Looking to learn Java (Books please)

mlbtheshow · 8 Nov 2010 at 18:54

Hi all,

Just looking for some advice as im looking to learn Java (not Javascript as ive now taken in the differences)

Anyway although I have some decent html/xml knowledge via web design, I know that I need to start at the absolute beginning with Java.

Now ive had a good google and read some websites and they have given me some good stuff, but im always weary that I might be reading something irrelevant to me at such an early stage of learning.

So, if anyone is kind enough to post, please can they let me know which books would be a good way to get myself started with Java? Im assuming the Dummies range is probably a road to go?

Outside of this, I have downloaded the following as I believe once im ready to start putting code in that id need these installed:

JRE and JDK 5.0 by the looks of it (got them from the Oracle website). Both 32bit as im using 32bit Vista.

All help appreciated.

JHeaton · 8 Nov 2010 at 21:10

I've got Sams Teach Yourself Java 6 in 21 Days, which I find pretty good. I'm not trying to tackle it in 21 days, which is helpful. I found it's a bit too extreme for that. But dedicating a whole day to a chapter, then some extra time to go over it again, was good for me. Objects First with Java is another one that seems to be highly recommended, but I can't comment on the quality of it.

md85 · 8 Nov 2010 at 21:25

I'd personally ignore learning 'Java' per se for now and start with the theory and concepts of programming as a whole, if you're looking to learn for the long term that is. Things like object oriented programming (and the everything that comes it, a quick google brought up this: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/architecture/OOP_Concepts_and_manymore.aspx) are very important and knowing it before you dive into Java will help understand whats going on, operators and data types, pointers (knowing what they are is useful, even if you never use C), conditional/compound statements etc.

Knowing the concepts that you'll use when programming will make learning a language a piece of cake, they're the same in C#, the same in Java and the same in Ruby, it's (generally) just the syntax that changes. It also helps you seperate out the language specifics when you're learning, Java Swing is largely different to WinForms or WPF for example, they both provide the same tools and end result, they just go about it differently.

If you'd like to just jump right in, I used 'Big Java' while I was at university, and while I rarely touch Java nowadays it still comes in useful. I think it skims over the basics of OOP but I'm not certain.

Chaos · 8 Nov 2010 at 22:22

Could try Head First Java.

Koalaboy · 9 Nov 2010 at 13:59

Free is always good: http://www.mindview.net/Books/TIJ/

mlbtheshow · 9 Nov 2010 at 16:48

Cheers all, thanks for the pointers - ill take a look at all suggestions.

mlbtheshow · 9 Nov 2010 at 21:37

Going with 3 book suggestions totalling £35...

Sams teach yourself Java in 24 hours (sounds like a good real basic intro into it for me)
Then its Sams teach yourself Java 6 in 21 days... something more advance and hopefully able to follow on along the same path.

Finally Objects First with Java looks a lot more indepth but hopefully by then im at a decent speed.

Thanks again all.

sniffy · 9 Nov 2010 at 21:43

mlbtheshow said:
Objects First with Java looks a lot more indepth but hopefully by then im at a decent speed.

Good choice. The IDE that comes with it is exceptionally helpful in the early stages. The object bench really helps you get your head around things.