Java Garage

if you have no sense of humor and like to over complicate everything to make yourself look smarter, you probably won't enjoy this book. I can't believe some of the negative reviews out here... they're saying the book is bad because jokes distracted them?! I've been developing sophisticated Java apps for over 6 years and I think the sequence of Java topics are presented in the best order i've ever seen. You'll be coding in minutes and be able to teach to others what you've read. Eben Hewitt cuts through the B.S. Everyone learns things differently; I like straight answers... comparisions to other more familiar concepts and code examples. This book uses all of those techniques.... along with some funny blurbs that helped me remember concepts more than they "distracted" me. I fall asleep reading most java books... this one is much better than most in that respect. I'd recommend it to all beginners and most intermediate folks. I will definitely buy More Java Garage if/when it comes out.

I've just found another favorite series/style of tech book for learning Java. This one is Java Garage by Eben Hewitt (Prentice Hall). Quirky, funny, strange, and it rocks... Chapter list: What is the Java Garage?; Java Buzz; Java Editions and Platforms; Compiling and Running Java Applications; Where to Write Code; Primitive Types; Operators; Control Statements; Classes; Fridge: Mmm-mmm Lamb Chops and a Manhattan; Classes Reloaded; Inheritance; Strings; Arrays; Documenting Your Code with Javadoc; Abstract Classes; Interfaces; Casting and Type Conversions; Inner Classes; Blog: Inner Classes and Event Handlers; Handling Exceptions; File Input/Output; Fridge: Guacamole; Using Regular Expressions; Creating GUIs with Swing; Blog Entry: Software Development Black Market; Dates and Times; Using Timer Tasks; Applets; Fridge: Big Daddy Flapjacks; Using System and Runtime; Using the Java Development Tools; FAQ; Packaging and Deploying Java Applications; Toolkit; System.Exit; Java Glossary on Steroids; Index And yes, there *are* recipes for guacamole, pancakes, lamb chops, and a Manhattan in the book. I *told* you it was quirky... This book is hard to describe. Hewitt's concept of "the garage" is a place where you go on Saturday to bang on things and hack it out. It's a place to experiment. It's where you go to be alone and to be with your friends. I look at the book and I think "zen" and "stream of consciousness". The author is talking to you in the pages, and it's not so much a tutorial as it is a couple of geeks sitting down learning a programming language by doing. And like all conversations, there are little sidebars that fill in the color and flavor of the main topic being discussed. Looking beyond the style, the content is solid. It covers Java version 1.5, so you're getting the latest in features and techniques. There are code samples all over the place in the book, and much to my pleasure, they are commented extensively. He tells you exactly what the code is doing in the comments, so there's no guessing as to what might have been intended. Since I tend to comment in this fashion, I am thrilled to see someone else who does that too. Anyone needing to learn Java will be able to pick up this book and absorb the concepts without much effort. Even if you're already somewhat knowledgeable on Java, you'll enjoy reading the book to get a new slant on things. It's one of the few techie books that is almost an enjoyable read even if you don't need the lessons. Java Garage is a refreshing break from the ordinary, and it will force you to shelve your expectations as to what a learning guide should be. This is a highly recommended read for beginners, and worth reading even if you've been working with Java for awhile...

For the clarity he brought to my understanding. Probably the first time ever... i enjoyed reading a computer/software book...! Chapter 16, Abstract Classes - Hero, Monsters, Goblin, Serpent And a great concept example code...! Go Hewitt...!!!

Tons of books exist on Java. So why choose this one? If you are a professional Java developer, there are plenty of handy references that will fill the needs of your daily class and method writing. But really, do we curl up with a copy of "Java in a Nutshell" or "Java 2: The Complete Reference"? Okay so maybe we do. But rather than reading like a college lecture as many Java books do, this one reads like a discussion with a good friend. It provides an accessible style and superior coverage for both the beginning and advanced Java programmer. (** Plus it has information on J2SE 5.0.) For the Java novice, the book gives entertaining, non-technical analogies that help describe basic concepts. It uses a direct and stimulating approach. As someone who has tutored university-level Java students, I recommend this book as a starting point if you are struggling with the concepts of Java programming. The first chapters are an excellent introduction to the fundamentals. After grasping the basics, you can then pick and choose which chapters are most relevant to you, as there is very little "chapter building" from then on. An indispensable "Glossary on Steroids" serves as a reference for words and concepts you may not immediately know or recall. I also recommend this book as an introduction to advanced topics and as a reference for when that "how does this work again?" issue arises. "Fridge" sidebar notes provide technical value and entertainment. Also included are invaluable chapters on application deployment and using regular expressions in Java. You also will get coverage of Java 5.0 during the course of the book. You'll find that Java 5.0 is a running thread (no pun intended). This is text with actual, working, compilable code examples, not a picture book. When it comes to computation, working code is worth a thousand words.

Java Garage is a greate book. I was fortunate to be able to participate in the technical review process for the the book, during which time I was able to read it. It covers the basics of the Java Programming language very well without bogging the reader down with every nut and bolt as to how things work. There are topics in the book that aren't in regular Java books. For example: Packaging and Deploying Java Applications, Using System and Runtime, and several more. Overall I felt that this book was a good source of knowledge as well as a fun read. Eben Hewitt has a good sense of humor that keeps the book lively and interesting.