Head First Java : Your Brain on... | Buy

Between Moore's law and the notion of "Internet time," we're constantly being bombarded with more and more information--most of it in the form of disorganized data. Turning this information into useful knowledge is getting harder and harder to do, and it takes time that we just don't have. The current economic situation hasn't helped either. With money spread thin, who hasn't had to take on new tasks and learn new things? And slashed training budgets mean there's little to rely on for learning except books- but learning a complex new programming language like Java from a book is no simple task. Maybe your boss is giving you two weeks to come up to speed for a project, or maybe you're ready to take that next step up in your current job, or be a more viable candidate for a new job. Whatever the reason, the onus is on you to learn. All these factors make it more important than ever to have a way to learn--fast. And that's what Head First Java does -- by exploiting the way your brain works, it compresses the time it takes to really learn. Why? Because its unique approach not only shows you what you need to know about Java syntax, it enables and encourages you to think like a Java programmer. Mastering object oriented programming requires a certain way of thinking, not just a certain way of writing code. The latest research in cognitive science, neurobiology, and educational psychology shows that learning at the deeper levels takes a lot more than text on a page. Actively combining words and pictures not only helps in understanding the subject, but in remembering it. According to some studies, an engaging, entertaining, image-rich, conversational approach actually teaches the subject better. Head First Java puts these theories into practice with a vengeance. Chock full of mind stretching exercises, memorable analogies, and stories, humor and attitude that aren't just pasted-on distractions but that are used to drive home key points and make ideas come alive, the Head First approach is as effective as it is unique. It takes a pretty unique person to have developed such an innovative way to Learn Java. Kathy Sierra has been interested in learning theory since her days as a game designer. More recently, she's been a master trainer for Sun Microsystems, teaching Sun's own instructors how to teach the latest Java technologies. She has been actively using the concepts in Head First Java to teach hundreds of trainers, developers and even non programmers. She is the founder of one of the largest Java community websites in the world, javaranch.com, and she is a member of the development team for the Sun Certified programmer exam. Bert Bates is also a long-time Java developer and trainer with extensive experience in learning theory. His background features a long stint in artificial intelligence with clients like the Weather Channel, A&E Network, Rockwell and Timken. Is Head First Java right for you? That depends. Head First Java assumes you're a programmer or at least have experience with scripting languages. It assumes that you're smart, that you're creative and open to new ideas, and that you know you're just not the type of person who wants to learn the traditional way. Take a look at the sample pages, explore the background on brain-based learning, examine the table of contents, and see for yourself how Head First Java takes learning to a whole new level. See why Tim O'Reilly says, "This is the first really new approach to computer books that I've seen in many years. I think it's going to revolutionize how programming and other complex topics are taught." Table of Content: 1) Dive In (a quick dip into Java) 2) Welcome to Objectville (intro to OO) 3) Know your Variables (understanding Java types: primitives, object references, pass-by-value) 4) How objects behave (instance variables and met

Intro

Who is this book for?

What your brain is thinking

xxi

Metacognition

xxiii

Bend your brain into submission

xxv

What you need for this book

xxvi

Technical editors

xxviii

Acknowledgements

xxix

Breaking the Surface

The way Java works

(3)

Code structure in Java

(1)

Anatomy of a class

(1)

The main() method

(1)

Looping

(3)

Conditional branching (if tests)

(1)

Coding the ``99 bottles of beer'' app

(2)

Phrase-o-matic

(2)

Fireside chat: compiler vs. JVM

(2)

Exercises and puzzles

(8)

A Trip to Objectville

Chair Wars (Brad the OO guy vs. Larry the procedural guy)

(3)

Inheritance (an introduction)

(1)

Overriding methods (an introduction)

(2)

What's in a class? (methods, instance variables)

(2)

Making your first object

(2)

Using main()

(1)

Guessing Game code

(3)

Exercises and puzzles

(8)

Know Your Variables

Declaring a variable (Java cares about type)

(1)

Primitive types (``I'd like a double with extra foam, please'')

(2)

Java keywords

(1)

Reference variables (remote control to an object)

(1)

Object declaration and assignment

(2)

Objects on the garbage-collectible heap

(2)

Arrays (a first look)

(4)

Exercises and puzzles

(10)

How Objects Behave

Methods use object state (bark different)

(1)

Method arguments and return types

(3)

Pass-by-value (the variable is always copied)

(2)

Getters and Setters

(1)

Encapsulation (do it or risk humiliation)

(3)

Using references in an array

(5)

Exercises and puzzles

(8)

Extra-Strength Methods

Building the Sink a Dot Com game

(2)

Starting with the Simple Dot Com game (a simpler version)

(1)

Writing prepcode (pseudocode for the game)

(3)

Test code for Simple Dot Com

100

(1)

Coding the Simple Dot Com game

101

(3)

Final code for Simple Dot Com

104

(5)

Generating random numbers with Math.random()

109

(1)

Ready-bake code for getting user input from the command-line

110

(2)

Looping with for loops

112

(2)

Casting primitives from a large size to a smaller size

114

(1)

Converting a String to an int with Integer.parseInt()

114

(1)

Exercises and puzzles

115

(7)

Using the Java Library

Analying the bug in the Simple Dot Com Game

122

(6)

ArrayList (taking advantage of the Java API)

128

(6)

Fixing the DotCom class code

134

(2)

Building the real game (Sink a Dot Com)

136

(4)

Prepcode for the real game

140

(2)

Code for the real game

142

(5)

boolean expressions

147

(3)

Using the library (Java API)

150

(1)

Using packages (import statements, fully-qualified names)

151

(3)

Using the HTML API docs and reference books

154

(3)

Exercises and puzzles

157

(7)

Better Living in Objectville

Understanding inheritance (superclass and subclass relationships)

164

(2)

Designing an inheritance tree (the Animal simulation)

166

(1)

Avoiding duplicate code (using inheritance)

167

(1)

Overriding methods

168

(5)

IS-A and HAS-A (bathtub girl)

173

(3)

What do you inherit from your superclass?

176

(2)

What does inheritance really buy you?

178

(1)

Polymorphism (using a supertype reference to a subclass object)

179

(7)

Rules for overriding (don't touch those arguments and return types!)

186

(1)

Method overloading (nothing more than method name re-use)

187

(1)

Exercises and puzzles

188

(8)

Serious Polymorphism

Some classes just should not be instantiated

196

(1)

Abstract classes (can't be instantiated)

197

(2)

Abstract methods (must be implemented)

199

(3)

Polymorphism in action

202

(2)

Class Object (the ultimate superclass of everything)

204

(3)

Taking objects out of an ArrayList (they come out as type Object)

207

(2)

Compiler checks the reference type (before letting you call a method)

209

(1)

Get in touch with your inner object

210

(1)

Polymorphic references

211

(1)

Casting an object reference (moving lower on the inheritance tree)

212

(7)

Deadly Diamond of Death (multiple inheritance problem)

219

(1)

Using interfaces (the best solution!)

220

(5)

Exercises and puzzles

225

(7)

Life and Death of an Object

The stack and the heap, where objects and variables live

232

(1)

Methods on the stack

233

(1)

Where local variables live

234

(1)

Where instance variables live

235

(1)

The miracle of object creation

236

(1)

Constructors (the code that runs when you say new)

237

(2)

Initializing the state of a new Duck

239

(2)

The compiler can make a default (no-arg) constructor

241

(2)

Overloaded constructors

243

(3)

Superclass constructors (constructor chaining)

246

(6)

Invoking overloaded constructors using this()

252

(2)

Life of an object

254

(2)

Garbage Collection (and making objects eligible)

256

(6)

Exercises and puzzles

262

(8)

Numbers Matter

Math class (do you really need an instance of it?)

270

(1)

static methods

271

(2)

static variables

273

(5)

Constants (static final variables)

278

(4)

Math methods (random(), round(), abs(), etc.)

282

(1)

Wrapper classes (Integer, Boolean, Character, etc.)

283

(1)

Number formatting

284

(4)

Date formatting

288

(3)

Exercises and puzzles

291

(7)

Risky Behavior

Making a music machine (the BeatBox)

298

(3)

What if you need to call risky code?

301

(1)

Exceptions say ``something bad may have happened...''

302

(1)

The compiler guarantees (it checks) that you're aware of the risks

303

(1)

Catching exceptions using a try/catch (skateboarder)

304

(4)

Flow control in try/catch blocks

308

(1)

The finally block (no matter what happens, turn off the oven!)

309

(2)

Catching multiple exceptions (the order matters)

311

(6)

Declaring an exception (just duck it)

317

(2)

Handle or declare law

319

(2)

Code Kitchen (making sounds)

321

(9)

Exercises and puzzles

330

(7)

A Very Graphic Story

Your first GUI

337

(2)

Getting a user event

339

(1)

Implement a listener interface

340

(2)

Getting a button's ActionEvent

342

(3)

Putting graphics on a GUI

345

(2)

Fun with paintComponent()

347

(1)

The Graphics2D object

348

(4)

Putting more than one button on a screen

352

(6)

Inner classes to the rescue (make your listener an inner class)

358

(6)

Animation (move it, paint it, move it, paint it, move it, paint it...)

364

(4)

Code Kitchen (painting graphics with the beat of the music)

368

(8)

Exercises and puzzles

376

(6)

Work on your Swing

Swing Components

382

(1)

Layout Managers (they control size and placement)

383

(2)

Three Layout Managers (border, flow, box)

385

(1)

BorderLayout (cares about five regions)

386

(4)

FlowLayout (cares about the order and preferred size)

390

(3)

BoxLayout (like flow, but can stack components vertically)

393

(2)

JTextField (for single-line user input)

395

(1)

JTextArea (for multi-line, scrolling text)

396

(2)

JCheckBox (is it selected?)

398

(1)

JList (a scrollable, selectable list)

399

(1)

Code Kitchen (The Big One - building the BeatBox chat client)

400

(6)

Exercises and puzzles

406

(7)

Saving Objects

Saving object state

413

(1)

Writing a serialized object to a file

414

(1)

Java input and output streams (connections and chains)

415

(1)

Object serialization

416

(3)

Implementing the Serializable interface

419

(2)

Using transient variables

421

(2)

Deserializing an object

423

(4)

Writing to a text file

427

(5)

java.io.File

432

(2)

Reading from a text file

434

(4)

StringTokenizer

438

(4)

CodeKitchen

442

(4)

Exercises and puzzles

446

(7)

Make a Connection

Chat program overview

453

(1)

Connecting, sending, and receiving

454

(1)

Network sockets

455

(1)

TCP ports

456

(2)

Reading data from a socket (using BufferedReader)

458

(1)

Writing data to a socket (using PrintWriter)

459

(1)

Writing the Daily Advice Client program

460

(3)

Writing a simple server

463

(1)

Daily Advice Server code

464

(2)

Writing a chat client

466

(4)

Multiple call stacks

470

(2)

Launching a new thread (make it, start it)

472

(1)

The Runnable interface (the thread's job)

473

(2)

Three states of a new Thread object (new, runnable, running)

475

(1)

The runnable-running loop

476

(1)

Thread scheduler (it's his decision, not yours)

477

(4)

Putting a thread to sleep

481

(2)

Making and starting two threads

483

(2)

Concurrency issues: can this couple be saved?

485

(1)

The Ryan and Monica concurrency problem, in code

486

(4)

Locking to make things atomic

490

(1)

Every object has a lock

491

(1)

The dreaded ``Lost Update'' problem

492

(2)

Synchronized methods (using a lock)

494

(2)

Deadlock!

496

(2)

Multithreaded ChatClient code

498

(2)

Ready-bake SimpleChatServer

500

(4)

Exercises and puzzles

504

(6)

Release Your Code

Deployment options

510

(2)

Keep your source code and class files separate

512

(1)

Making an executable JAR (Java ARchives)

513

(1)

Running an executable JAR

514

(1)

Put your classes in a package!

515

(1)

Preventing package name conflicts

516

(1)

Packages must have a matching directory structure

517

(1)

Compiling and running with packages

518

(1)

Compiling with -d

519

(1)

Making an executable JAR (with packages)

520

(5)

Java Web Start (JWS) for deployment from the web

525

(2)

The .jnlp file

527

(1)

How to make and deploy a JWS application

528

(1)

Exercises and puzzles

529

(8)

Distributed Computing

Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI), hands-on, very detailed

537

(16)

Servlets (a quick look)

553

(6)

Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB), a very quick look

559

(1)

Jini, the best trick of all

560

(4)

Building the really cool universal service browser

564

(12)

The End

576

(2)

Appendix A

BeatBoxFinal (client code)

578

(7)

MusicServer (server code)

585

(3)

Appendix B

Bit manipulation

588

(1)

Immutability

589

(1)

Assertions

590

(1)

Block scope

591

(1)

Linked invocations

592

(1)

Overriding equals()

593

(1)

Access levels and access modifiers (who sees what)

594

(2)

String and StringBuffer methods

596

(1)

Multidimensional arrays

597

(1)

Collections

598

(9)

Index

607

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Head First Java : Your Brain on Java- A Learner's Guide

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

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