Check out 'Thinking in Java' it's a free online book: -
http://www.mindview.net/Books/TIJ/
Walt
-----Original Message-----
From: Dick Applebaum [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 10:01 AM
To: CF-Talk
Subject: SOT: Learning Java for a CF Developer - a possible
solution?
I've been getting a lot of (some not so)
gentle suggestions, lately, that CF may
not be the best solution for what I want
to do.
So, I decided, I would learn Java (I had
tried several times before -- even
bought a 500 lb book & CD -- "Learn
Java in 551 weeks", or somesuch.
Well, a long weekend was coming, & I had
some time -- give it a go!
But where to start:
I probably needed a more robust IDE &
this list recommended eclipse.
Eclipse is quite an involved
application, but it is wrtitten in and
for Java and has some CF plugins too.
After about 1 day, I was comfortable
enough with eclipse, that I could
address my main objective: Learn Java.*
* I don't expect that I will become a
Java expert, nor even a Java programmer.
But I will have the ability to write
acceptable Java applications (or Java
extensions to CF applications) when
needed. And, I should be able to read
and understand Java programs written by
others.
So, I googled around for a Java
tutorial. One obvious site was Sun. But
the Sun site, is like Microsoft's site
-- very difficult to navigate or search
unless you already know the lingo.
And the articles always seen to be part
of a long-term agenda -- I always feel
like I came in "in the middle" and that
they are trying to teach/sell me a lot
of stuff I don't want or need,
I did not want to start learning Java
with a sales pitch or delving into the
advantages and nuances of OOP.
I did find an online book, that claims
not to be a tutorial. It also claims
not to be a book on Java, rather "An
introduction to programming, Using
Java". It was reasonably up to date,
July 2002, so let's have a look.
At first, it seems a little basic, but I
resisted the temptation to skim ahead.
And I forced myself to try all the
examples (learn both Eclipse and Java at
the same time).
Well, it is more like a class lecture
than a book or tutorial. The instructor
covers what needs to be covered, defers
complexity until you are ready to absorb
it, and moves right along. I found that
the early chapters, while conceptually
nothing new to an experienced
programmer, did put me in a comfort zone
with Java terminology and the Java way
of doing things.
Exactly what I was looking for!
If you want to introduce a little Java
into your life, have a look:
http://www.faqs.org/docs/javap/index.html
And, as I learn, I am resisting the temptation
to go off and experiment (too much), but to
stay focused and complete the course.
HTH
Dick
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