Wanting to learn JAVA

[LEVEND1Z]

Hey guys,
I want to learn how to program in JAVA. I have no programming skills
So far i have

• JDK
• Eclipse

I would like to know the best way to learn JAVA, books etc...etc
Can you recommend a book that would be good for a beginner, possibly a free eBook?

Thank You,

[k1net1cs]

Actually if you take a look around Sun's own website there are some quickstarters to get you familiarize yourself with Java.

http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/index.html

But in printed form, the staple book is probably the one from Deitel & Deitel.
eBooks...don't know much.

[LEVEND1Z]

Thanks for the info, didn't see that on their site before.

[keller]

If it is still available you might try playing with an environment called Dr. Java. It allows you to write and run statements to see what their results are without creating whole classes and compiling.

[QuackWare]

If it is still available you might try playing with an environment called Dr. Java. It allows you to write and run statements to see what their results are without creating whole classes and compiling.

A similar website is called ideone. I would also try video tutorials on YouTube as that can help you out a lot in confusing places. The tutorials on Sun are pretty good although if you really want to understand a concept you should try to create your own program like a simple calculator and learn as you go, works best for me.

[Hunter100]

Hey all,

I'm learnign C++, but thought I should get equiped for Java. So I checked my computer, etc. I have Standard Edition 6 Update 18. Do I need Eclipse?


BTW What is Eclipse?

[WingedPanther]

You don't need Eclipse, though you can use it. It's just an IDE. You can use notepad, if you want.

[k1net1cs]

Hey all,

I'm learnign C++, but thought I should get equiped for Java. So I checked my computer, etc. I have Standard Edition 6 Update 18. Do I need Eclipse?

Not necessarily, but it may make things easier for you in the long run.

BTW What is Eclipse?

It's an IDE, or Integrated Development Environment.
Basically an editor that usually notifies you of any syntax errors (not semantic ones; you need to differentiate those two), compiles your code with a click of a button, and which its own settings can pose more threat than coding a chat client in C++.

Personally I use NetBeans for Java, and the trusty old Dev-C++ for, well, C++.
NetBeans can also be used as an IDE for C++ if you download the plugins for it.

[ambidextrous]

Hi all,

Bruce Eckel's free book Thinking in Java, 3rd edition, appears to be available for download here:
Bruce Eckel's Free Electronic Books

Also, for general coding practice, you can use the following Website:
CodingBat

You can select Java and proceed through the exercises one by one - you don't even need an IDE installed on your computer - it is web-based, you just write the methods and test them against the Website's own testing mechanism. Pretty sweet for starters, I must say.

[lumeneu]

@QuackWare yeah, ideone.com is awesome