Book Reviews

Book Reviews

Develop enterprise Java applications with POJOs in Action
Many enterprise Java developers have discovered that Java EE's Enterprise JavaBeans framework causes more problems than it solves. POJOs in Action is a book that identifies these problems and presents an alternative based on plain-old Java objects and lightweight frameworks. In this article, Jeff Friesen reviews this book chapter by chapter.
Jeff Friesen, July 2006

Get creative with Wicked Cool Java
Every now and then, a really interesting and helpful Java book appears: Wicked Cool Java is one example. In this article, Jeff Friesen reviews this book chapter by chapter and concludes with a brief interview with its author, Brian D. Eubanks.
Jeff Friesen, March 2006

So many J2EE books, so little time
Choosing the right J2EE (Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition) book can be difficult. Any bookstore shelf reveals numerous choices, most of which prove quite large. Perusing the contents of just a few such books might leave you shuffling out of the bookstore with a backache. With that array of choices in mind, Matt Gerrans reviews four popular J2EE books to help you narrow the field to a book that fits your needs.
Matt Gerrans, August 2002

Java books hit the wire
Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME) is turning into a major platform for wireless application development. Compared with desktop and server-side application development, Java-based wireless development faces some unique challenges. For example, small wireless devices have little processing power, limited memory, short battery life, and unreliable network connections. To develop wireless applications, we must design GUIs (graphical user interfaces) suitable for small devices, use lightweight components, and shift resource intensive tasks to the server side using sound network designs. As a result, J2ME supports only parts of the standard Java API libraries, with lightweight alternative APIs for handling complex tasks such as GUIs. Expertly written guides offer a great resource for wireless architects, developers, and business managers for familiarizing themselves with exciting wireless Java solutions. J2ME books are in great demand, and book publishers have responded by releasing many such books since 2000.
Michael Juntao Yuan, July 2002

RMI books hit the shelves
At last! New books dedicated to Java's Remote Method Invocation technology have arrived in bookstores. In this article, Gregg Sporar reviews and compares two new Java RMI books so you can choose the best one for your programming needs.
Gregg Sporar, October 2001

Master Java with these introductory books
If you're looking to learn Java programming, sometimes you need to look beyond the old favorites. In this article, John reviews six new introductory Java books released within the last year. Should you stick with the old standbys like Java in a Nutshell, Core Java, and The Java Tutorial -- each in their third edition or higher? Or, is it time to move on and try something new? Read on and find out which introductory Java book is right for you. (3,000 words)
John Zukowski, May 2001

Performance books put to the test
Want to make your users very happy? Improve the performance of your Java programs. In this article, John Zukowski puts six Java performance books to the test. Help put Java's lack-of-performance myth to rest by using one or more of these books to optimize your programs. (3,000 words)
John Zukowski, March 2001

Java threads: A comparative book review
Java programs are multithreaded, whether you like it or not. This comparative review of six Java thread programming books will help you decide which books are the best read for learning the Java threading library and creating better technical solutions. (2,500 words)
John Zukowski, December 2000

The bibles of our industry
Thomas Davis recommends four books that will provide you with what it takes to excel in Java development. The books extend beyond the basic syntax and semantics of Java to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of object-oriented programming. (1,200 words)
Thomas E. Davis, September 2000

Which JSP book serves up the best lesson?
JavaServer Pages is the latest craze for generating dynamic content Webpages for cross-platform and cross-Web server support. With at least six JSP books in stores today, more coming, and book prices rising, making the best book choice can be overwhelming. In this article, you'll find a comparative review of the latest JSP tutorials and discover which one is right for you. (3,000 words).
John Zukowski, September 2000

Java servlet books: A comparative review
Server-side computing is all the rage these days, and people seem most intrigued with Java servlets. With bookstores overloaded with books on the topic, you can become overwhelmed trying to choose the right one. In this article, John reviews nine servlet books in a comparison that aims to save you time and grief in your book search. (6,000 words)
John Zukowski, March 2000

In search of the best Java book for beginners
While some teachers still use Pascal as a first programming language, professors increasingly have turned to Java to teach beginning students the joys of programming. Whether you're a computer science student or teacher, or "just" a hobbyist who wants to learn programming, you value books designed to help the learning process. This month's book review compares seven Java books designed to help students new to programming learn Java. (6,000 words)
Laurence Vanhelsuwé, February 1999

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that Swing: A comparative review of four JFC/Swing books
Java Foundation Classes (JFC) and its crown jewel, Swing, are close to becoming ripe-to-pick Java APIs that will revolutionize Java GUI design and implementation. An initial wave of books focusing on these topics is hitting the shores of your local (and not-so-local) bookstores. Our lonely Robinson Crusoe book reviewer combed the beaches in a quest for stranded treasures -- and left the rest to the crabs and seagulls. (4,300 words)
Laurence Vanhelsuwé, September 1998

Data structures and algorithms: A comparative slice and dice -- er, review -- of 5 Java DS&A books
That bright veteran of computer science, Niklaus Wirth, once stated that "Algorithms + Data Structures = Programs." While this is an oversimplification that is quickly losing its validity in modern software, the choice of data structures and algorithms does make a huge difference in the efficiency of any program. The performance chasm that exists between Java's original, geriatric bytecode interpreter and its eagerly awaited HotSpot great-great-grandchild is just one example. If you need to increase the performance of your Java application or applet by orders of magnitude (and don't we all?), JavaWorld book reviewer Laurence Vanhelsuwé suggests you familiarize yourself with the available data structures and algorithms literature. (4,400 words)
Laurence Vanhelsuwé, June 1998

Thin Java coverage in a fat Java book
As a result, when confronted with a book entitled Java 1.1: The Complete Reference, Second Edition) there's a tendency for the well-traveled Java bookworm to be more than a little suspicious.
Ross Owens, May 1998

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