Herbert Schildt - Java A Beginner’s Guide

Java

A Beginners Guide

Sixth Edition

About the Author

Best-selling author Herbert Schildt has written extensively about programming for nearly three decades and is a leading authority on the Java language. His books have sold millions of copies worldwide and have been translated into all major foreign languages. He is the author of numerous books on Java, including Java: The Complete Reference, Herb Schildts Java Programming Cookbook , and Swing: A Beginners Guide . He has also written extensively about C, C++, and C#. Although interested in all facets of computing, his primary focus is computer languages, including compilers, interpreters, and robotic control languages. He also has an active interest in the standardization of languages. Schildt holds both graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Illinois. He can be reached at his consulting office at (217) 586-4683. His website is www.HerbSchildt.com .

About the Technical Reviewer

Dr. Danny Coward has worked on all editions of the Java platform. He led the definition of Java Servlets into the first version of the Java EE platform and beyond, web services into the Java ME platform, and the strategy and planning for Java SE 7. He founded JavaFX technology and, most recently, designed the largest addition to the Java EE 7 standard, the Java WebSocket API. From coding in Java, to designing APIs with industry experts, to serving for several years as an executive to the Java Community Process, he has a uniquely broad perspective into multiple aspects of Java technology. Additionally, he is the author of JavaWebSocket Programming and an upcoming book on Java EE. Dr. Coward holds a bachelors, masters, and doctorate in mathematics from the University of Oxford.

Java

A Beginners Guide

Sixth Edition

Herbert Schildt

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Contents at a Glance

Contents

Introduction

T he purpose of this book is to teach you the fundamentals of Java programming. It uses a step-by-step approach complete with numerous examples, self tests, and projects. It assumes no previous programming experience. The book starts with the basics, such as how to compile and run a Java program. It then discusses the keywords, features, and constructs that form the core of the Java language. Youll also find coverage of some of Javas most advanced features, including multithreaded programming and generics. An introduction to the fundamentals of Swing and JavaFX concludes the book. By the time you finish, you will have a firm grasp of the essentials of Java programming.

It is important to state at the outset that this book is just a starting point. Java is more than just the elements that define the language. Java also includes extensive libraries and tools that aid in the development of programs. To be a top-notch Java programmer implies mastery of these areas, too. After completing this book, you will have the knowledge to pursue any and all other aspects of Java.

The Evolution of Java

Only a few languages have fundamentally reshaped the very essence of programming. In this elite group, one stands out because its impact was both rapid and widespread. This language is, of course, Java. It is not an overstatement to say that the original release of Java 1.0 in 1995 by Sun Microsystems, Inc., caused a revolution in programming. This revolution radically transformed the Web into a highly interactive environment. In the process, Java set a new standard in computer language design.