Book Review - Java In A Nutshell (5th Edition) by David Flanagan
Category Book Reviews
Here's a classic that just keeps on keep up with the state of the language... Java In A Nutshell (5th Edition) by David Flanagan (O'Reilly). But it's definitely getting pretty large...
Rather than list the chapters like I usually do, I'll forego that this time in that I'll probably overrun the Amazon word limit. Suffice it to say that if it's a core part of the Java language as of version 5.0, it's probably in here...
The good stuff... Flanagan has once again done an outstanding job in providing a succinct reference manual that covers the latest version of the Java language. He's added a new chapter to cover Java 5.0 features such as generic types, enumerated types, and annotations. There is also coverage of some new features in chapter 2, such as autoboxing and the new for/in statement. This coverage method (most of the new stuff in one area) means that readers who are upgrading their copy can easily flag the new material they need to read. And rather than keep a lot of older material floating around, he's also eliminated some language features that are either deprecated or are not widely used. Granted, if *you* are one of the few using it, that's not good, but you have to draw a line somewhere. Other than that, it's the same solid, no-fluff coverage of the Java language in the first 400 pages that you've come to expect in this Nutshell volume. The reminder of the 1200+ pages covers Java API documentation, which is useful if you're looking for a particular method or property you're not familiar with.
The bad part is probably the page count... Although the print is small and the information is packed tightly, 1200 page still makes for a pretty thick book. Some will make the argument that you can get the last 800 pages (the API documentation) on-line, which is true. I tend to prefer having pages I can flip through without having to do a lot of hyperlinking. Plus you can jot down notes or flag certain parts you reference quite often. I'm almost of the opinion that perhaps it's now time to split the book into Java In A Nutshell - volumes 1 and 2. Put the API info in a second volume and make it easier to work with...
I still think this is a "must have" book for any Java programmer... It just may be time to take a hard look at the packaging for the 6th edition.
Here's a classic that just keeps on keep up with the state of the language... Java In A Nutshell (5th Edition) by David Flanagan (O'Reilly). But it's definitely getting pretty large...
Rather than list the chapters like I usually do, I'll forego that this time in that I'll probably overrun the Amazon word limit. Suffice it to say that if it's a core part of the Java language as of version 5.0, it's probably in here...
The good stuff... Flanagan has once again done an outstanding job in providing a succinct reference manual that covers the latest version of the Java language. He's added a new chapter to cover Java 5.0 features such as generic types, enumerated types, and annotations. There is also coverage of some new features in chapter 2, such as autoboxing and the new for/in statement. This coverage method (most of the new stuff in one area) means that readers who are upgrading their copy can easily flag the new material they need to read. And rather than keep a lot of older material floating around, he's also eliminated some language features that are either deprecated or are not widely used. Granted, if *you* are one of the few using it, that's not good, but you have to draw a line somewhere. Other than that, it's the same solid, no-fluff coverage of the Java language in the first 400 pages that you've come to expect in this Nutshell volume. The reminder of the 1200+ pages covers Java API documentation, which is useful if you're looking for a particular method or property you're not familiar with.
The bad part is probably the page count... Although the print is small and the information is packed tightly, 1200 page still makes for a pretty thick book. Some will make the argument that you can get the last 800 pages (the API documentation) on-line, which is true. I tend to prefer having pages I can flip through without having to do a lot of hyperlinking. Plus you can jot down notes or flag certain parts you reference quite often. I'm almost of the opinion that perhaps it's now time to split the book into Java In A Nutshell - volumes 1 and 2. Put the API info in a second volume and make it easier to work with...
I still think this is a "must have" book for any Java programmer... It just may be time to take a hard look at the packaging for the 6th edition.
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Posted by Stan Rogers At 13:18:03 On 05/04/2005 | - Website - |