Thinking in Java

Bruce Eckel’s Thinking in Java

Contents | Prev | Next

Thinking

Java

Bruce

Eckel

Comments

from readers:

Much

better than any other Java book I’ve seen. Make that “by an order

of magnitude”

…

very complete, with excellent right-to-the-point

examples and intelligent, not dumbed-down, explanations

…

In contrast to many

other Java books I found it to be unusually mature, consistent, intellectually

honest, well-written and precise. IMHO, an ideal book for studying Java.

Anatoly
Vorobey, Technion University, Haifa, Israel

One

of the absolutely best programming tutorials I’ve seen for any language.

Joakim
Ziegler, FIX sysop

Thank

you for your wonderful, wonderful book on Java.

Dr.
Gavin Pillay, Registrar, King Edward VIII Hospital, South Africa

Thank

you again for your awesome book. I was really floundering (being a non-C

programmer), but your book has brought me up to speed as fast as I could read

it. It’s really cool to be able to understand the underlying principles

and concepts from the start, rather than having to try to build that conceptual

model through trial and error. Hopefully I will be able to attend your seminar

in the not-too-distant future.

Randall
R. Hawley, Automation Technician, Eli Lilly & Co.

The

best computer book writing I have seen.

Tom
Holland

This

is one of the best books I’ve read about a programming language

…

Chapter 16 on design patterns is one of the most interesting things I’ve

read in a long time.

Ilan
Finci, graduate student and teaching assistant, Institute of Computer Science,
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

The

best book ever written on Java.

Ravindra
Pai, Oracle Corporation, SUNOS product line

This

is the best book on Java that I have ever found! You have done a great job.

Your depth is amazing. I will be purchasing the book when it is published. I

have been learning Java since October 96. I have read a few books, and consider

yours a “MUST READ.” These past few months we have been focused on

a product written entirely in Java. Your book has helped solidify topics I was

shaky on and has expanded my knowledge base. I have even used some of your

explanations as information in interviewing contractors to help our team. I

have found how much Java knowledge they have by asking them about things I have

learned from reading your book (e.g. the difference between arrays and

Vectors). Your book is great!

Steve
Wilkinson, Senior Staff Specialist, MCI Telecommunications

Great

book. Best book on Java I have seen so far.

Jeff
Sinclair, Software Engineer, Kestral Computing

Thank

you for

Thinking
in Java

It’s time someone went beyond mere language description to a thoughtful,

penetrating analytic tutorial that doesn’t kowtow to The Manufacturers.

I’ve read almost all the others–only yours and Patrick

Winston’s have found a place in my heart. I’m already recommending

it to customers. Thanks again.

Richard
Brooks, Java Consultant, Sun Professional Services, Dallas

Other

books cover the WHAT of Java (describing the syntax and the libraries) or the

HOW of Java (practical programming examples).

Thinking
in Java

is the only book I know that explains the WHY of Java; why it was designed the

way it was, why it works the way it does, why it sometimes doesn’t work,

why it’s better than C++, why it’s not. Although it also does a

good job of teaching the what and how of the language,

Thinking
in Java

is definitely the thinking person’s choice in a Java book.

Robert
S. Stephenson

Thanks

for writing a great book. The more I read it the better I like it. My students

like it, too.

Chuck
Iverson

just want to commend you for your work on

Thinking
in Java

It is people like you that dignify the future of the Internet and I just want

to thank you for your effort. It is very much appreciated.

Patrick
Barrell, Network Officer Mamco-QAF Mfg. Inc.

Most

of the Java books out there are fine for a start, and most just have beginning

stuff and a lot of the same examples. Yours is by far the best advanced

thinking book I’ve seen. Please publish it soon!

…

I also bought

Thinking
in C++

just because I was so impressed with

Thinking
in Java

George
Laframboise, LightWorx Technology Consulting, Inc.

wrote to you earlier about my favorable impressions regarding your

Thinking
in C++

(a book that stands prominently on my shelf here at work). And today I’ve

been able to delve into Java with your e-book in my virtual hand, and I must

say (in my best Chevy Chase from “Modern Problems”) “I like

it!” Very informative and explanatory, without reading like a dry

textbook. You cover the most important yet the least covered concepts of Java

development: the whys.

Sean
Brady

Your

examples are clear and easy to understand. You took care of many important

details of Java that can’t be found easily in the weak Java

documentation. And you don’t waste the reader’s time with the basic

facts a programmer already knows.

Kai
Engert, Innovative Software, Germany

I’m

a great fan of your

Thinking
in C++

and have recommended it to associates. As I go through the electronic version

of your Java book, I’m finding that you’ve retained the same high

level of writing. Thank you!

Peter
R. Neuwald

VERY

well-written Java book

…

I think you’ve done a GREAT job on it. As the

leader of a Chicago-area Java special interest group, I’ve favorably

mentioned your book and website several times at our recent meetings. I would

like to use

Thinking
in Java

as the basis for a part of each monthly SIG meeting, in which we review and

discuss each chapter in succession.

Mark
Ertes

really appreciate your work and your book is good. I recommend it here to our

users and Ph.D. students.

Hugues
Leroy // Irisa-Inria Rennes France, Head of Scientific Computing and Industrial
Tranfert

OK,

I’ve only read about 40 pages of

Thinking
in Java

but I’ve already found it to be the most clearly-written and presented

programming book I’ve come across

…

and I’m a writer, myself, so

I am probably a little critical. I have

Thinking
in C++

on order and can’t wait to crack it – I’m fairly new to

programming and am hitting learning curves head-on everywhere. So this is just

a quick note to say thanks for your excellent work. I had begun to burn a

little low on enthusiasm from slogging through the mucky, murky prose of most

computer books – even ones that came with glowing recommendations. I feel

a whole lot better now.

Glenn
Becker, Educational Theatre Association

Thank

you for making your wonderful book available. I have found it immensely useful

in finally understanding what I experienced as confusing in Java and C++.

Reading your book has been very satisfying.

Felix
Bizaoui, Twin Oaks Industries, Louisa, Va.

must congratulate you on an excellent book. I decided to have a look at

Thinking
in Java

based on my experience with

Thinking
in C++

and I was not disappointed.

Jaco
van der Merwe, Software Specialist, DataFusion Systems Ltd, Stellenbosch, South
Africa

This

has to be one of the best Java books I’ve seen.

E.F.
Pritchard, Senior Software Engineer, Cambridge Animation Systems Ltd., United
Kingdom

Your

book makes all the other Java books I’ve read or flipped through seem

doubly useless and insulting.

Brett
g Porter, Senior Programmer, Art & Logic

have been reading your book for a week or two and compared to the books I have

read earlier on Java, your book seems to have given me a great start. I have

recommended this book to lot of my friends and they have rated it excellent.

Please accept my congratulations for coming out with an excellent book.

Rama
Krishna Bhupathi, Software Engineer, TCSI Corporation, San Jose

Just

wanted to say what a “brilliant” piece of work your book is.

I’ve been using it as a major reference for in-house Java work. I find

that the table of contents is just right for quickly locating the section that

is required. It’s also nice to see a book that is not just a rehash of

the API nor treats the programmer like a dummy.

Grant
Sayer, Java Components Group Leader, Ceedata Systems Pty Ltd, Australia

Wow!

A readable, in-depth Java book. There are a lot of poor (and admittedly a

couple of good) Java books out there, but from what I’ve seen yours is

definitely one of the best.

John
Root, Web Developer, Department of Social Security, London

I’ve

*just* started

Thinking
in Java

I expect it to be very good because I really liked

Thinking
in C++

(which I read as an experienced C++ programmer, trying to stay ahead of the

curve). I’m somewhat less experienced in Java, but expect to be very

satisfied. You are a wonderful author.

Kevin
K. Lewis, Technologist, ObjectSpace, Inc.

think it’s a great book. I learned all I know about Java from this book.

Thank you for making it available for free over the Internet. If you

wouldn’t have I’d know nothing about Java at all. But the best

thing is that your book isn’t a commercial brochure for Java. It also

shows the bad sides of Java. YOU have done a great job here.

Frederik
Fix, Belgium

have been hooked to your books all the time. A couple of years ago, when I

wanted to start with C++, it was

C++
Inside & Out

which took me around the fascinating world of C++. It helped me in getting

better opportunities in life. Now, in pursuit of more knowledge and when I

wanted to learn Java, I bumped into

Thinking
in Java

– No doubts in my mind as to whether I need some other book. Just

fantastic. It is more like rediscovering myself as I get along with the book.

It is just a month since I started with Java, and heartfelt thanks to you, I am

understanding it better now.

Anand
Kumar S. – Software Engineer – Computervision, India

Your

book stands out as an excellent general introduction.

Peter
Robinson, University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory

It’s

by far the best material I have come across to help me learn Java and I just

want you to know how lucky I feel to have found it. THANKS!

Chuck
Peterson, Product Leader, Internet Product Line, IVIS International

The

book is great. It’s the third book on Java I’ve started and

I’m about two-thirds of the way through it now. I plan to finish this

one. I found out about it because it is used in some internal classes at Lucent

Technologies and a friend told me the book was on the Net. Good work.

Jerry
Nowlin, MTS, Lucent Technologies

the six or so Java books I’ve accumulated to date, your

Thinking
in Java

is by far the best and clearest.

Michael
Van Waas, Ph.D., President, TMR Associates

just want to say thanks for

Thinking
in Java

What a wonderful book you’ve made here! Not to mention downloadable for

free! As a student I find your books invaluable (I have a copy of

C++
Inside Out

another great book about C++), because they not only teach me the how-to, but

also the whys, which are of course very important in building a strong

foundation in languages such as C++ or Java. I have quite a lot of friends here

who love programming just as I do, and I’ve told them about your books.

They think it’s great! Thanks again! By the way, I’m Indonesian and

I live in Java.

Ray
Frederick Djajadinata, Student at Trisakti University, Jakarta

The

mere fact that you have made this work free over the Net puts me into shock. I

thought I’d let you know how much I appreciate and respect what

you’re doing.

Shane
LeBouthillier, Computer Engineering student, University of Alberta, Canada

have to tell you how much I look forward to reading your monthly column. As a

newbie to the world of object oriented programming, I appreciate the time and

thoughtfulness that you give to even the most elementary topic. I have

downloaded your book, but you can bet that I will purchase the hard copy when

it is published. Thanks for all of your help.

Dan
Cashmer, B. C. Ziegler & Co.

Just

want to congratulate you on a job well done. First I stumbled upon the PDF

version of

Thinking
in Java

Even before I finished reading it, I ran to the store and found

Thinking
in C++

Now, I have been in the computer business for over eight years, as a

consultant, software engineer, teacher/trainer, and recently as self-employed,

so I’d like to think that I have seen enough (not “have seen it

all,” mind you, but enough). However, these books cause my girlfriend to

call me a ”geek.” Not that I have anything against the concept

–

is just that I thought this phase was well beyond me. But I find myself truly

enjoying both books, like no other computer book I have touched or bought so

far. Excellent writing style, very nice introduction of every new topic, and

lots of wisdom in the books. Well done.

Simon
Goland, simonsez@smartt.com, Simon Says Consulting, Inc.

must say that your

Thinking
in Java

is great! That is exactly the kind of documentation I was looking for.

Especially the sections about good and poor software design using Java 1.1.

Dirk
Duehr, Lexikon Verlag, Bertelsmann AG, Germany

Thank

you for writing two great books (

Thinking
in C++

Thinking
in Java

You have helped me immensely in my progression to object oriented programming.

Donald
Lawson, DCL Enterprises

Thank

you for taking the time to write a really helpful book on Java. If teaching

makes you understand something, by now you must be pretty pleased with yourself.

Dominic
Turner, GEAC Support

It’s

the best Java book I have ever read

–

and I read some.

Jean-Yves
MENGANT, Chief Software Architect NAT-SYSTEM, Paris, France
Thinking
in Java

gives the best coverage and explanation. Very easy to read, and I mean the code

fragments as well.

Ron
Chan, Ph.D., Expert Choice, Inc., Pittsburgh PA

Your

book is great. I have read lots of programming books and your book still adds

insights to programming in my mind.

Ningjian
Wang, Information System Engineer, The Vanguard Group
Thinking
in Java

is an excellent and readable book. I recommend it to all my students.

Dr.
Paul Gorman, Department of Computer Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New
Zealand

You

make it possible for the proverbial free lunch to exist, not just a soup

kitchen type of lunch but a gourmet delight for those who appreciate good

software and books about it.

Jose
Suriol, Scylax Corporation

Thanks

for the opportunity of watching this book grow into a masterpiece! IT IS THE

BEST book on the subject that I’ve read or browsed.

Jeff
Lapchinsky, Programmer, Net Results Technologies

Your

book is concise, accessible and a joy to read.

Keith
Ritchie, Java Research & Development Team, KL Group Inc.

truly is the best book I’ve read on Java!

Daniel
Eng

The

best book I have seen on Java!

Rich
Hoffarth, Senior Architect, West Group

Thank

you for a wonderful book. I’m having a lot of fun going through the

chapters.

Fred
Trimble, Actium Corporation

You

have mastered the art of slowly and successfully making us grasp the details.

You make learning VERY easy and satisfying. Thank you for a truly wonderful

tutorial.

Rajesh
Rau, Software Consultant
Thinking
in Java

rocks the free world!

Miko
O’Sullivan, President, Idocs Inc.
About
Thinking
in C++
: Best
Book! Winner of the

1995
Software Development Magazine Jolt Award!

“This

book is a tremendous achievement. You owe it to yourself to have a copy on your

shelf. The chapter on iostreams is the most comprehensive and understandable

treatment of that subject I’ve seen to date.”

Al
Stevens

Contributing
Editor,
Doctor
Dobbs Journal

“Eckel’s

book is the only one to so clearly explain how to rethink program construction

for object orientation. That the book is also an excellent tutorial on the ins

and outs of C++ is an added bonus.”

Andrew
Binstock

Editor,
Unix
Review

“Bruce

continues to amaze me with his insight into C++, and Thinking in C++ is his

best collection of ideas yet. If you want clear answers to difficult questions

about C++, buy this outstanding book.”

Gary
Entsminger

Author,
The
Tao of Objects

“Thinking

in C++ patiently and methodically explores the issues of when and how to use

inlines, references, operator overloading, inheritance, and dynamic objects, as

well as advanced topics such as the proper use of templates, exceptions and

multiple inheritance. The entire effort is woven in a fabric that includes

Eckel’s own philosophy of object and program design. A must for every C++

developer’s bookshelf, Thinking in C++ is the one C++ book you must have

if you’re doing serious development with C++.”

Richard
Hale Shaw

Contributing
Editor, PC Magazine

Thinking

Java

Bruce

Eckel

President,
MindView Inc.

Prentice

Hall PTR

Upper
Saddle River, New Jersey 07458

http://www.phptr.comLibrary
of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Eckel, Bruce. Thinking in Java / Bruce Eckel. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 0-13-659723-8 1. Java (Computer program language) I. Title. QA76.73.J38E25 1998 005.13'3--dc21 97-52713 CIP

Editorial/Production
Supervision:

Craig

Little

Acquisitions
Editor:
Jeffrey
Pepper

Manufacturing
Manager:
Alexis
R. Heydt

Marketing
Manager:
Miles
Williams

Cover
Design Director:
Jerry
Votta

Cover
Design:
Daniel
Will-Harris

Interior
Design:
Daniel
Will-Harris, www.will-harris.com

1998 by Prentice Hall PTR

Prentice-Hall
Inc.

A
Simon & Schuster Company

Upper
Saddle River, NJ 07458

The

information in this book is distributed on an “as is” basis,

without warranty. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of

this book, neither the author nor the publisher shall have any liability to any

person or entitle with respect to any liability, loss or damage caused or

alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by instructions contained in this

book or by the computer software or hardware products described herein.

All

rights reserved. No part of this book may be

reproduced,
in any form or by any means, without

permission
in writing from the publisher.

Prentice

Hall books are widely used by corporations and government agencies for

training, marketing, and resale. The publisher offers discounts on this book

when ordered in bulk quantities. For more information, contact the Corporate

Sales Department at 800-382-3419, fax: 201-236-7141, email:

mailto:corpsales@prenhall.com

or write: Corporate Sales Department, Prentice Hall PTR, One Lake Street, Upper

Saddle River, New Jersey 07458.

Java

is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Windows 95 and Windows NT

are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other product names and company

names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Printed

in the United States of America

10
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN
0-13-659723-8

Prentice-Hall
International (UK) Limited,
London

Prentice-Hall
of Australia Pty. Limited,
Sydney

Prentice-Hall
Canada Inc.,
Toronto

Prentice-Hall
Hispanoamericana, S.A.,
Mexico

Prentice-Hall
of India Private Limited,
New
Delhi

Prentice-Hall
of Japan, Inc.,
Tokyo

Simon
& Schuster Asia Pte. Ltd.,
Singapore

Editora
Prentice-Hall do Brasil, Ltda.,
Rio
de Janeiro

Contents

CodeGuru Staff

Company

Categories