Java 2: The Complete Reference, Fifth Edition

Schildt, Herbert

ISBN 10: 0072224207 / ISBN 13: 9780072224207

Published by McGraw-Hill Osborne Media, 2002

About this Item

Paperback This item shows wear from consistent use but remains in good readable condition. It may have marks on or in it, and may show other signs of previous use or shelf wear. May have minor creases or signs of wear on dust jacket. Packed with care, shipped promptly. Seller Inventory # V-02-2620

Bibliographic Details

Title: Java 2: The Complete Reference, Fifth Edition

Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media

Publication Date: 2002

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Good

Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included

Edition: 5th or later Edition

About this title

Synopsis:

This book is the most complete and up-to-date resource on Java from programming guru, Herb Schildt -- a must-have desk reference for every Java programmer.

Review:

For a supposedly easy-to-use language Java has generated a range of enormous books. The ever excellent Schildt continues the tradition--even allowing for the added coverage of Java 1.3--in this 1,000+ word tome.

Schildt divides the book into four parts. The first third is a solid tutorial on Java programming with neat code examples showing how various features work. Nearly half is taken up with a detailed view of the Java Library followed by 150 pages on Java software development. The last section dissects four Java applets.

Although described as a reference, Java 2: The Complete Reference is a lot more than a list of facts. There's advice, demonstrations of best practice, asides for those using languages such as C and C++ and a pleasant absence of the justifications for various Java design decisions which clog so many books on the subject. Schildt takes the line that Java is the future for Net and networked programs. Coming from perhaps the best-selling writer on C and C++ this is more than interesting. It's a pity Microsoft didn't read it. Perhaps it would have changed its mind about supporting Java.

One oddity is the way Schildt gives more coverage to the largely superseded AWT, the Abstract Window Toolkit, than to its easier and more flexible replacement, Swing. However, both are big areas; perhaps Schildt thinks you should be reading books dealing specifically with these subjects. He'll probably write one. --Steve Patient