Paul Barry - Head First Programming

Head First Programming

David Griffiths

Paul Barry

Beijing Cambridge Farnham Kln Sebastopol Tokyo

We dedicate this book to the first person who looked at a computer and then asked the question, I wonder how I make it do this ... ?

And to those that made programming complex enough that people need a book like ours to learn it.

David: To Dawn. The smartest person I know.

Paul: This ones dedicated to my father, Jim Barry, who, 25 years agowhen I needed a pushpushed me toward computing. That was a good push.

A Note Regarding Supplemental Files

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Advance Praise for Head First Programming

Head First Programming does a great job teaching programming using an iterative process. Add a little, explain a little, make the program a little better. This is how programming works in the real world and Head First Programming makes use of that in a teaching forum. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to start dabbling in programming but doesnt know where to start. Id also recommend this book to anyone not necessarily new to programming, but curious about Python. Its a great intro to programming in general and programming Python specifically.

Jeremy Jones, Coauthor of Python for Unix and Linux System Administration

David Griffiths and Paul Barry have crafted the latest gem in the Head First series. Do you use a computer, but are tired of always using someone elses software? Is there something you wish your computer would do but wasnt programmed for? In Head First Programming , youll learn how to write code and make your computer do things your way.

Bill Mietelski, Software Engineer

Head First Programming provides a unique approach to a complex subject. The early chapters make excellent use of metaphors to introduce basic programming concepts used as a foundation for the rest of the book. This book has everything, from web development to graphical user interfaces and game programming.

Doug Hellmann, Senior Software Engineer, Racemi

A good introduction to programming using one of the best languages around, Head First Programming uses a unique combination of visuals, puzzles, and exercises to teach programming in a way that is approachable and fun.

Ted Leung, Principal Software Engineer, Sun Microsystems

Beyond the engaging style that drags you forward from know-nothing into exalted Java warrior status, Head First Java covers a huge amount of practical matters that other texts leave as the dreaded exercise for the reader.... Its clever, wry, hip and practicalthere arent a lot of textbooks that can make that claim and live up to it while also teaching you about object serialization and network launch protocols.

Dr. Dan Russell, Director of User Sciences and Experience Research IBM Almaden Research Center (and teaches Artificial Intelligence at Stanford University)

Its fast, irreverent, fun, and engaging. Be carefulyou might actually learn something!

Ken Arnold, former Senior Engineer at Sun Microsystems Coauthor (with James Gosling, creator of Java), The Java Programming Language

I feel like a thousand pounds of books have just been lifted off of my head.

Ward Cunningham, inventor of the Wiki and founder of the Hillside Group

Just the right tone for the geeked-out, casual-cool guru coder in all of us. The right reference for practical development strategiesgets my brain going without having to slog through a bunch of tired, stale professor-speak.

Travis Kalanick, Founder of Scour and Red Swoosh Member of the MIT TR100

There are books you buy, books you keep, books you keep on your desk, and thanks to OReilly and the Head First crew, there is the penultimate category, Head First books. Theyre the ones that are dog-eared, mangled, and carried everywhere. Head First SQL is at the top of my stack. Heck, even the PDF I have for review is tattered and torn.

Bill Sawyer, ATG Curriculum Manager, Oracle

This books admirable clarity, humor and substantial doses of clever make it the sort of book that helps even non-programmers think well about problem-solving.

Cory Doctorow, co-editor of Boing Boing Author, Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom and Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town

I received the book yesterday and started to read it... and I couldnt stop. This is definitely trs cool. It is fun, but they cover a lot of ground and they are right to the point. Im really impressed.

Erich Gamma, IBM Distinguished Engineer, and co-author of Design Patterns

One of the funniest and smartest books on software design Ive ever read.

Aaron LaBerge, VP Technology, ESPN.com

What used to be a long trial and error learning process has now been reduced neatly into an engaging paperback.

Mike Davidson, CEO, Newsvine, Inc.

Elegant design is at the core of every chapter here, each concept conveyed with equal doses of pragmatism and wit.

Ken Goldstein, Executive Vice President, Disney Online

I Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML it teaches you everything you need to learn in a fun coated format.

Sally Applin, UI Designer and Artist

Usually when reading through a book or article on design patterns, Id have to occasionally stick myself in the eye with something just to make sure I was paying attention. Not with this book. Odd as it may sound, this book makes learning about design patterns fun.

While other books on design patterns are saying Buehler... Buehler... Buehler... this book is on the float belting out Shake it up, baby!

Eric Wuehler

I literally love this book. In fact, I kissed this book in front of my wife.

Satish Kumar

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