Hi there,
Im looking to learn java, i have no past java / c++ experience,

Could someone please recommend some good books especially relating to swing

Thanks

Hi, I just ordered a book called "Java How to program" by Deitel. (5th edition)
It is really good so far. It is really expensive but it is printed in color and on high quality paper. It also comes with a cd with all the stuff you need. I had a basic knowledge of JAVA but the book could be used to teach from the start.

http://www.deitel.com/

Hi,

I think this would be the book to get:

Beginning Java Objects: From Concepts to Code
by Jacquie Barker

Like you, I have no object oriented experience -- but have been a programmer/analyst for 14 years. I looked long and hard to find a great into to Java and OO concepts book. After reading the reviews at Amazon I bought the above book. I'm going to start working thru it next week at work.

The person at work who teaches those programmers switching over to Java looked the book over and said it was a great book for that. Another person learning Java at work has been working thru the book and said it's a great book too.

From what many folks have told me, it's important to really learn how to think and program from an object oriented perspective. Many folks try to quickly learn the syntax of Java and then program in a not so object oriented way. Big time wasting mistake.

From what I can gather, the most important thing is to start right by getting your head around doing things in an object oriented way. Working thru the above book will do that for you.


After the above book, get and work thru this one:

Beginning Java 2 SDK 1.4 Edition
by Ivor Horton

That's my plan, approved as an excellent path by those at work with lots of Java experience working as paid programmers at large companies. I'm a newbie at OO and Java stuff, but I think the above will serve you well.


Hope the above helps.


Best wishes,

Louis

I'd recommend the Deitel book.
Also, Java in a Nutshell is great from O'Reilly.

For a well-organized tutorial course and a reference, (after you've had your introduction to object-oriented programming elsewhere), try "Java Examples in a Nutshell," by David Flanagan. You'll also want the companion book, "Java in a Nutshell" by David Flanagan.

"Java in a Nutshell" is not very usefull on its own, but once you get into the swing of things, it serves as a quality reference.

Speaking of Swing, because java is more than a language (more like an entire application framework), you'll also want "Java Foundation Classes in a Nutshell."

I usually check "learning" style books out of the library just to hold my hand for the first week.

In this case, "learning java" (Patrick Niemeyer, Jonathan Knudsen, Pat Niemeyer) is okay, but only if you've already got some oo experience.

Asside from the no-bull**** quality of O'reilly books, they're also available online for quick searching:

http://safari.oreilly.com/

"Applying UML and Patterns: An Introduction to Object-Oriented Analysis and Design and the Unified Process" and "Applying UML and Patterns Training Course" together provide an awesome introduction to oo design.

Once you know your way around oo programming, you'll also want to refer to the following classics often:

"Design Patterns" by Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, John Vlissides (the famous Gang Of Four book), and "Pattern Hatching: Design Patterns Applied," by John Vlissides.

All of the books I mentioned belong on the bookshelf of every professional Java programmer. The general oo books I mentioned are classics every programmer should own.