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Objects First With Java: A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ (4th Edition)
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by David J. Barnes and Michael Kolling
Sales Rank: 107208
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List Price: $103.00
$92.70
At Amazon
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Paperback: 560 pages
Publisher: Prentice Hall; 4 edition September 1, 2008
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0136060862
ISBN-13: 978-0136060864
Product Dimensions:
9.1 x 7.5 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
Product Description
The BlueJ development environment was specifically designed to support introductory teaching of object-orientations and helps users grasp the complicated concepts of class structure. Unlike most books on the subject, this text uses BlueJ to get readers started on object-oriented programming from day one. Uses a spiral approach that introduces a topic in a simple context early on, then revisits it later to increase understanding; Offers an abundance of projects for hands-on practice; Chapters are ordered around software development concepts rather than language features; Language-feature introduction is naturally driven by problems to be solved; Chapters are based around distinct projects for more variety; Does not cover traditional topics like control structures. A useful reference for programmers.
Back Cover Copy
Objects First with Java:
A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ Learn JAVA and BLUEJ straight from the source!
Welcome to the first introductory programming textbook that completely integrates BlueJ with the teaching of object-oriented principles using Java.
BlueJ is a Java development environment that runs on top of the Sun Microsystems Java Development Kit making use of the standard compiler and virtual machine. It has been specifically designed for the introductory teaching of object-oriented programming, allowing the student to create objects of any class and interact with their methods. This truly objects first approach within the customized BlueJ environment is expected to revolutionise the way programming is taught. For the first time, the traditionally difficult concepts of objects and classes are brought alive in an easily manipulable visual form.
Key features:
- Objects first approach
BlueJ supports teaching tools that are not available in other environments, including the visualisation of class structure. This means that the student can interact with objects directly, even before looking at the first line of Java syntax! - Project driven approach to problem solving
Each chapter contains problems which are analyzed before the language constructs are introduced that can solve them. What is more, the book is structured along the lines of fundamental development tasks, giving clear coverage of the principles of object-oriented programming - Spiral approach
Challenging topics are introduced early, and then revised later in the book in a different context in order to deepen understanding - Thorough treatment of object-oriented principles
Pointers are used within each chapter to refer the student to further reading, supplementary sources, and language references - Supplements
The book is accompanied by a CD-ROM containing the JDK and BlueJ for various operating systems. A supplement download website contains the style guide for all examples used in the book, as well as PowerPoint slides for instructors.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Customer Reviews & Comments
This review is from: Objects First With Java: A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ (2nd Edition) (Paperback)
One really bad way to teach basic math in elementary school is to stick a calculator into a kid's hand and have her learn how to use it. The kid might be multiplying large numbers together in no time, but she won't have any real understanding of what she's doing. There's an analagous problem with learning computer programming languages using the latest whizzy integrated development environments (IDEs). The IDE does a lot of the leg work for you behind the scenes and code gets 'automagically' generated, but you don't really understand what's going on. Worse still, some of the major Java IDEs are so feature-rich that it's an uphill struggle just to understand the IDE, let alone to try and learn Java and object-oriented programming (OOP). If what I've just described mirrors your own experience in trying to learn Java using the popular Java IDEs, then read on ... the wonderful Bluej Java enviroment and this accompanying book, may be just what you've been looking for. "Objects First with Java" is an absolute Godsend for anybody who wants to really learn Java from the ground up, and in the process, develop a clear understanding of object-oriented programming. The examples in the book are superbly illustrated using the author's "BlueJ" Java environment which comes on the CD included with the book. BlueJ lets you create your own Java modules and then interact directly with them, allowing you to experiment with their behavior as you edit and compile individual Java classes. Based upon the example projects that also come on the CD, you can alter or rewrite the Java code, compile it with BlueJ and immediately see the results. This kind of direct experimentation makes learning more fun and allows the reader to really assimilate the core principles of the Java language and the OOP paradigm that it embodies. The book is beautifully laid out with code snippets, subject summaries and exercises all color-coded. The text is written in an accessible and conversational style that is lacking in a lot of the traditional, "dry" computer texts that are often about as much fun as having root canal work. In spite of this, the book manages to completely avoid the "light and fluffy" approach of some tutorial style texts that are overly chatty and ultimately rather lighweight. "Objects First" is a serious text for anybody wanting to learn Java and OOP and although I consider myself an experienced programmer in other computer languages, with considerable prior exposure to OOP, I never felt bored or talked down to by this book. In summary then, I whole-heartedly recommend this book to new and experienced programmers alike who wish to learn Java well and my advice would be this: Do yourself a favor, put aside the complex Java IDE for now, buy this book, download the latest editions of BlueJ and Sun's Java environment from the web (the versions on the CD are not the latest and greatest) and REALLY learn Java!
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Objects First With Java: A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ (4th Edition)
List Price: $103.00
Available from Amazon
Price: $92.70
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