Thread: Is java how to program by the Deitels a good book?

Hi all,

I'm thinking if buying the book titled Java How to program, written by the Deitels. I have some programming experience, used the book sams teach your self java in 24 hours; though I don't feel like I really learnt programming. I know simply reading a book will not make me a programmer; though a book is like teacher, and a good teacher will teach you how to be able to use the skills you learnt in new ways, even with out them over your shoulder. I don't feel like the book has done that for me, so I'm thinking of getting a new book.

They are all rather expensive, so seeing that, I don't want to buy a bad book. So I'm asking here, my trusted place for everything java. Deitels book costs more than three hundred in local currency; though I might buy it if you guys don't have any thing bad to say about it.

Thanks.
-Mel

Originally Posted by Melawe

three hundred in local currency

That could amount to pocket change or a lifetime in earnings depending on what the local currency is... so that is not very useful information.
Personally I don't see the need to spend money on a book with the wealth of free information on the internet. Perhaps if its worth that coin to have a paper copy on your desk, then buy it. I have a book like it on my desk, it holds down the papers I never pick up either. But it is there if and when I ever want to pick it up

That would be about 15-30% of most peoples salary, its more like an investment rather than another book on the desk. What I want is a book that will not only teach me programming using Java, but be a companion/reference for the next few months-years of programming at the bigginer-interm level. I'm not looking for something to teach me what primitives data types are or how to make objects, but rather programming. If there is a better book you know of, please do let me know.

Originally Posted by Melawe

...What I want is a book that will not only teach me programming using Java, but be a companion/reference for the next few months-years of programming at the bigginer-interm level.

Best suggestion I have is to use more than one resource for your studies. I have never seen any one book on any one topic cover it all. Nor does one book explain things in a manner that each person gains the same level of understanding. Again about the book on the desk, with the internet, who picks up and carries books around? If you do buy a book, check for one you can get digitally anyway. Books are more of dust collectors than paper weights any more. But the real stress is on the fact that other resources can provide the same factual information at no cost, albeit presented in a different manner.

Originally Posted by Melawe

I'm not looking for something to teach me what primitives data types are or how to make objects, but rather programming.

The first three links posted by helloworld922 are among the best java specific resources and have been at home in my favorites list for some time.

Originally Posted by helloworld922

I don't really have any good book recommendations, especially for Java. There are so many good online references that I just don't see the need to shell out a hundred dollars or so for a book that will be out of date in a year or so.

That's not to say they're bad books and are completely a waste of money, but rather I've just found that other uses for my money, like science/engineering text books which typically don't have as good online resources.

My favorite Java resources (no particular order):

The Java Tutorials
Java API Specifications
Java Language Specifications
Google (or whatever your favorite internet search engine is)
Various online forums and Q&A sites

Thanks for the links, haven't seen Java Language Specifications before; is there a version for SE6? Nothing wrong with se7, but I prefer the L&F of se6 and don't want to confuse my self with using jdk7 and set the L&F to the old one at this time. I know there are many resources online, but I haven't found one that is going to take you from being new to knowing how to program anything you want. There are many great tuts, I've read alot, and learnt alot, I understand OOP, great with data types, arrays, loops, etc. But when it comes to making a real world app on my own... kinda like a calf looking at a new gate. I tried taking small projects created by others, but most are gui games or scie. calculators or complicated cmd system tweaking programs. :/ Which is why I'm thinking of getting a book, more indepth than Sams 24 Hours; is it the best way to go, wondering now after reading your guys comments. Though if I find a good set of tuts online, a with more detailed info than TJT, would be great, even if I'll printing a few dozen pages.

Originally Posted by jps

Best suggestion I have is to use more than one resource for your studies. I have never seen any one book on any one topic cover it all. Nor does one book explain things in a manner that each person gains the same level of understanding. Again about the book on the desk, with the internet, who picks up and carries books around? If you do buy a book, check for one you can get digitally anyway. Books are more of dust collectors than paper weights any more. But the real stress is on the fact that other resources can provide the same factual information at no cost, albeit presented in a different manner.

The first three links posted by helloworld922 are among the best java specific resources and have been at home in my favorites list for some time.

I carry books! Better than the strain of 18 hours of looking at the monirter. Though nonetheless, what I really want is a good teacher to get me on my feet, not going to the bookstore for a new book.

Originally Posted by helloworld922

Hey, I like my books! I just don't use them for Java or learning programming languages. They're great for science and engineering cause I tend to write in my books. A lot of good information is also in print only, or is even out of print (I recently used a book discussing the benefits of buying an electronic calculator ).

Haha, did you buy the book or got it free?

Originally Posted by helloworld922

JLS for SE5/6 (identical to each other)

I borrowed it from a friend, I'm not really sure where they got it from.

You can always print off pages if you don't want to stare at a monitor and put them into a binder.

Thanks my friend.

I do print. But I'm yet to find a tut to take me from hello world to hello polymorph with out to much or too little info; I just want something to teach me something about Java, so after each lesson I can do something new with out have to use 70% of the teachers code. As what happened with Sams, cause after you read it all, you find your self left with memorised code you understand, but not what you can improve or build on. I dont know if you guys know what I mean, but... :/

Originally Posted by Melawe

so after each lesson I can do something new

Start at the front and good luck(same as helloworld922 posted)

The deeper you go, the more "resources" you build up to work with, and it gets more involved.