Newly revised for some of the latest Sun JDK 1.3 standards, the second edition of Sams Teach Yourself Java 2 in 21 Days provides a refreshingly compact and useful tour of Java suitable for anyone who wants to master this powerful programming language quickly.

Currently, Java has some 2,000 classes and over 24,000 methods and properties. Instead of covering a laundry list of features, this book concentrates on what's really important, and keeps your attention with short, clever examples, many of which use names and examples drawn from pop culture or historical trivia.

The first week of lessons in the book comprises an easily digestible tutorial on basic Java, with review questions and exercises that will help you start using it on your own. Next comes a tour of the various options for building user interfaces in today's Java, including Swing applets and applications. In addition to basic component programming, you'll learn graphics using the new Java 2D API. (The older Abstract Windowing Toolkit, AWT, isn't covered.) Material on threading, animation, and sound helps you explore Java's multimedia capabilities.

The third and final week of lessons addresses advanced Java APIs and features that extend the reach of Java on the enterprise. After delving into more advanced class design, the book looks at topics like I/O streams in Java and Object Serialization (which allows objects to work with streams). Chapters on security and basic networking (illustrated using a server that generates trivia questions for clients) will let you work with Java on the Internet. The book closes with a chapter on database programming with JDBC. (There's also coverage of the older JDK 1.0 collection classes, which is a little surprising given the book's focus on newer Java 2 standards.)

All in all, Sams Teach Yourself Java 2 in 21 Days provides an efficiently packaged tutorial for learning Java, one that will be appreciated by any beginning Java programmer. The sheer number of classes and APIs in today's Java can be overwhelming. The intelligent and concise series of lessons in this book will help jump-start your knowledge. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: Overview and history of Java Introduction to objects Class inheritance Tutorial for basic Java (including data types and keywords, flow control, and working with objects) Arrays Basic Java applications Methods and constructors Introduction to Java applets Building Swing user interfaces (basic component types, layout managers, and event processing) Java 2D graphics (drawing basic shapes, text output, and fonts) Using threads for animation Loading and displaying images Java Sound (including MIDI files) Advanced class design (interfaces, packages, advanced method options) Exception handling and security Signing JAR files File and stream I/O in Java Object Serialization and reflection Remote Method Invocation (RMI) Java networking basics (sockets and servers) Building custom UI components with JavaBeans Database programming with JDBC JDK 1.0 collection classes References on the Sun JDK 1.3 (including installation)


From Book News, Inc.
New edition of a tutorial that sets forth fundamental skills and then moves on the more advanced techniques and concepts, for beginning through intermediate programmers. The authors are seasoned writers on Web development topics.Book News, Inc.®, Portland, OR


Book Description
Sams Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days, Second Edition is known for its clear and personable writing, its extensive use of examples, and its logical step-by-step organization. This new edition maintains and improves upon all these qualities, while updating and revising the material to cover the latest developments in Java and the way the language is used today.


Download Description
A thoroughly revised, updated, and improved edition of one of the world's leading Java tutorials Updated to cover version 1.4 of the Java 2 Standard Edition SDK-due to be finalized by the end of 2001. Restructured and rewritten to expand the book's coverage of core Java programming topics. Authors are expert technical writers, able explain the most complex programming concepts with clarity and humor. Sams Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days continues to be one of the most popular, best-selling Java tutorials on the market. Written by two expert technical writers, it has been acclaimed for its clear and personable writing, for its extensive use of examples, and for its logical and complete organization. This new edition of the book maintains and improves upon all these qualities, while updating, revising, and reorganizing the material to cover the latest developments in Java and to expand the book's coverage of core Java programming topics. Sun's new version of Java 2 Standard Edition-SDK version 1.4-is expected to be released by the end of 2001. According to Sun, version 1.4 builds upon Java's cross-platform support and security model with new features and functionality, enhanced performance and scalability, and improved reliability and serviceability. Laura Lemay is one of the world's most popular authors on Web development topics. Her books have sold over two million copies worldwide. Known for her ability to clearly explain even the most difficult technical topics, she complements her discussions with interesting yet practical examples. She is also the author of Sams Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML & XHTML in 21 Days, 0-672-32077-0, $34.99, Sams, 3/2001. Rogers Cadenhead is a writer, computer programmer, and Web developer who has written nine books on Internet-related topics. He maintains the Cruel Site of the Day and several other popular Internet sites. He is also the author of Sams Teach Yourself Java 2 in 24 Hours, 0-672-3236-3, $24.99, Sams, 11/ 2000. 0672323702


Book Info
A complete guide to the latest features of Java 2 with practical examples, covering both Java 2 and Java 1.02 event-handling systems. Step-by-step lessons to learning Java 2 in 21 days.


From the Back Cover
Sams Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days, Second Edition is known for its clear and personable writing, its extensive use of examples, and its logical step-by-step organization. This new edition maintains and improves upon all these qualities, while updating and revising the material to cover the latest developments in Java and the way the language is used today.


About the Author
Laura Lemay is the author of several best-selling Web development books, including Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML in a Week. She is known for her ability to clearly explain even the most difficult technical topics, while complementing her discussions with interesting yet practical examples. Rogers Cadenhead is the author of Teach Yourself Java 2 in 24 Hours, Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft FrontPage 2000 in 24 Hours, and several other Internet-related books. His writing style is clear and example-rich with a touch of humor - a perfect match for Laura Lemay.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Sams Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days, Second Edition is known for its clear and personable writing, its extensive use of examples, and its logical step-by-step organization. This new edition maintains and improves upon all these qualities, while updating and revising the material to cover the latest developments in Java and the way the language is used today.

FROM THE CRITICS

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