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Summary: Enterprise Java Programming with IBM WebSphere
Review: This book has very good instructions and examples on how to use Visual Age for Java and develop Servlets, JSP, EJB, etc. The problem is the organization of the book and its relationship to what's on the CDs and when to look at 'what' is terrible.The initial chapters' titles (1 - 4) do not describe what is actually included in the chapter. If you are a designer, developer or application programmer and just want to know what you need to know to get the job done, you will be reading a lot of unnecessary information that will do more to scare you off and overload an already overly difficult set of development tools. Skip to chapter 5, (see page 226 to learn how to install the case study, and do it [also load Visual Age]). Then proceed from there. Starting with Chapter 5, read all of each chapter THEN go back and do the examples from the case study. This can be a valuable book if you need to learn how to develop systems using J2EE, you just need to work at it (i.e., how to read this book)!
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Summary: Join the Fast Track to Websphere
Review: This book is a must if you want to learn Websphere. Few weeks after I read this book and practice some of the exercises I was talking like an expert. This book if fill with good exercises. It covers the main topics and bring you to speed quickly.
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Summary: Money Lost!
Review: This book is based on websphere 3.5, you may think it is okay, but things have changed too much from version 3.5 to version 5.0 , it is useless under version 4 too!. In version 3.5 the administration was done using a windows GUI but in version 4.0 web administration was introduced so all menues are gone, the examples are useless!. OK, the desing patterns presented are good but maybe not worth the money.
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Summary: Best "Real" Server Side Java and WebSphere book available
Review: This book is certainly the best choice for developers using and/or beginning to develop with WebSphere. It's also the VisualAge for Java Enterprise Edition developers dream getting started guide for serious web application development. It delivers in an amazingly straight forward and readable way all the information you wanted to get from a one week server side Java class costing $2500! The book is not a WebSpere reference, but a quick start into the "wise mans" best practices of web application development with Java and WebSphere. Rather than just showing you how to get JSP/Servlets to work with the tool, it demonstates how to build and design complex large scale applications -- with all the design background on why you should follow certain practices. I wish this book were available a year ago. It's also a great resouce for both the senior architect and the novice developer. Excellent all round, and an astonishingly good value for the price.
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Summary: Useful for Visual Age for Java users only
Review: This book uses Visual Age for Java and WebSphere Studio for its examples only (enterprise editions). I use JBuilder 4 (and I already know EJB basics) so this book was not useful to me. There is no information on how to write and deploy EJBs using shell scripts or any tool other than VAJ or WebSphere Studio. Furthermore, this book does not address writing advanced applications for WebSphere. Its samples are all very simple and do not exercise WebSphere to any significant degree. Buy this book only if you are a VAJ Enterprise or WebSphere Studio Enterprise user.
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Summary: Great coverage of J2EE
Review: This book was very helpful. High marks for the section on EJBs. Hopefully the next edition will focus on development with WebSphere Application Developer instead of VAJ
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Summary: Invaluable resource - pity about lack of attention to detail
Review: This book will certainly give you everything you need to embark on your first project using EJBs in the IBM environment. This is more than an academic book, showing actual code examples. A few annoying typing mistakes leaves the impression of a hastily assembled book. The inconsistent use of the UML also makes it difficult to use. Why have a UML and not use it properly? A diagram containing both association and generalization relationships is very difficult to read if both types of relationships are shown using the same notation.
Rating:
Summary: A good book for both beginners and senior architect
Review: This is a excellent book for the people who want to learn how to build up a system with J2EE. Not only J2EE technology such as Servlet,JSP,EJB was introduced, but also methodology was provided to ensure well design of your project. I rate it as a five stars book.
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Summary: Not Suitable for IBM Test 158
Review: Though IBM recommends this, DO NOT buy this for the Test 158. The best thing to do is to download the FREE pdfs Websphere 4.0 App Server Handbook, and 'EJB with VisualAge', print them and study those. I wasted my money.
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Summary: What I call Precision Writing
Review: Wonderfully written. Beautifully explained. The best book to date that covers VAJ, WAS and J2EE concepts. Even if you are not using VAJ and WAS, read it for its J2EE coverage. You won't regret it...
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