For courses in Java Programming. Effective step-by-step Java education Building Java A Back to Basics Approach introduces new concepts and syntax using a spiral approach, ensuring students are thoroughly prepared as they work through CS1 material. Through the first four editions, Building Java Programs and its back-to-basics approach have proven remarkably effective. The 5th Edition has been extensively updated with incorporation of JShell integration, improved loop coverage, rewritten and revised case studies, examples, updated collection syntax and idioms, expanded self-check and programming exercising sections, and new programming projects. Also available with MyLab Programming MyLabTM is the teaching and learning platform that empowers you to reach every student. By combining trusted author content with digital tools and a flexible platform, MyLab personalizes the learning experience and improves results for each student.With MyLab Programming, students work through hundreds of short, auto-graded coding exercises and receive immediate and helpful feedback based on their work. If you would like to purchase both the physical text and MyLab Programming, search 0135862353 / 9780135862353 Building Java A Back to Basics Approach Plus MyLab Programming with Pearson eText -- Access Card Package, 5/e Package consists
I think it's a good read. I found it practical and easy to understand, even though I'm not a big fan of computer books, I'm more into documentation and tecnhical manuals.
I read half of it for the first semester of a two-semester introductory computer science sequence at my school. I have prior programming experience, but I had to take the course in order to take the more advanced courses that I'm actually interested in. As far as programming texts go, it's good. The explanations are clear and not overly pedantic, and I picked up some new tidbits of knowledge here and there.
The book has a "show you how not to do it" approach where it has code blocks showing the wrong way to do things, sometimes multiple times, followed by the correct code block. The incorrect code blocks are supposedly examples of common mistakes made by novice programmers. Maybe it was due to my prior experience, but the incorrect code blocks were hard for me to follow logically, so I tended to skip them and just read the correct code block.
If you're using the book for a class, and you're new to programming, you'll learn a lot. Chances are that's the only way you've heard of this book anyway, and with the standard rip-off textbook price, probably the only way you'd ever buy it.
The authors did a great job explaining the history of the language and its usage... But delivered the material in a disorganized manner. Objects were not introduced until about 30% into the material. I found that I was completely confused for the first half of the book, learning and unlearning the information all while trying to reorganize the material in my head.
On a good note, the examples and references were extremely helpful in understanding the basics of logical reasoning.
I think I'd have liked the book better if objects were introduced parallel to primitive data types.
Excellent supplemental textbook for learning Java fundamentals, and building data structures from scratch as opposed to implementing the Java Collections Framework.
Only read chpt 6, chpt 8 to 17 and skipped those that is really fundamentals. A very good book that gives user a very clear understanding on the concept of OOP.