Best 'Teach Yourself' Java

[darmstadt]

Need to learn some Java but have time to do a course. I already know some basics and have numerous software products already (RAD, RFT, Eclipse, etc) so thought I would get a couple of books and spend the evenings in my hotel doing some 'self certifiable' training so any recommendations on what the best books are out there?

[DimPrawn]

I've no idea but a quick Google throws up some online learning resources (assuming you have Internet in the evenings):

http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/
http://www.javabeginner.com/index.htm
http://www.freejavaguide.com/corejava.htm


Then of course there is:

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/java/


Books? No idea.

[voodooflux]

From my dim and distant (but mostly dim) Java days, and assuming you're after something with more street cred than the "Head First" or "Dummies" range

The Java Programming Language, 4th Edition - co-written by the daddy of Java, James Gosling. The K&R of Java.

Once you're familiar with the basics:

Effective Java by Joshua Bloch is well worth a read, but I'm not sure how up to date it is.

Thinking in Java by Bruce Eckel - third edition is free online.

[Cowboy Bob]

I'll add that once you've grasped the basics, by far the best way to learn is to find a project on something like SourceForge that has open bugs and see if you can fix any of them - they may even accept your changes and then you can add it to your CV as well. It's a win win situation.

[voodooflux]

I'll add that once you've grasped the basics, by far the best way to learn is to find a project on something like SourceForge that has open bugs and see if you can fix any of them

Or if you really fancy a challenge then try fixing some of the stuff on IBM Alphaworks.

[PRooke]

and also visit JavaRanch

JavaRanch

And another vote for Effective Java by Joshua Bloch - maybe a bit out of date; but I guess the ideas still apply. Not just to Java either!

Also check out the Java Posse podcast - to find out whats happening in the java world....

[NickFitz]

I would actually recommend Head First Java - if you're already moderately familiar with the language it'll firm up your understanding of the basics and get you up to speed on more advanced language features very rapidly. Make sure you get the second edition.

Then there's Head First EJB and Head First JSP and Servlets (second edition again) depending on which application areas you're interested in.

And the absolutely essential reference, IMHO, is Java in a Nutshell (fifth edition): when you're familiarising yourself with a new area of the Java API, the quick summary and listing of all classes and their properties and methods are invaluable. Over the years I've had every edition from the first onwards next to my keyboard for long periods

Online, there's over 800 articles at O'Reilly's OnJava site. Some of them are bound to be useful.

[thunderlizard]

For some light relief, there's also Farmer Bunny's Big Cup o'Java, by Carlton Egremont III.

[moorfield]

I found the best books are the primers for the Sun Certification tests - all you need without too much waffle. HTH.

[Bob Dalek]

This got 5 stars.