UML either. Spend a few minutes reading the code examples and its easy to follow.<p>>Fifth, the authors do not concentrate on the basics.<p>Sure they do. After reading the book I had an indepth understanding of many aspects of Java. They cover all the Basics, but in depth.<p>> The authors rather give you some code so you can say "Look what I can do!". In a book so large, I would expect to gather a sound understanding of how everything fits together. Where are the examples of Linked Lists, Stacks, and Queues? <p>They cant give examples of everything, use some of the classes they give you, don't reinvent the wheel. Look at Suns website for examples of code.<p>>Juxtapose this with a typical C++ book.<p>This is more interesting and fun.<p>>Sixth, there should be a reference to programming