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Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 15:45:09 -0700 (PDT)
From: Lisa Mann 
To: lwn@lwn.net
Subject: O'Reilly Releases Learning Java


Significant Update of "Exploring Java" Creates Just-Released "Learning Java"


Sebastopol, CA--O'Reilly & Associates has announced the release of a
significant remake of the popular book "Exploring Java"--now titled
"Learning Java"--by Patrick Niemeyer & Jonathan Knudsen. "The text now
reflects Java 2 SDK 1.3 and the authors have adjusted the book's focus
to match the changing focus and maturation of Java itself:  improved
GUI programming tools, the emergence of servlets as an alternative to
applets, the advent of APIs for multimedia, image processing, and
collections," says John Posner, O'Reilly Java Editor.

Since it's original splash as a tool for creating blinking, whirling,
and dancing web images, Java has grown into the language of choice for
a wide variety of applications:  secure network programs, image
processing and multimedia, web clients and servers, and
mission-critical enterprise-wide systems. In today's increasingly
networked, thoroughly heterogeneous environment, Java's portability
among all major computing platforms and rigorous security model has
helped earn its popularity. And Java's use of advanced
programming-language principles, such as objection orientation and
dynamic memory management, makes it clean and easy to program. But as
the languageand its uses have grown and changed, so have the topics
that Java texts need to cover. "The first edition of 'Exploring Java'
spent more time covering applets. 'Learning Java' places more emphasis
on Java as a general purpose, network-capable and network-secure
programming language," says Posner.

"Java is a lingua franca of sorts," says Jonathan Knudsen, co-author of
"Learning Java".  "I think it's gotten to the point where you can rely
on recent CS graduates to know Java.  Java is cropping up in so many
places now, that it is prudent for any programmer to learn it."



The CD-ROM that accompanies "Learning Java" includes all of the book's
example programs-more than 100-ready to compile and run. The examples
range from simple "Hello World" demos to web servers, animations, and
client-server systems. The CD also includes Java programming
environments, including compiler and class libraries, providing you
with all you'll need to start working with Java immediately.

What the Critics said about "Exploring Java":

"Exploring Java is THE basic 'how-to' book when it comes to Java."
James Cox, Midwest Book Review

"An excellent book to get you started."
Steven W. Schwartz, SCO World

"nicely integrates learning the Java language with actually using it
for a web site this book reads like it was written by a real pro, and
has the code (or examples) to prove it."
Nelson King, Computer User Magazine

"A clear, systematic overview of the language."
Web Techniques Magazine

"I bought Exploring Java mostly because it was published by the
incredibly good software documentation house of O'Reilly & Associates.
These are people who have made a good living by understanding that good
documentation doesn't have to be boring or brain-dead Exploring Java is
intended to be the introductory book in a series of more advanced Java
books. If this is the introduction I'm willing to bet that the series
will be so masterful and accomplished that the series will eventually
be the standard reference texts for Java."
Doug Shaker, Boardwatch Magazine

"An excellent primer." 
Nicholas Petreley, InfoWorld Magazine

"Useful insight on how and when to use Java... more so than other
introductory Java texts I've read, however, this book goes further,
giving you a deeper sense of Java's power and utility."
Cary Jensen, Ph.D., Web Informant Magazine

"An in-depth discussion of the Java language--a solid reference work
that can provide insights to some of the more complex programming
issues."
Ann Navarro, Law and Order Magazine

"A complete and thorough examination of Java it isn't a waste of a good
tree."--James Powell, Telecommunications Electronic Reviews


Chapter 14, Using Swing Components, is available free online: 
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/learnjava/chapter/ch14.html

Java Jonathan's "Top Ten Tips and Tricks" may be found at:
http://java.oreilly.com/news/learningjava_0500.html

For more information about the book, including Table of Contents, index, 
author bio, and samples, see:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/learnjava/index.html

For a cover graphic in jpeg format, go to:
ftp://ftp.ora.com/pub/graphics/book_covers/hi-res/1565927184.jpg

# # #


Learning Java
By Patrick Niemeyer & Jonathan Knudsen
1st Edition May 2000
1-56592-718-4, 726 pages, $34.95, includes CD-ROM
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
http://www.oreilly.com