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Head First Series

Head First Servlets and JSP: Passing the Sun Certified Web Component Developer Exam

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Imagine a world without eBay...unthinkable! How would you get that Farrah Fawcett poster, retired Beanie Baby, or first-edition pet rock? Handling over a gazillion (OK, we exaggerate--it's actually only 1 billion) page views each day, server-side Java makes eBay work.

Isn't it time you learned the latest (J2EE 1.4) versions of Servlets & JSPs? This book will get you way up to speed on the technology you'll know it so well, in fact, that you can pass the Sun Certified Web Component Developer (SCWCD) 1.4 exam. If that's what you want to do, that is. Maybe you don't care about the exam, but need to use Servlets & JSPs in your next project. You're working on a deadline. You're over the legal limit for caffeine. You can't waste your time with a book that makes sense only AFTER you're an expert (or worse one that puts you to sleep).

No problem. Head First Servlets and JSP's brain-friendly approach drives the knowledge straight into your head (without sharp instruments). You'll interact with servlets and JSPs in ways that help you learn quickly and deeply. It may not be The Da Vinci Code , but quickly see why so many reviewers call it "a page turner". Most importantly, this book will help you use what you learn. It won't get you through the exam only to have you forget everything the next day.

Learn to write servlets and JSPs, what makes the Container tick (and what ticks it off), how to use the new JSP Expression Language (EL), what you should NOT write in a JSP, how to write deployment descriptors, secure applications, and even use some server-side design patterns. Can't talk about Struts at a cocktail party? That'll change. You won't just pass the exam, you will truly understand this stuff, and you'll be able to put it to work right away.

This new exam is tough--much tougher than the previous version of the SCWCD. The authors of Head First Servlets and JSP know: they created it. (Not that it EVER occurred to them that if they made the exam really hard you'd have to buy a study guide to pass it.) The least they could do is give you a stimulating, fun way to pass the thing. If you're one of the thousands who used Head First EJB to pass the SCWCD exam, you know what to expect!

886 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

89 people are currently reading
449 people want to read

About the author

Bryan Basham

4 books4 followers

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5 stars
318 (41%)
4 stars
304 (39%)
3 stars
111 (14%)
2 stars
25 (3%)
1 star
8 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for Fouad Al-malki.
1 review14 followers
December 31, 2012
This is a must-read book for anyone new to JavaEE world! I had fun and I enjoyed reading it in about 3 months.
Profile Image for فاروق الفرشيشي.
Author 2 books737 followers
September 28, 2015
It's not just about what you need to know about Servlets & JSP (especially when you want to pass the SCWCD exam) It's also about the way you do it. Head first provide a smart way to get into Servlets based on problems/solutions, so the reader can relate all the features he's got to learn to real world problems and can't forget about them.
I recommend to have a paperback version because it's like a notebook. Don't get tricked by the 900 pages, because it's full of stories, exercises and awesomeness. I think 2 weeks of intensive work with this book makes you ready for the exam or whatever you need to know with your new knowledge.

Kathy Sierra is an angel.
Profile Image for John.
5 reviews1 follower
July 19, 2008
Head first series is a fun approach at geeky manuals, easy to follow... this stuff is not easy, but necessary for java web development.
Profile Image for Daniela.
6 reviews1 follower
December 9, 2022
The first book (and probably the last) from uni that turned out to be extremely helpful and hilarious at the same time. Loved it and learned a lot 💯
Profile Image for Phúc Võ.
44 reviews12 followers
February 27, 2017
Cuốn sách đầu tiên đã đưa tôi vào cái thế giới của series Head First. Khi đấy, tôi vẫn còn là cậu sinh viên năm cuối, sắp ra trường và đi chuẩn bị kiến thức để phù hợp với những kĩ thuật mà thị trường bấy giờ yêu cầu và một trong số đó là Java Servlet và JSP. Không biết vì lý do nào mà trong vô số những cuốn viết về công nghệ này, tôi lại chọn cuốn sách của Head First. Nhưng nhờ thế mà tôi đã biết thêm được phong cách độc đáo của series Head First này: ảnh minh họa cũng nhiều xấp xỉ bằng chữ, mỗi một nội dung đều có phần kiểm tra lại và note để nhắc chúng ta ghi nhớ lâu hơn. Cách xây dựng một câu truyện xuyên suốt một chương và cách hình ảnh gây ấn tượng với nội dung minh họa là hai điều tuyệt nhất của dòng sách Head First.

Dùng không đọc hết cuốn này và mục đích chính của cuốn sách là giúp ta nhớ kĩ hơn các nội dung sẽ xuất hiện trong bài test để lấy chứng chỉ Web Component Developer của Sun, nhưng những chương đầu của cuốn này khá tốt để giúp cho ta có cái nhìn tổng quan về Java Web, ở khía cạnh cơ bản.
Profile Image for Andrew.
102 reviews11 followers
June 2, 2008
This book is the definitive guide to passing the Sun Certified Web Component Developer Exam (SCWCD). I have yet to take the exam, but after reading through this book, I feel like I am completely prepared for it. It is written in a very laid back, comical way. There are tons of little illustrations that drive home the main points, and at the same time use humor to help you remember them.

There is a TON of information in this book, and it should be expected to take quite a bit of time to read through it completely and retain all of it.

At the ends of each chapter, there are practice exams over the material just covered. These exams very closely resemble the questions that are asked on the exam. Throughout the chapters, there are also tons of exercises to do to really make sure you understand the technology.

It's a great book, and considering the fact that it's a completely technical book designed to help you pass an exam, it was quite enjoyable to read. The authors have a great sense of humor and really know how to teach the subject matter.
6 reviews
June 26, 2013
Still reading...

I was recommended to read this book for a certification I wish to take. Thus far, I have to say that I HATE the format of this book. Don't get me wrong, it has good information... but reading it is definitely a chore. I've read the SCJP 6 book by Sierra and Bates. While that was also pretty droll, it did prepare me for the exam of the same name fairly well. However, despite having a fair bit of hands on familiarity with both standard Java AND Servlets/JSP before beginning either of the books, I find that the previous copy was less laborious for me to read.

I will also give myself partial blame in that I have been unwilling to skip over things that I think I know for fear of missing some little buried nugget. On the other hand, both of these books would be much better if they could slim things down a bit.
22 reviews456 followers
Currently reading
January 15, 2010
I was actually kind of annoyed by the Head First series when I read one before (Head First Design patterns). However, this book has so far been exactly what I needed. I've been working with J2EE for a few years now, but I mostly had to follow the learn-by-doing method. Going back to the fundamentals, reading the rationale for WHY code gets written the way it is, has been really valuable to me.

The cartoons and kung fu references are still kind of childish and annoying, but for the most part the conversational style works well for me. And many of the Q&A sections, featuring a hypothetical noob on the subject, actually posed good questions that were on my mind.
Profile Image for loïc.
8 reviews4 followers
May 20, 2013
3 stars... don't get me wrong it IS a good book: worthy of the praise that most head first books receive (it is an awesome series after all)...

so take all the good points other ppl already mentioned but two major cons:
-it is outdated (5 years is a long time)
-it would have been better if there was a shift from all the Sun exam stuff (which is a lot of syntax stuff: IRL does not matter that much with IDE correction for example) to the development of a webapp as one big example that continues through the chapters... (like the head first java book did)


but apart from that : good book to get your basics covered in building web apps...
and it does stick in your mind... go head first! =)
22 reviews456 followers
February 17, 2010
I needed a thorough refresher on this topic because, while I've been working with Java Servers for a couple of years, I've mostly had to learn by example. Previously I've found the clip art, stories, and dialogues in the Head First series to be overly cute and a bit patronizing. That is still the case to an extent, but the conversational style in this case helped me keep up my interest. I learned some new stuff about security and filters, and feel like I have a better grip on the abstract meaning underlying the technology. Very helpful.
24 reviews
October 7, 2012
This is my first "Head First" book, and I have to say I'm impressed. It presents a new approach to learning. It is organized to make you feel as if you are studying with a friend not just reading a book. I must say that I have some previous background on the topic which may have helped me enjoy the experience, but nevertheless I guess this will not be my last book from this series. It is fun, organized, but lacks a complete example or project or some exercises to help you have hands on experience that I don't recommend for someone who wants to have a one-book per subject.
Profile Image for Cristian Stan.
27 reviews2 followers
November 21, 2016
I really did not think I would enjoy so much a technical book especially given the fact that I just wanted to check one or two chapters for some information. But the style of the writing so informal and funny but going in great technical detail captivated me and ended up reading most of the book which proven to be a good idea. I really like the feeling of going through an initiating journey with lots of martial arts references :).
42 reviews
December 9, 2011
completo nei contenuti e realizzato con il tipico stile visuale della serie "Head First" che ne rende veloce e piacevole l'assimilazione.. anche se , personalmente, lo trovo distraente in fase di consultazione specifica.. nei fatti, mentre lo trovo ottimo come strumento di studio, preferisco altri testi come riferimento (e solo per questo motivo non do il massimo dei voti)
Profile Image for Ammar Alrashed.
9 reviews3 followers
February 16, 2010
I learned all about Servlets and JSP and all the tweaks and important details. Also, it gave a very good comparison with old web frameworks, it also tries to give the reader a good back ground in good application development arch.
7 reviews4 followers
June 22, 2012
Great book for anyone who wants to start learning web based java technologies like JSP/Servlets. The book has a simple and easy take and a steady progression towards concepts , reducing the learning curve drastically.

Profile Image for AJ.
26 reviews1 follower
May 9, 2013
A great way to quickly learn a new topic. This book got right to the content and did so in a way that was engaging and effective. This book was great for filling in the holes I had in my understanding of Java WebApps.
8 reviews
August 11, 2009
A brilliant book to get started ...Though a little thick but worth the effort!!
Profile Image for Ahmed Attyah.
23 reviews5 followers
May 28, 2012
a good book if you are preparing for SCWCD certification, but i recommend Murach's jsp & servlets if you are caring only about learning jsp & servlets
Profile Image for Danilo Mutti.
7 reviews
March 4, 2013
This was the only book I used during my preparations for the SCWCD certification test. Scored 93%!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews

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