Books

Objects First With Java: A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ (3rd Edition)

Average customer rating:

Nice intro book
not worth the money
Different form the rest! Objects first, objects alive - what OOP is about.
Not for new Java learners
Maybe good for OOP, but not for real JAVA

Objects First With Java: A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ (3rd Edition)
David J. Barnes , and Michael Kolling
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books

General | Software Books | Custom Stores | Stores | Software
Similar Items:

Head First Java, 2nd Edition
Learning to Program with Alice
Beginning Java Objects: From Concepts To Code, Second Edition
The Elements of Java Style
Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam in Java

ASIN: 013197629X

Book Description

/* 0-13-044929-6, 4492J-5, Barnes, Kolling, OBJECTS FIRST WITH JAVA */ BlueJ is a Java development environment that runs on top of the Sun Microsystems Java Development Kit making use of the standard compiler and virtual machine. It allows readers to create objects of any class and interact with their methods. For the first time, the traditionally difficult concepts of objects and classes are brought alive in an easily manipulable visual form. This truly “objects first” approach within the customized BlueJ environment will revolutionize the way programming is learned. The book includes a copy of BlueJ. Takes a project driven approach to problem solving—the book is structured along the lines of fundamental development tasks—providing readers with clear coverage of the principles of object-oriented programming. Programmers and non-programmers who want to learn Java with a state of the art approach and user-friendly programming environment.

Customer Reviews:

Nice intro book.......2007-05-09

most intro to programming books expect/assume you to know about programming before you can begin. This book actually teaches you the very basic and doesnt assume that you know anything. :-) Its probably the best one for beginners.

not worth the money.......2007-03-19

I purchased this for use in a Java class. The instructor swore by this book. In the end, it just wasn't worth the money. All the information I needed were already available online at through Sun and other Java resources.

Different form the rest! Objects first, objects alive - what OOP is about. .......2007-01-25

Most other books on Java are practically carbon copies of each other. They'll take you through the same boring sequence of learning. When you get to objects, you're just overwhelmed with (what seems to be) information of little practical relevance - or at least, no fun. One hardly gets the feel for what the Object Oriented programming hype is all about.
BlueJ gives you an IDE and code. Like most professional programmers, you won't be writing HelloWorld.java. Instead, you'll begin with code that was already writen by others. The book will take you on a tour in which you'll be exploring the behavior of objects. You'll be asked to reimplement classes, and observe the effects your changes have on the program's behavior. The IDE shows you class diagrams, so you can begin to analyze dependencies. Objects in BlueJ are "live", and you inspect their behaviors on the fly. This is unlike most other books, where you are required to use a text editor. This is miles ahead from the other 99% of tutorial books.
BlueJ almost feels like the Java programmer is in a Smalltalk environment. BlueJ gives the beginer a real feel for code reuse, modularity, and objects, and the IDE is an integrated tool in the development process, just like it is for a professional Java programmer. An outstanding book. Having gone through piles of Java tutorial books, this is the one to learn from. This one's truly for learning OOP.

Not for new Java learners.......2007-01-05

I am learning Java on my own and had minimum exposure to programming. I have tried this book. Yes, it is good approach to teach OO with Java, but at the end I could not write program in Java confidently. I've tried other book that also emphasized on early OO approach. I can understand the concept but cannot write meaningful application. Then I got the book Introduction to JAVA programming 6th Edition, Comprehensive version by Daniel Liang. This book actually give me understanding and make sense that the previous beginner's book tried to emphasized. It gave me gentle introduction starting form very fundamental of programming to OO concept. The transition from fundamental concept to OO concept was painless.

In short, to me the Object Frst with JAVA is more suitable to peoples who have 'some' exposure to basic programming.

Maybe good for OOP, but not for real JAVA.......2006-09-13

I am using this book for JAVA class at my University. It really sucks, because my teacher teaches like most other books teach, and this book has some weird pedagogical method of teaching objects rather than syntax. Terrible when your teacher wants to teach his way and it conflicts with this book.

Quick and easy example why NOT to buy this book: The "main" function is not mentioned ONCE in this book. NOT ONCE. So when people with zero programming experience started seeing my teacher put main up on the board, they were lost.

The compiler is more of a visual JAVA and would be great for an OOP class. But to learn JAVA its awful. It tried to avoid "syntax" yet it has complicated programs where knowing syntax is necessary. Skip this one unless you want to get a better handle on OOP after having learned JAVA.

An Introduction to Programming and Object-Oriented Design Using Java 2nd Edition - Java 5.0 version

Average customer rating:

Java, UML and algorithms all in one

An Introduction to Programming and Object-Oriented Design Using Java 2nd Edition - Java 5.0 version
Jaime Niño , and Frederick A. Hosch
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books

General | Software Books | Custom Stores | Stores | Software
Similar Items:

Addison-Wesley's Java Backpack Reference Guide
Discrete Mathematics (6th Edition) (Jk Computer Science and Mathematics)
Java Software Solutions: Foundations of Program Design (5th Edition)
Assembly Language for Intel-Based Computers (5th Edition)
Head First Java, 2nd Edition

ASIN: 0471712272

Book Description

Nino and Hosch have updated their popular introductory text that provides an objects first introduction to programming and software design using Java. The emphasis throughout is on problem modeling using fundamental software engineering princi-ples and concepts. Java used as a vehicle for teaching these topics. New constructs and features of Java 5.0, such as generics, are introduced. The text includes optional, interactive exercises using the DrJava integrated development environment (IDE). The UML is employed (very informally) for denoting objects, object relationships, and system dynamics. No specific previous programming experience is assumed, and the text is appropriate for first year computer science majors. The text could also carry over to a second course on data structures or software/OO design.

About DrJava: DrJava is an IDE designed primarily for students and includes an easy to use facility for interactively evaluating Java code. Optional DrJava exercises are included throughout the text if instructors want their students doing more pro-gramming. DrJava is the IDE chosen by the authors, but any IDE can be used for these exercises.

This update of the text provides Java code in newly released Version 5.0.

Customer Reviews:

Java, UML and algorithms all in one.......2004-12-29

This is an ideal book for those that want to learn Java with a college textbook. Starting with the basics each chapter is well written and illustrated and has a series of questions at the end to help you test your knowledge of what you have just learned. UML is used throughout as the illustration language. Later chapters deal with algorithms (e.g. storage, sorting, searching, etc.)

All of the features of the Java language are covered. Swing is used to teach the basics of UI. There is nothing on web application work. Collections are taught using the new generics features of Tiger.

A good book for those looking to learn how to program, and who want to start with the Java language and object-oriented design.

The Object of Java: Introduction to Programming Using Software Engineering Principles (2nd Edition) (Visual Quickstart Guides)

Average customer rating:

Don't buy if you have a choice
Horrible waste of paper!
typos, syntax errors, and aLibrary.* OH MY!!!
This is not as BlueJ as it should be...
Objects (with a capital O)

The Object of Java: Introduction to Programming Using Software Engineering Principles (2nd Edition) (Visual Quickstart Guides)
David D. Riley
Manufacturer: Addison Wesley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books

General | Software Books | Custom Stores | Stores | Software
Similar Items:

Introductory Chemistry: An Active Learning Approach (with ChemistryNOW? Printed Access Card)
Programming Visual Basic .NET with Student CD
Connecting with Computer Science
Calculus: Concepts and Contexts (with Tools for Enriching Calculus, Interactive Video Skillbuilder, vMentor, and iLrn Homework)

ASIN: 0321331583

Book Description

The Object of Java fully embraces the object-oriented paradigm by taking an "objects-centric" approach to presenting problem solving and programming. This book focuses on the skills and discipline of software engineering that are needed for good programming. Since specifications are critical for conveying code behavior in the object-oriented model, discussions of method preconditions and postconditions, and class invariants are used consistently to document examples and to define example classes. The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is used as the specification language. The book also uses the notion of patterns to identify numerous expressions, instructions, algorithms and designs that serve to pattern program segments. This book is designed for those who are programming with the BlueJ IDE. Readers begin with four complete chapters focusing on objects, classes and methods. The presentation of primitive data occurs in Chapter 5, ensuring the necessary prior exposure to object declaration, object instantiation, assignment, method calling, parameter passage, class diagrams and object diagrams. In order to accommodate this placement of topics, control structures are covered later than in other books. The book also emphasizes the importance of testing with special sections devoted to ensure that readers develop basic debugging skills, and knowledge of simple path testing and black-box testing. This book is designed for readers without prior programming experience, and is also appropriate for those with knowledge of other languages who are looking for a true object-oriented introduction to Java.

Customer Reviews:

Don't buy if you have a choice.......2007-03-14

This book was a required text for my java class. In conversing with my classmates, we all agree that this book wasn't of any help. I would recommend any other book, this one is just too abstract for a beginner. It's difficult to apply the concepts, and the flow is jagged. With the addition of a teacher, and reading this book from front to back, my java class sucked hard because i didn't have that solid foundation I needed.

Horrible waste of paper!.......2006-02-24

i had to get this book for a course i was taking at the college i go to. i cringe every time i read it because the title is a bit misleading. I thought i was going to be learning JAVA insted i'm learning how to take someone elses class files to apply them to completely meaningless projects that really dont teach anyone anything about how to program, let alone about the inner workings of the programs your working with. the teaching style is more of a top down approach rather than explaining whats going on at the lower level and you learn to program with classes to make programs at an upper level. This may work for some, it definately doesnt fly with me.
I have read many books on C, and C++, and have paged through some promising java books (like Sun's own books on the subject).. if it werent for the requirement for this book in the class i would have passed it up INDEFINATELY!!! Peice of Krap!!!

do{
if(The object of JAVA==pickup){
The object of JAVA = Leave it the hell alone!!!;
else if(The object of JAVA == buy)
{
do{
Beat head with stick && knock sence into head;
burn book || return to store;
}while(book==posession)
}while(@bookshelf)

typos, syntax errors, and aLibrary.* OH MY!!!.......2005-10-10

The Object of Java by David D. Riley

This book is less than impressive. It exhumes the need for elucidated text in the field of computer science.

I am compelled to correlate this book with the awkward ramblings of Vizzini to Westley in the movie, "The Princess Bride".

Reading this book was more than a slight burden. Only one who is versed in reading the writings of such authors as Joseph Cambell or Henry David Thoreau can comprehend the confusion of word and sputter heavily peppering this book.

Allow me to illuminate:

1) This author finds it fit to include typos and syntax errors in the example code as to completely change the meaning of the code. Only one already experienced in programming will catch such errors. Others will wallow in confusion as to why the program is not working properly, after all, they copied it from the book word for word, it should be working, right?

2) In several instances, the author uses programming syntax and variable naming methods in his text that has nothing to do with the code explaination at hand. He actively titles the beginning of each sub-section as if it were a class or variable. IE: DivisionOfRadians()
NO THAT'S NOT A CLASS! :D
This is a common practice of David D. Rileys throughout the book, and not only for chapter sub-sections. He uses such writing methods all too liberally.

3) This genius author also uses an arbitrary library called aLibrary. Good for him, he designed his own library! Since this whole book is based on the aLibrary, any real world application have just been made void. I mean seriously, try convincing your co-workers that this aLibrary is the next big thing. What happened to the commonly used AWT and Swing libraries? Hmmm, oh, it's shoved in the back index. Right where you would expect commonly used every day libraries.

4) His code snippets and actual text are seperated by font style. Only problem is, you can't tell at all. His method of referring to code, methods, arguments, classes etc in his text is extremely easy to miss without paying impossibly close attention. His text is filled with inconsistencies and problems. I DO NOT recommend this book. If at all possible, avoid it entirely. For those of you who are using this book as a college text, well, all I can say is, I'm very sorry.

On the bright side, his explaination of objects and classes is ... decent.

This is not as BlueJ as it should be..........2004-03-13

Let me say first: I love the BlueJ environment. It is by far and away the best environment I have ever seen for learning or teaching Java. I was facinated after reading the tutorial that comes with it (from www.bluej.org), and I got this book.

This book is okay, and has some good points to it, but the 'BlueJ' tag on the front cover is a bit misleading. I got the impression that it was added as an afterthought, and does not make really good use of the BlueJ environment.

BlueJ opens many fascinating possibilities (calling methods directly on an object!) and not much of this is used in the book. A bit disappointing. Otherwise the book is okay.

Objects (with a capital O).......2004-02-02

The BlueJ IDE is less than impressive, and my copy (1st edition?) has plenty of errors (diagrams and/or codesamples have typos or are "wrong" with respect to the main text) ... however ... this book teaches OBJECTS using Java, not just how to program in Java. The excercises use problems that are optimally suited to object oriented solutions. The book was never boring or hard to understand. I love this book!

Digital Image Processing: An Algorithmic Introduction using Java (Texts in Computer Science)

Average customer rating:

Digital Image Processing: An Algorithmic Introduction using Java (Texts in Computer Science)
Wilhelm Burger , and Mark James Burge
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Graphic Design | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

General | Software Books | Custom Stores | Stores | Software
ASIN: 1846283795

Book Description

Written as an introduction for undergraduate students, this textbook covers the most important methods in digital image processing. Formal and mathematical aspects are discussed at a fundamental level and various practical examples and exercises supplement the text.

The book uses the image processing environment ImageJ, freely distributed by the National Institute of Health. A comprehensive website supports the book, and contains full source code for all examples in the book, a question and answer forum, slides for instructors, etc. Digital Image Processing in Java is the definitive textbook for computer science students studying image processing and digital processing.

Introduction To Computer Science Using Java, Student Workbook

Average customer rating:

Introduction To Computer Science Using Java, Student Workbook
McGraw-Hill
Manufacturer: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0078245184

Introduction to Programming Using Java: An Object-Oriented Approach (2nd Edition)

Average customer rating:

Good Java textbook
Poor Instructor Support
Great, but only for intermediate student
Pretty cover, pretty graphics, pretty opinionated
top book

Introduction to Programming Using Java: An Object-Oriented Approach (2nd Edition)
David Arnow , Scott Dexter , and Gerald Weiss
Manufacturer: Addison Wesley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books

General | Software Books | Custom Stores | Stores | Software
Similar Items:

Addison-Wesley's Java Backpack Reference Guide
Java: An Introduction to Computer Science and Programming, Third Edition
Calculus: Single and Multivariable
Introduction to MATLAB 7 for Engineers
Beginning Java Objects: From Concepts To Code, Second Edition

ASIN: 0321200063

Book Description

Using the Java language, this book introduces the beginning computer science student to the concepts of class, object, and message in the first chapter. This object-oriented approach is used throughout the text, as students learn the fundamentals of object-oriented programming along with the basics of imperative programming. Because Java is an object-oriented language that reflects the acquired wisdom of thirty years of programming language design, the book can effectively focus on programming and the process of class design. Early on, a clear, usable procedure for solving problems by developing classes is presented and then used throughout the text. Java's support for GUI and network programming makes a great setting for diverse programming examples: a calculator, a strategy game, reading the Dow Jones from Yahoo!, a Web surveyor application, scheduling songs for a rock-and-roll radio station, as well as traditional payroll and student GPA computations. Working with these and other examples, students learn to think like a programmer, analyze problems, devise solutions, design classes, and write code.

Features Uses object-oriented concepts from the very beginning--classes, objects, and messages are all introduced in Chapter 1--and develops them throughout. Applies a consistent class design procedure, usable by beginners. Contains graphic user interface (GUI) supplements in each chapter . Provides an early introduction to testing, covering test drivers, debugging, and test case selection. Includes a chapter with three robust applications--a LOGO turtle, a Web surveyor, and Mancala (a strategy game)--which use the text's class design procedure and allow the students to tie the material together.

Customer Reviews:

Good Java textbook.......2005-03-19

This is a good textbook on Java and also OOP (object oriented programming). If you are someone who's very new to programming, OOP may be a little over your head -- I don't mean to sound rude, but even for a seasoned programmer like myself (with 15 years of experience in everything from C to Fortran to VB to Perl to Matlab), OOP is always a hard to grasp concept, and I still program in a non-OOP way. (That's why I never quite adopted Java.) In that case, you should start with a C book.

But if you must learn OOP, or Java, this book will serve you well. It tries to be gentile in its treatment of computer programming concepts, and presents plenty of Java code to illustrate the various points. I find the important thing about using this book is, you gotta do the exercises, and don't be lazy. OOP is really a complex concept, so lots of sweat and swears are just part of becoming proficient at it. This book helped me understand Java and OOP better, although I will probably never adopt the OOP paradigm of programming. For me, C and Perl (and VB in Windows) do all the tricks I need.

Feel free to drop me a note at gadgester @t hotmail if you have any questions about learning programming.

Poor Instructor Support.......2004-10-14

The first four chapters of the book do cover the basics of Java, but the book is a little dry and the examples are often split up and hard to track and place together for students.

The biggest problem is that there is no instructor support - PowerPoints, odd/even numbered solution sets, additional examples - that are or will be provided for this textbook. Thus unless you are an instructor who has numerous extra days free to work on answering book questions and preparing slides I would recommend using another textbook for your class that has this material prepared to help in class planning.

Great, but only for intermediate student.......2003-12-09

I read some other reviews here, and I saw one person getting rather angry, while another was full of praise. The situation can be uinderstood by noting that this is NOT a beginning level textbook, despite what the author might have intended. Although the author writes using simple and familiar phrases to try to make things clear, its still the case that what he is doing will not be understood by anyone who is completely new to the whole notion of objects. This book is best as a second or third book, to be read by someone who is already comfortable with what an object is.

I suppose the way to view this book is that it is a needed gap-filler between the books getting readers to understand what an object is, and what it can do, and the advanced books addressed to experienced programmers who are already experts but just need to get the specifics of Java.

What the book does is take a student who knows at least a boiler-plate idea of what objects are and work with him to develop a much more intuitive understanding.

Having said that, I would say that this book is good at what it does. It presents a useful conceptual picutre of objects, which should be very helpful in designing programs, and in understanding code written by others.

Pretty cover, pretty graphics, pretty opinionated.......2002-02-13

I was told to use this book for the introductory Java class I teach at a community college. I liked the idea of teaching objects. The book had a pretty cover, and the graphics are excellent. I read through the introductory matter and was less than pleased. By the time I got to Chapter 2, I knew there was a problem.

I have been coding in Java since it was Oak. "Cascading" and "Composition" introduced in Chapter 2?

The book using AWT instead of Swing/JFC, there were no usable student questions or exercises, and 70% of the appendix on Java Environments was devoted to the Macintosh!!

The text introduces the Vector class as a object oriented programming structure, and then basically tells the reader that arrays are better and negates all the benefits of introducing Java's collection classes.

The format forces me to rate 1 star; the star belongs solely to the graphics designers.

top book.......2002-01-31

this is the best intro java book i've read. it has been invaluble to me it paints such a clear picture, and teaches oo sweetly, buy this and use it in conjunction with bruce eckels book and i promise you will have bulletproof oo fundamentals with which to build on

Concrete Abstractions: An Introduction to Computer Science Using Scheme

Average customer rating:

Scheme - A Good Choice to Teach CS
Great foundations

Concrete Abstractions: An Introduction to Computer Science Using Scheme
Max Hailperin , Barbara Kaiser , and Karl Knight
Manufacturer: Course Technology
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Scheme Programming Language, 3rd Edition
Exploring Computer Science with Scheme (Undergraduate Texts in Computer Science)

ASIN: 0534952119

Book Description

This text covers the basics of programming and data structures, and gives first-time computer science students the opportunity to not only write programs, but to prove theorems and analyze algorithms as well.

Customer Reviews:

Scheme - A Good Choice to Teach CS.......2001-09-04

Scheme has been taught to every student taking computer 'science' at MIT for the past 20 years, and it is increasingly used throughout the world to teach that subject. The mainstream languages C++ and Visual Basic are considered to be poorly designed, and C is too low level to be a good choice in a course intended to provide a comprehensive introduction to computer science (which goes far beyond what the average person calls 'programming').

Scheme is a variant of Lisp, which is the second oldest computer language, after Fortran. It is, however, a thoroughly modern language, and has strongly influenced the design of other modern languages like ML and Python.

The book starts in Scheme, then adds object oriented techniques and assembly language. It finishes with a transition to Java, which is, of course, similar to C++. This approach will provide a much broader background than a typical text using C++ or C could.

Great foundations.......2000-06-21

Concrete Abstractions provides a great intoduction to the world of Computer Science. It covers well basic ideas of abstractions, software design, algorithms, sorting, and much more. Even after one gets a handle on the ideas presented, the book serves well as a handy reference. Very sound theory with challenging exercises. I recommend it to anyone studying computer science in a college environment. The only downside is that the book relies on the Scheme programming language; an obscure academic language. This isn't a large setback as the theory covered in the book is easily applied to all languages.

An Introduction to Computer Science Using Java

Average customer rating:

This book SUCKS!
CS
Not such a bad book at all
A mis-introduction...
This book is terrible!

An Introduction to Computer Science Using Java
Samuel N. Kamin , M. Dennis Mickunas , and Edward M. Reingold
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books

General | Software Books | Custom Stores | Stores | Software
Similar Items:

Ivor Horton's Beginning Java 2, JDK 5 Edition
Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications: And Its Applications

Accessories:

Schaum's Outline of Programming with Java
Java Demystified
Schaum's Outline of Programming with Java

ASIN: 0072323051

Book Description

An Introduction to Computer Science Using Java by Kamin and Mickunas is designed for a CS1/Intro to Programming course in which java is used. The authors emphasize the process of programming, which teaches students how to develop correct, efficient, well-structed and stylish programs.

In this new edition, the authors put more emphasis on object-oriented programming, greatly expanding their coverage and using a more graphical approach. At the same time, the text has retained its coverage of the traditionally fundamental computer science topics such as the development of correct programs, iteration, arrays, recursion, and algorithm analysis. This blend prepares students to become sophisticated computer programmers, not simply JAVA programmers.

One of the unique aspects of the text are the debugging sections. In appropriate places throughout the text, the authors provide students with information on how to debug their programs. In addition, there are such pedagogical aids as "Bug Alerts" and a wide range of exercises, including new quick review exercises throughout the chapter.

Customer Reviews:

This book SUCKS!.......2004-06-17

I'm currently a Computer Science major at the University of Memphis and unfortunately they used this book for their Introduction to Computer Science class. Sad to say, I failed the class because this book failed me! There's only so much that a professor can explain and you will need a reliable text, well written, with lots of examples on java programming to supplement the lectures. However, this awful text does not explain the basics of programming but instead bombards you with Computer Science concepts that are way over a beginner's head. It was useless to all of students in the class and nearly everyone had to go out and buy a second book, like "Headfirst Java" by Kathy Sierra. However, after spending $108.00 on this book, I refused to go out and purchase another text. So as the semester progressed and the students who'd purchase a different book grasped the programming concepts, I still grappled with this garbage and ultimately failed the class. So BEWARE, THIS BOOK SUCKS!

CS.......2003-03-06

This books covers both first and second year
concepts in computer science, as well as a variety
of topics relevant to using Java. For an introduction
to Java with minimal computer science, consult Deitel
and Deitel. I would also recommend the book "Discrete
Mathematics" by Rosen, or a similar book, to be used
in conjunction with this text. If you learn using
this book or perhaps SICP by Abelson (used at MIT),
you will be much better off in the long run than using a
less rigorous approach.

Not such a bad book at all.......1999-12-17

Of course, they talk about getting JDK from Sun website in the *preface*. If you want to start out on your own this book is a good place to do that. A page of minor errata is available from Kamin's website, which perhaps bothered previous readers. Good book with a conversational style.

A mis-introduction..........1999-10-13

Throughly confusing. Of very little value to the cs student. Detrimental to the aspiring Java professional.

This book is terrible!.......1999-08-01

This book is used by the Univ of Auckland for its stage 1 CS textbook and it won't be used next yr.

As Java is a high level OOL, the authors did a very poor job in explaining even the very basic concept of OOP. (e.g. class, method, etc)

Average customer rating:

An Introduction to Computer Science Using Java
John Carter
Manufacturer: Venture Books Canada
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0973342706

Product Description

This book is intended to provide a person who is completely new to computer science with an introduction to the Java programming language and techniques for solving problems using a computer. Although a great deal of space in the book is devoted to features of Java, the book does not cover the language completely. Instead, it focuses on those aspects of the language that are needed to introduce ideas about problem solving. More details, including a table of contents and a sample chapter are available on the website: www.venturebooks.ca

An Introduction to Programming and Object-Oriented Design Using Java small TM/small

Average customer rating:

A Great Introductory Book for Beginning Programmers
Excellent Book...
Learn Software Design From Two Legendary Masters
An ambitious attempt, but falters badly
Oh snap, your teacher assigned this book too!

An Introduction to Programming and Object-Oriented Design Using Java small TM/small
Jaime Niño , and Frederick A. Hosch
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books

General | Software Books | Custom Stores | Stores | Software
Similar Items:

Data Structures and Other Objects Using C++ (3rd Edition) (Savitch Series)

ASIN: 047148167X

Book Description

The emphasis throughout this book is on problem modeling using fundamental software engineering principles and concepts. Although Java is introduced and used throughout the text, this is not a text about Java. Rather, Java is used as a tool to present the concepts.
The UML is used, very informally, for denoting objects, object relationships, and system dynamics.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Introductory Book for Beginning Programmers.......2004-01-31

This book, in my opinion, is probably one of the few better introduction books that should be widely used in many intro computer courses. I have programmed for many years, and I have learned that I have made the same mistake in the past that I know many others have done, when they first started programming. The problem I am talking about is when some people program, they just go up to the keyboard and screen and just type, which I have learned from this book that it is very wrong to do. I have learned from this book that when one programs, he/she has to have some kind of design implementation (UML) set and ready before going to turn the designs to code. As an introductory book, this will teach beginner programmers the correct way to program, without the sloppy coding techniques.
The first two chapters are a good explanation to how computers process code and the meaning of object-orientation. The next couple of chapters gives a brief overview of what Java is and how Java ties in with object-oriented design. If one already has Java experience, I think he/she can just skip these chapters, because it may get repetitive to the eyes. For beginner Java-ers, the book gives excellent pure examples in Java, without any confusing documentation or coding.
Then comes Chapter 10 and on... These chapters covered are for Java programmers who have already passed the Beginner's stage, but feel they need to 'dip their feet' in Java water a little more before declaring themselves as proficient Java-ers. These chapters cover excellent computer terminology and basic computer aspects (lists, sorts, searches, abstractions) and classic algorithmic ideas. The last couple of chapters deal with introduction to Exceptions (Java) and GUI Applets, after dealing with TUI most of the book.
So in closing, a good book for introduction, but if you do have experience in Java, then you still would find the book useful, with a handful of excellent defined computer programming terminology and examples. Also, I took the class with one of the authors (Dr. Jaime Nino) and he is truly an exceptional professor at heart who loves his programming.

Excellent Book..........2003-12-12

I've been a designer/multimedia developer for the past 10 years (using Director/Lingo and Dreamweaver/HTML and After Effects). Until recently, I'd been sorely underdeveloped in the areas of scripting and application customization (not to mention application development) since I had only a very basic understanding of programming concepts and tended to use "black box" code off the web, which I'd modify to suit my purposes. I'd studied Java at Career Centers (a NYC-based training facility) but although I had learned the syntax and general usage, I was missing a foundation in the underlying programming concepts...

A month ago I decided to buckle down and learn core programming techniques. I found this book, and it has served me WELL. (Paid $40 for a used copy).

I'm not sure how frustrating this book would be to someone who had never seen Java before, or had little knowledge of the scope of the language. However, if you're a "scrip kiddie" or a developer with a "working knowledge" of programming tools, but no thorough understanding of core techniques -- this book is for you!

Learn Software Design From Two Legendary Masters.......2001-12-14

For nearly two decades, the computer science department at the University of New Orleans has had the outstanding reputation of possessing one of the finest academic programs in software engineering in the south. A huge part of this reputation can be attributed to the presence of two legendary software designers at the department, Professor Fred Hosch and Professor Jaime Nino. Now, for the benefit of those who are unable to experience the expertise of these two professors first-hand, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. proudly presents An Introduction to Software Construction with Java, the very first textual authority ever to be written by Professors Hosch and Nino. Although no substitution for the professors themselves, this paperback mentor will teach you how to program and program well.

Unlike any other textual teaching tools on the subject of software construction today, such as Java In a Nutshell by David Flanagan, Hosch and Nino's text is geared towards the novice programmer, that is, an introductory-level student who does not even know the meaning of the phrase "computer science." In this textbook, the authors first define what it means to be a software engineer. Then, they will take you by the hand and teach you the basic syntax and grammar of the Java language. You will learn how to define variables and construct objects. You will know what the concept of "object-oriented designing" means.

Next, these authors will teach you what no other books on software that I have read thus far will teach you: how to design a good software system. These authors will teach you how to construct interaction diagrams and how to use them so that you can implement well-organized relationships between clients and servers. You will fully understand and appreciate the extremely important, yet often overlooked, concept of designing a good programming by contract relationship between objects. Often, I see textbooks presenting as examples to students implementations that Hosch and Nino would refer to as a "house of cards." In other words, the relationships between the objects in such examples are so unnecessarily complex that any minute modifications to these poor implementations will cause the collapse of their entire software structure.

A programmer, by definition, is one who can implement software systems that execute properly. What, then, is the definition of a good programmer? A good programmer is one who knows how to implement software so that it can solve a problem within the least amount of time possible. How do you gauge the time complexity of a software system? Hosch and Nino will present you with a classical tool for measuring software speed that is guaranteed to increase the efficiency of your designs in no time.

Other topics covered in this book include: constructing lists, guidelines to writing better comments and documentations, techniques for building maintainable and adaptive software that completely encapsulates a single notion, techniques for optimizing your software's interface via the principle of information hiding, handling exceptions and failures, developing graphical user interfaces that adhere to the model-view-controller pattern, constructing advanced containers, such as dynamic arrays, linked lists, stacks, dictionaries, queues, and hash tables, and, finally, learning how to develop your very own software library.

So, if you are a software developer or are just remotely interested in the craft of software engineering, I urge you to buy this book and let Hosch and Nino, two legendary professors from the University of New Orleans, teach you the proper marksmanship of legendary programming.

An ambitious attempt, but falters badly.......2001-11-28

My business card says "software engineer" but I code very little. This book is the text for an introductory computer science course I am taking. While I admire the authors' attempt at putting Objects First in the curriculum, they have only succeeded in confusing and alienating a number of my classmates with little programming experience. The most glaring weaknesses are the the relatively few, undistinguished examples, and the lack of rigor in teaching Java syntax and semantics. The authors' freely admit that they do not attempt to teach Java itself, but this ultimately leaves students stranded as they peruse the hundreds of Java titles at the local bookstore, looking for a decent language reference. Lastly, they mix a lot of software engineering practice in with the actual computer science. While topics such as programming by contract and software quality are important, I am not convinced that this material is suited for students at the beginning level.

Oh snap, your teacher assigned this book too!.......2001-11-07

I've read many bad computer books and this one is less then horrible, but it sure ain't good.

The authors start with a very important forward pointing out that most books and courses in C++ and Java make the mistake of covering basic implementation of the language without employing object orientated techniques. Then, when object orientated programming style is introduced, students are bound to be frustrated and confused. This is a correct description of a serious problem that university's need to address. However this book goes too far in the other direction. The authors take an extreme Ivory tower approach. They expound eloquently on program specifications and design philosophy while ignoring the implementation, which is half the battle. Explanations related to programming become meaningless unless there is good code to edify the ideas they are trying to convey. This book has very little good code in it that you can employ in a useful and instructive manner. Related to this overly object orientated Ivory tower teaching approach some major problems with this book are:

IO streams are not even covered until the end of the book. I suppose the author's de-emphasis of realistic programming problems relates to their desire to teach beautifully rather then practiaclly.

A continual stream of program methods are thrown about in later chapters which are not appropriate to a CS 101 level course

Java language conventions and fundamentals are given swift and inadequate treatment in first three chapter (except for objects which are covered well).

Very few compact code examples to illustrate basic and intermediate programming concepts.

No answers to programming exercises at the end of chapters.

The worst thing is the stupid D&D program that they use for half the book to demonstrate too many concepts. Who in Tar-nation is going to be able to figure out what the heck is going on with a program this advanced by the time its dragged through the sixth chapter? It's a forty method, multi-class implementation! Please. How are you going to learn basic Java concepts from a program that takes up 40 pages? If you can emulate what the heck their doing with this program at that point then you should be teaching the class not taking it.

Books:

Books