Effective Java (2e)

Author: Joshua Bloch
Publisher: Addison Wesley, 2008
Pages: 384
ISBN: 978-0321356680
Aimed at: Existing Java programmers
Rating: 5
Pros: An important book for Java programmers
Cons: Not for beginners
Reviewed by:Alex Armstrong

This book doesn't set out to teach you Java but to explain a natural way of expressing things in Java. Does this approach succeed?

This is a classic that discussed the way that you should use Java in an intelligent and grown up way. There are no tricks or special effects, just a straightforward approach.


Banner

 

It isn't for beginners of course and you need to be able to program in Java to the point where you can think and reason about ways of achieving something in the best way. It also isn't a book of recipes - although you can't help but read it and take away new ways of doing things.

Just in case you miss the forward the following explains what the book is all about:

 

If a colleague were to say to you, "Spouse of me this night today manufactures the unusual meal in a home. You will join?"  three things would likely cross your mind: third, that you had been invited to dinner; second, that English was not your colleague's first language; and first a good deal of puzzlement.

 

The author then goes on to say that this is how it often is with programming languages. You might be able to speak Java, but the way that you do it might be more like a second language than something natural. The intention of the book isn't to teach you Java but to explain what seems to be a natural way of expressing things in Java. On the way it also considers and discusses best practices and theories.

It starts out looking at the basics of Java objects - how to create and destroy them, common methods, classes and interfaces, generics, enums and annotations, methods, general programming, exceptions, concurrency and serialisation - all in 11 chapters.

If you care about the craft of writing Java then this is a book you have to read.

If you don't care about the craft of writing Java then give up Java.

Highly recommended to all except the beginner.


Banner


WordPress Plugin Development, 2nd Ed

Author: Brad Williams, Justin Tadlock, John James Jacoby
Publisher: Wrox
Pages: 480
ISBN: 978-1119666943
Print: 1119666945
Kindle: B0899MW9CP
Audience: WordPress developers
Rating: 4.5
Reviewer: Kay Ewbank

The authors of this book are well-known in the WordPress world, with more than 100 published plug [ ... ]



The Programmer's Brain (Manning)

Author: Dr. Felienne Hermans
Publisher: Manning
Date: September 2021
Pages: 256
ISBN: 978-1617298677
Print: 1617298670
Kindle: B09CQHBVQZ
Rating: 4
Reviewer: Mike James
Programmers have a brain - but what is it doing?


More Reviews

Last Updated ( Friday, 08 October 2010 )