Java(TM) Language Specification (2nd Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Is there an update of this book due?
Review: Actually I don't want to review this book - I just want to ask whether there is a new edition due, because 1996 is very out of date as Java goes.

Rating:
Summary: Essential
Review: I have half a shelf full of Java books, and a folder full of online bookmarks, but after a half dozen frustrating searches through the others, I've learned to always look here first for a question about the core language. This book doesn't cover the non-core packages, and it doesn't cover the newer (Java 2) extensions, but it is indispensible for what it does cover. Plus, it has the most interesting index of any technical book I've seen.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not thorough...
Review: I'm hoping a more up to date version of this book will come out soon. There is a lot of good coverage and examples in this book but lacks details in cases such as inner classes (all the neat ways of instantiating them). It's a good starting point if you know some other language and want to get into java.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not thorough...
Review: I'm hoping a more up to date version of this book will come out soon. There is a lot of good coverage and examples in this book but lacks details in cases such as inner classes (all the neat ways of instantiating them). It's a good starting point if you know some other language and want to get into java.

Rating:
Summary: Great but dated Java reference
Review: If you've been programming in Java for a while and want to get down to the nitty-gritty details of Java syntax and semantics, this is the book for you! It's also great preparation for the Java Programmer's Certification exam. But before you buy this book, you should know that the on-line version is available for download (free).. Also, be warned that this book covers Java 1.0 and that it's rumored that an updated edition that covers Java 2 will be published soon.

Rating:
Summary: Excellence reference book, but unfit for newcomer.
Review: It is Java's definitive manual authorized by SUN, as compared with ISO-14882 for C++. Any serious Java users should put it on their desktop for final reference. However, I don't think that it is easy to understand and fit for reading through, especially for newcomer.

Rating:
Summary: Book for every day
Review: It's really usefull book. It provides friendly written description of Java Specification.

Rating:
Summary: Best Java book for experienced programmers.
Review: Never buy Internet/Programming books by the pound. If you already know how programming languages and compilers work (maybe you've written a compiler or two..) and you want evaluate Java as a language or you want to develop your Java programming "head" in addition to your "C" "head" and your assembler "head", this is the resource. This is learning the beauty of the Java language by drinking from the firehose, not slodging through the mud. The book is mercifully concise, Emily Dickinson would be proud.

Rating:
Summary: Best Java book for experienced programmers.
Review: Never buy Internet/Programming books by the pound.If you already know how programming languages andcompilers work (maybe you've written a compiler or two..) and you want evaluate Java as a language or you want to develop your Java programming "head" in addition to your "C" "head" and your assembler "head", this is the resource. This is learning the beauty of the Java language by drinking from the firehose, not slodging through the mud. The book is mercifully concise, Emily Dickinson would be proud.

Rating:
Summary: Excellect, definitive guide to Java...
Review: This book is essential for learning Java, and should be read by anyone serious about learning the language. Pay special attention to the example programs, as they highlight special cases and subtleties that are not explained in other books, and often misconstrued by the authors of other books.

Bear in mind that this books is available for free from Sun Microsystems's web site. They offer it in either HTML or in PDF. So you can save some money.