Java for the COBOL Programmer

Rating:
Summary: Some Reflections on COB / Java
Review: A couple of thoughts, while I'm 2/3 through the book:
- Fully grasping chapters 2 & 3 is essential. I found that simply reading them resulted in little retained info. Going back through them, making detailed notes, took only one afernoon and it really stuck. ymmv

- Chapter 3 - the intro to Java - contains the fewest COB concepts and code equivalents. I thought it would be interesting to express the class program example as a called COBOL program (they sort of half did it). That example would mentally connect directly and remove some 'mystery' from this whole class business.

- the chapters on conditional processing, maths, etc show direct relationship to COB syntax.

- the book comes with a CD with Symantec's Visual Cafe. Be aware - this is a 30 day trial.

- Not covered in the book (unless it's at the end :) is the whole topic of the JDK and how to compile / run programs. Some other resource is needed in order to exercise the sample code.

Rating:
Summary: Some Reflections on COB / Java
Review: A couple of thoughts, while I'm 2/3 through the book:
- Fully grasping chapters 2 & 3 is essential. I found that simply reading them resulted in little retained info. Going back through them, making detailed notes, took only one afernoon and it really stuck. ymmv

- Chapter 3 - the intro to Java - contains the fewest COB concepts and code equivalents. I thought it would be interesting to express the class program example as a called COBOL program (they sort of half did it). That example would mentally connect directly and remove some 'mystery' from this whole class business.

- the chapters on conditional processing, maths, etc show direct relationship to COB syntax.

- the book comes with a CD with Symantec's Visual Cafe. Be aware - this is a 30 day trial.

- Not covered in the book (unless it's at the end :) is the whole topic of the JDK and how to compile / run programs. Some other resource is needed in order to exercise the sample code.

Rating:
Summary: Some Reflections on COB / Java
Review: A couple of thoughts, while I'm 2/3 through the book:
- Fully grasping chapters 2 & 3 is essential. I found that simply reading them resulted in little retained info. Going back through them, making detailed notes, took only one afernoon and it really stuck. ymmv

- Chapter 3 - the intro to Java - contains the fewest COB concepts and code equivalents. I thought it would be interesting to express the class program example as a called COBOL program (they sort of half did it). That example would mentally connect directly and remove some 'mystery' from this whole class business.

- the chapters on conditional processing, maths, etc show direct relationship to COB syntax.

- the book comes with a CD with Symantec's Visual Cafe. Be aware - this is a 30 day trial.

- Not covered in the book (unless it's at the end :) is the whole topic of the JDK and how to compile / run programs. Some other resource is needed in order to exercise the sample code.

Rating:
Summary: Java for the COBOL Programmer
Review: Are you a COBOL Programmer trying to learn Java? This book is just foryou.

COBOL programmers may find it hard to believe, but there arenumerouse similarities between Java and COBOL. These similarities canbe used to enhance the learning process and ease the transitionbetween the two. With years of professional and teaching experience,the authors expertly guide the reader by developing comparableprograms in both languages. The examples are small, clear, andexecutable.

Java for the COBOL Programmer contains numerous helpfulfeatures to aid you as you learn:

* Special chapter elements, suchas objectives, assumed knowledge, key words and concepts, summary ofkey points, glossary, and a recommmended reading list, provide extrainformation and visual cues.

* Modular formatting means sections maybe skipped depending on the needs and background of thereader.

*Descriptions of anticipated ANSI COBOL-XX changes andreviews of uncommon features of COBOL-85 to keep you on top of COBOLwhile learning Java.

Thisbook also teaches object-oriented concepts through a running casestudy that evloves with increased functionality as new material ispresented in each chapter. All object-oriented notation is expressedusing the Unified Modeling Language (UML).

About theAuthors

Professors Reed Doke (Southwest Missouri State University)and Bill Hardgrave (University of Arkansas) have many years ofpractical experience as professional software developers, publicspeakers, and technical writers. During the past several years, theirworks has focused on object-oriented programming, design, anddevelopment.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Why You Should LearnJava

Chapter 2. An Introduction to Object-OrientedProgramming

Chapter 3. Java Structure

Chapter 4. DefiningData

Chapter 5. Computation

Chapter 6. Decision Making

Chapter7. Loops

Chapter 8. Arrays

Chapter 9. Data Access

Chapter10. Graphical User Interfaces

Chapter 11. Object-OrientedDevelopment Issues

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

Rating:
Summary: WAS a good book . . .
Review: I have been a Cobol programmer for many years now and saw a need to move into the "new" world. I decided to go with Java. I started reading every book I could get my hands on about Java. I have read 14 Java books at all levels from "Hello World" to mastering EJB. Then I found this book. Java for the Cobol Programmer is probably the best book around for learning or advancing your Java skills.....if you have a history with Cobol. This is the first book I have found that recoginizes people other than C++ programmers might be interested in learning Java. I say get this book first read it front to back and absorb it. Then move on to more advanced books, then come back to this book and read it again.

Best on the market. A must have for those wanting to move to Java.

Rating:
Summary: Great book for all.
Review: I have been a Cobol programmer for many years now and saw a need to move into the "new" world. I decided to go with Java. I started reading every book I could get my hands on about Java. I have read 14 Java books at all levels from "Hello World" to mastering EJB. Then I found this book. Java for the Cobol Programmer is probably the best book around for learning or advancing your Java skills.....if you have a history with Cobol. This is the first book I have found that recoginizes people other than C++ programmers might be interested in learning Java. I say get this book first read it front to back and absorb it. Then move on to more advanced books, then come back to this book and read it again.

Best on the market. A must have for those wanting to move to Java.

Rating:
Summary: Haven't read it
Review: I have programmed in COBOL and other 'mainframe' languages for almost 30 years. I have also done some programming on PC's in Access, Visual Basic, FoxPro and Visual FoxPro. About one year ago I became interested in JAVA. I then began to search for a book that did not require you to have C++ experience (which I do not have). Then, one night when I was checking out JAVA books on Amazon, I stumbled over 'JAVA for the COBOL Programmer'. I read the reviews and I decided to purchase it. This book is fantastic. It is extremely easy to read, it explains things very clearly, it constantly gives you examples of the COBOL equalivant, and it does an excellent job of defining all of those crazy JAVA terms. JAVA is very large and complicated, so you will not be a JAVA expert after reading this book, but you will be much better informed about it. I recommend this book to any COBOL programmer that wants to learn JAVA.

Rating:
Summary: From COBOL to JAVA
Review: I have programmed in COBOL and other 'mainframe' languages for almost 30 years. I have also done some programming on PC's in Access, Visual Basic, FoxPro and Visual FoxPro. About one year ago I became interested in JAVA. I then began to search for a book that did not require you to have C++ experience (which I do not have). Then, one night when I was checking out JAVA books on Amazon, I stumbled over 'JAVA for the COBOL Programmer'. I read the reviews and I decided to purchase it. This book is fantastic. It is extremely easy to read, it explains things very clearly, it constantly gives you examples of the COBOL equalivant, and it does an excellent job of defining all of those crazy JAVA terms. JAVA is very large and complicated, so you will not be a JAVA expert after reading this book, but you will be much better informed about it. I recommend this book to any COBOL programmer that wants to learn JAVA.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to Java
Review: I purchased this book after reviewing many other JAVA books and being very discouraged about how hard they were to understand. This book puts JAVA programming in a perspective that is easily understood by COBOL programmers. This book should be the starting point in learning the JAVA language followed later by other more advanced books as ones skills progress.

Rating:
Summary: Finally, a JAVA book understandable by COBOL programmers
Review: I purchased this book after reviewing many other JAVA books and being very discouraged about how hard they were to understand. This book puts JAVA programming in a perspective that is easily understood by COBOL programmers. This book should be the starting point in learning the JAVA language followed later by other more advanced books as ones skills progress.