Product DescriptionThis text is an exploration into computer science, programming principles and advanced features of the Java language. The text is useful for anyone interested in learning or reinforcing introductory programming concepts and beginning to take advantage of many of the exciting attributes of the Java language. Now updated with Java 1.5, Big Java, Second Edition remains the definitive introduction to programming. Horstmann, in his extensive teaching and industry experience, has always emphasized that those who truly want to study the discipline of Computer Science and the art of programming must, before writing a line of code, first learn to think like a problem solver. With this in mind, the first part of the text is focused not on programming as an abstract exercise, but on fundamental principles of programming and problem solving. Java is both the tool to be mastered and the key to understanding basic computer science concepts. The second part of this text introduces advanced concepts of the Java programming language. Assuming an understanding of programming concepts at this point, the author offers the reader an in-depth look into how Java relates to searching and sorting, data structures, multithreading, networking, database connectivity, XML, and Java Server Pages. In addition, the author also offers many reference resources in the appendices, including the Java Library, HTML, running applets, and number systems. Throughout the text, readers will find notes that cover historical and social aspects of computing and capsule introductions to advanced topics of computer science. These optional features provide valuable context for those interested in going more deeply into the subject.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - big java
This appears to be a good supplemental text for my AP Computer Science class. Well written and easy to understand.
Rating: - Fast shipping, good book
the price was great, shipping was amazingly fast, and the seller was really great to work with.
Rating: - Too brief on material and examples
I "had" to buy this textbook for a Java 2 class that I am just finishing up. For Java 1, I had to buy Deitel's "Java(tm) How to Program
Sixth Edition" book. I found Deitel's book much more thorough with lots of examples. "Big Java" is very brief on the material in every chapter. There are some examples, but not enough to really learn Java well. Also, the material is just not explained very well and in detail. I "always" read Deitel's equivalent chapter first before reading "Big Java's" ... Read More
Rating: - Recommended & Good
I am a college student, and this text was recommended by all of the professors. Originally it wasn't required (another one was) and I tried out the other textbook. After a semester of that book, which was not very good, this textbook (Big Java) was required for my next course. So I got it, and upon using it I've noticed it's ten times better than the other java textbook. I'd recommend this to any student learning Java!
Rating: - Splicing Introductory CS and Java together just causes confusion
This book just confuses matters by trying to mix the teaching of introductory computer science principles with learning the Java programming language all the way from simple "System.out.println" statements, through object orientation, to XML and server side programming. All of this is attempted in roughly 1250 pages, and the attempt is unsuccessful.
I cannot figure out why the author tried such an ambitious undertaking in just one book, especially when he has co-authored the excellent ... Read More
- big java
- Fast shipping, good book
- Too brief on material and examples
