Java: The Good Parts
Publisher: O'Reilly Media
Released: April 2010
Pages: 196
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O'Reilly MediaJava: The Good Parts
 
4.0

(based on 2 reviews)

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(4 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

 
3.0

Strange book

By Bruno

from Grenoble, France

About Me Designer, Developer

Verified Reviewer

Pros

  • Concise
  • Easy to understand
  • Well-written

Cons

  • Too basic

Best Uses

  • Expert
  • Intermediate
  • Novice
  • Student

Comments about O'Reilly Media Java: The Good Parts:

What is the purpose of the book ?

This book seems to be totally in opposition to the current trend of new languages trying to overcome the Java's shortcoming: Scala, XTend, Ceylon ...
He goes back to the rationale that guided Java to show that there was no mistakes in its conception. Which, I reckon, was true ... by the time. Indeed it solved the problems they had ... and it is still working today. But things - and people - change. Java didn't evolve fast enough and obviously also because of its success suffer a lot of criticisms.

I feel that the book is partly a reaction to this wave of criticisms.

But I am not sure if Java developers have turn their back to Java to the point where they need to be reminded of the fundamentals: why exception are useful, packages, Javadoc ... But OK, it is still nice for neophytes to discover the "Good Parts" indeed!
On the other hand, if the goal is to say that Java is not that bad, there is no need to write a book. Nobody refutes its success.

Yet when he states that RMI and concurrency are well handled in Java, it is hard to agree. The need for higher abstractions is clear. Java itself evolves (slowly) in this direction.

So I not always agree, but its point of view is interesting and even unconventional. Besides it is a quick read.

I would still recommend it: either as a quick and curious book for experts or as a good outline for neophytes.

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

Insights and tips from a Pioneer

By Peter Firmstone

from Australia

About Me Designer, Developer

Verified Reviewer

Pros

  • Accurate
  • Concise
  • Easy to understand
  • Helpful examples
  • Well-written

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Expert
    • Intermediate
    • Novice
    • Student

    Comments about O'Reilly Media Java: The Good Parts:

    Jim Waldo, a pioneer of distributed computing, shares stories, benefits and pitfalls behind the fundamental design decisions and features of Java, after years of researching some of computing's most difficult problems.

    I highly recommend following Jim's advise on API design using interfaces, this is especially relevant today, he provides helpful suggestions and hints regarding concurrency, RMI, serialization and generics.

    Jim has some very good references for the reader to follow up on too.

    I'm a developer on the Apache River project, which is a continuation of one of Jim's children, Jini. The book doesn't talk much about Jini, but anyone using Jini or Apache River will benefit as much as any Java developer.

    Recommended reading, despite the plethora of Java books available, you won't find this information elsewhere.

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