Java 2 The Complete Reference - Herbert Schildt

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the book "Java 2 The Complete Reference" by Herbert Schildt, focusing on its reception among programmers, its effectiveness as a learning resource for Java, and alternative recommendations for learning Java, particularly for those with a background in C++.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express surprise at the negative reception of Schildt's books among programmers, noting personal ease of understanding in his C++ guide.
  • Others criticize Schildt's interpretation of programming standards, suggesting that his previous works contain significant inaccuracies.
  • A participant recommends "Thinking in Java" by Bruce Eckel as a better introductory resource for Java.
  • Another participant suggests "Big Java" by Cay Horstmann and provides a link to its website, indicating it may be a suitable alternative.
  • One participant mentions the availability of Sun Java tutorials as a valuable online resource, but expresses a preference for having a physical book for reference.
  • There is discussion about the availability and pricing of alternative Java books, with some participants noting challenges in finding international editions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the quality of Schildt's book, with some defending it based on personal experience while others strongly criticize it. Multiple competing views on suitable Java learning resources remain present in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of familiarity with programming concepts and resources, which may influence their opinions on the effectiveness of Schildt's book and alternatives. There are also references to the pricing and availability of different books, which may affect accessibility for learners.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for beginner programmers seeking resources to learn Java, particularly those with a background in C++ looking for recommendations on books and tutorials.

neutrino
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Has anyone here used this book? If you have, how would you rate it.

To my surprise many programmers seem to despise Schildt's books. One is usually directed to this page to make the point.
I was surprised because I found his beginner's guide on C++ quite easy to read and understand. (And maybe it's because I don't have an extensive knowledge about the language to nitpick every sentence in a book. :rolleyes:)

I know the basics of a programming language...conditions, loops, and aspects of OOP, so I'm just looking for a book/primer that will teach me the syntax of Java and provide information about the numerous packages it comes with.
 
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Publishing a commentary on a standard where you misinterpret pretty much everything in the standard was bad. A lot of his other books are also based on earlier simpliied ideas of C which were plain wrong when the book was published.

I'm not sure what suddenly makes him qualiied to write a book on Java other than he is on the publishers books.

Bruce Eckels 'thinking in java' is a good intro to Java, but if you already know OO and just want a Java for C++ programmers I don't know what I would recommend. Probably an O'Reilly nutshell or 'programming in ...' book.
 
Thanks for the replies.

mgb_phys,
I'll check what O'Reilly has to offer.

rootX,
I can't find international editions of the books you mention, but the two-volume set that Horstmann has co-authored with Gary Cornell is available for thrice the price of Schildt's book.

re: Sun Java tutorials. While I do not shy away from R'ingTFM (online), I'd still like to have a book by my side. :)
 

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