Java

Here are a selection of books I've purchased over the years that have helped teach the language. They are targeted from the novice to the professional.

Java The Complete Reference

Author: Patrick Naughton and Herbert Schildt
Publisher: Osborne McGrawHill

ISBN: 0-07-882436-2

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United Kingdom
United States

This was the first book I purchased on Java programming, and is now in it's third edition covering Java2 (Formerly 1.2) With this book I was able to create the Java games you can find on this web site.

Topics covered include:-

Java Language
Data Types, Variables and Arrays
Operators
Control Statements
Introducing Classes
Inheritance, Aggregation, Polymorphism
Packages and Interfaces
Exception Handling
MultiThreaded Programming
I/O, Applets, String Handling
Networking and the Utility Classes
Event Handling
Abstract Windows Toolkit (AWT)
Layout Managers and Menus
Images
Java Beans
Swing

This book teaches you the very basics of programming in Java and assumes no previous programming experience. Therefore, this book is ideal for the absolute novice.

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Learn Java Now

Author: Stephen R Davis
Publisher: Microsoft Press

ISBN: 1-57231-428-1

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United Kingdom
United States

I was rather dissapointed with this book. I assumed that it would teach a user from the ground up. Now in it's second edition, it teaches you how to use the Microsoft Visual Development Environment. On the Plus side it includes a free Visual Java Compiler so that you can create the examples in the book.

Topics covered include:-

Java Language
Animation Techniques
The Abstract Windows Toolkit
Multithreading
The Visual J++ App Wizard

The books assumes you have previous programming experience. It's probably worth buying the book for the sake of the free compiler, but you will need some java reference books, or preferably the Java Reference Complete (See Above)

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The Java Class Libraries, Second Edition, Volume One

Author: Chan, Lee and Kramer
Publisher: Addison Wesley

ISBN: 0-201-31002-3

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United Kingdom
United States

As the title suggests, it contains the complete Java class reference for Sun Microsystems Packages. This, in conjunction with Volume 2 are a must have on the shelf of any serious Java programmer. Not only does the book list the classes, it gives a detailed sample program to demonstrate how the class works.

Volume 1 deals mainly with the Server side and utility classes.
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The Java Class Libraries, Second Edition, Volume Two

Author: Chan, Lee
Publisher: Addison Wesley

ISBN: 0-201-31003-1

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United Kingdom
United States

As the title suggests, it contains the complete Java class reference for Sun Microsystems Packages. This, in conjunction with Volume 1 are a must have on the shelf of any serious Java programmer. Not only does the book list the classes, it gives a detailed sample program to demonstrate how the class works.

Volume 2 deals mainly with the Client side and utility classes.
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The Java Class Libraries, Second Edition, Volume One Supplement for the Java 2 Platform

Author: Chan, Lee and Kramer
Publisher: Addison Wesley

ISBN: 0-201-48552-4

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United Kingdom
United States

This book is a supplement to the java class libraries. It updates any classes to Java 2 specification and lists all deprecated methods. Only needed if your developing under the Java 2 platform.

Volume 2 deals mainly with the Client side and utility classes.
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Graphic Java 1.1 Mastering The AWT 2nd Edition

Author: Chan, Lee and Kramer
Publisher: Addison Wesley

ISBN: 0-13-863077-1

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United Kingdom
United States

You can learn a lot from this book, it covers many aspects of Client Sided applications.

Topics Include :-

Applets And Applications
Graphics, Colours and Fonts
Inheritance Based Event Handling
Delegation Based Event Handling
The AWT Component Class
Basic Components: Labels, Buttons, Canvases and Panels
Checkboxes, Choices and Lists
Text Components
Scrollbars and Scrollpanes
Windows Frames and Dialogs
Menus
Images
Components, Containers and Layout managers
Lightweight Components
Clipboard and Data Transfer
System Colours, Mouseless Operation and Printing
Separators and Barguages
Boxes, Borders, Rubberbanding, Image Buttons and Toolbars
Dialogs, Scrollers and Sprite Animation

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Visual J++ 6.0 Developer's Workshop

Author: Shannon Dunn
Publisher: Microsoft Press

ISBN: 1-57231-925-9

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United Kingdom
United States

The Microsoft IDE is put to good use here. Complete demonstrations on how to package and implement Java solutions under the Microsoft Windows Platform. As a bonus, Visual J++ 6.0 Publisher edition is included to help build the examples.

Topics Include :-

Windows Foundation Classes
Forms, Persistence Forms
Menus, Event Handling, Toolbars, Status Bars, Context Menus
Controls, Picture Box, Scrollers, Drag And Drop, ActiveX
MDI and SDI Applications
Databases, Data Binding and Controls To A Database
Subclassed Controls, Custom Controls, WFC to ActiveX Conversions
COM

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JavaScript Essentials

Author: Jason J Manger
Publisher: Osborne McGrawHill

ISBN: 0-07-882234-3

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United Kingdom
United States

Simply an overview of embedding JavaScript inside your HTML documents, it comes complete with a floppy disk with examples from the books. I've not actually got round to reading this books yet.

Topics Include :-

Integrating JavaScript with HTML
Using Hyperlinks and Anchors with JavaScript
Using JavaScript Statements
JavaScript Objects, Methods and Properties
Using JavaScript's Event System
Manipulating User-Defined Objects and Variables
Using JavaScript with HTML Forms
Manipulating Windows with JavaScript
Using JavaScript with HTML Frames
Using JavaScripts Time Out Mechanisms
Interfacing JavaScript with Java
JavaScript with Netscape Plug-Ins
Cookie Mechanisms

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Black Art Of Java Game Programming

Author: Joel Fan, Eric Ries, Calin Tenitchi

Publisher: Waite Group Press

ISBN: 1-57169-043-3

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United Kingdom
United States

I've not gotten round to reading this book, however it coverage seems wide and varied.

Topics Include :-

Using Objects In Animation
Animating and Optimising Sprites
Interactivity
Building A Video Game
Creating Customisable Games using the AWT
Advanced Game and Graphic Techniques
Implementing a High Score Server on a Network
Advanced Networking and Multi-Player Gaming Concepts
3D Games Programming
Building 3D Applets

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The Java Developers Almanac

Author: Patrick Chan

Publisher: Addison Wesley

ISBN: 1-201-37697-8

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United Kingdom
United States

A tomb packed with all the class and member calls for all the standard Java 2 libraries. This handy pocket sized book contains useful reminders about member syntax etc. It doesn't provide detailed explanations on what a function does though.

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