HEAD FIRST JAVA BY.BERT BATES (9788173666025)

Learning a complex new language is no easy task especially when it s an object-oriented computer programming language like Java. You might think the problem is your brain. It seems to have a mind of its own, a mind that doesn’t always want to take in the dry, technical stuff you’re forced to study.

The fact is your brain craves novelty. It’s constantly searching, scanning, waiting for something unusual to happen. After all, that’s the way it was built to help you stay alive. It takes all the routine, ordinary, dull stuff and filters it to the background so it won’t interfere with your brain’s real work–recording things that matter. How does your brain know what matters? It’s like the creators of the Head First approach say, suppose you’re out for a hike and a tiger jumps in front of you, what happens in your brain? Neurons fire. Emotions crank up. Chemicals surge.

That’s how your brain knows.

And that’s how your brain will learn Java. Head First Java combines puzzles, strong visuals, mysteries, and soul-searching interviews with famous Java objects to engage you in many different ways. It’s fast, it’s fun, and its effective. And, despite its playful appearance, Head First Java is serious stuff: a complete introduction to object-oriented programming and Java. You’ll learn everything from the fundamentals to advanced topics, including threads, network sockets, and distributed programming with RMI. And the new. second edition focuses on Java 5.0, the latest version of the Java language and development platform. Because Java 5.0 is a major update to the platform, with deep, code-level changes, even more careful study and implementation is required. So learning the Head First way is more important than ever.

If you’ve read a Head First book, you know what to expect–a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works. If you haven’t, you’re in for a treat. You’ll see why people say it’s unlike any other Java book you’ve ever read.

By exploiting how your brain works, Head First Java compresses the time it takes to learn and retain–complex information. Its unique approach not only shows you what you need to know about Java syntax, it teaches you to think like a Java programmer. If you want to be bored, buy some other book. But if you want to understand Java, this book’s for you.

About the Authors
Kathy Sierra?has been interested in learning theory since her days as a game developer (Virgin, MGM, Amblin’). More recently, she’s been a master trainer for Sun Microsystems, teaching Sun’s java instructors how to teach the latest technologies to customers, and a lead developer of several Sun certification exams. Along with her partner Bert Bates, Kathy created the Head First series. She’s also the original founder of the Software Development/Jolt Productivity Award-winning javaranch.com, the largest (and friendliest) all-volunteer Java community.

Bert Bates?is a 20-year software developer, a Java instructor, and a co-developer of Sun’s upcoming EJB exam (Sun Certified Business Component Developer). His background features a long stint in artificial intelligence, with clients like the Weather Channel, A&E Network, Rockwell, and Timken.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Dive in A Quick Dip: Breaking the Surface

Chapter 2 Classes and Objects: A Trip to Objectville

Chapter 3 Primitives and References: Know Your Variables

Chapter 4 Methods Use Instance Variables: How Objects Behave

Chapter 5 Writing a Program: Extra-Strength Methods

Chapter 6 Get to Know the Java API: Using the Java Library

Chapter 7 Inheritance and Polymorphism: Better Living in Objectville

Chapter 8 Interfaces and Abstract Classes: Serious Polymorphism

Chapter 9 Constructors and Garbage Collection: Life and Death of an Object

Chapter 11 Exception Handling: Risky Behavior

Chapter 12 Getting GUI: A Very Graphic Story

Chapter 13 Using Swing: Work on Your Swing

Chapter 14 Serialization and File I/O: Saving Objects

Chapter 15 Networking and Threads: Make a Connection

Chapter 16 Collections and Generics: Data structures

Chapter 17 Package, Jars and Deployment: Release Your Code

Chapter 18 Remote Deployment with RMI: Distributed Computing