Core Jini

Rating:
Summary: Too big for a reference, but generally well structured
Review: At just over 6cm (2.5 inches), it's a thick, heavy, book and the spine bends alarmingly as you read it. Despite this it's surprisingly readable, but I wouldn't want to carry it about with me.

This book covers Jini 1.1, and takes great pains to spell out everything you need to do compile and run the examples, as well as listing the code. It's comforting to see complete command lines for Windows and Unix in every case. There are code listings for all of the major areas and a couple of non-trivial worked examples but for a book this size there is not a lot of code. A working knowledge of Java and at least a passing acquaintance with RMI is assumed, but you don't need to know any Jini.

Most of the book is given over to a detailed discussion of the standard Jini services, and how to use them. Each service is covered at two levels - using the basic APIs and using Sun's supplied utility classes. There is also a lot of discussion of the complexities inherent in distributed systems, and how to use Jini to build robust, scalable "self-healing" networks. Scattered through the text are "Core Notes" which offer more detail or different perspectives on the material, and these are always interesting.

Too big for a reference, but a detailed and well-structured book to get you up to speed on Jini quickly and efficiently.

Rating:
Summary: Clear and informative but almost 800 pages.
Review: Core Jini is straightforward, and clear; I found the text-to-code ratio comfortable. It seems to me the target audience would include experienced programmers first, and veteran systems administrators second. To read it, you need to be an experienced Java programmer only if you plan to implement Jini on your own. Otherwise, the book is a useful reference on Jini's architecture and processes.
It's also way thick. I'm thinking I should exclude from my five-star list any book over 500 pages that is a) not called a reference on the cover, and b) has the word "Core" in the title. Stop the madness!
I didn't think the author had to problematize the issues of distributed programming to the degree he did. For me, this added to the bloat. To the author's credit, those discussions make many parts of the book accessible to a wider audience than Java programmers.

Rating:
Summary: Very verbose - a tome of a book
Review: Good but Verbose... The book is good, no doubt. But because of its verbosity it is not suitable for people on fast track someone who want to get very fast into a subject, get the gist and get the stuff done.

Suggestion: Hello we *know* distributed computing! Just give the features and details. Give us something to think. Don't be a TV serial and make us passive data input device.

Recommended for: Recommended for college students but not for veteran professionals.

My idea of a good book... K & R.

Rating:
Summary: Packed with useful tips
Review: I was able to get up and running in a short period of time. An invalable book for working with a bleeding edge technology such as Jini, where the ink is barely dry on the spec

The pitfall sections and compilation and execution scripts save a lot of frustration. I wish I had a guide like this prior to learning RMI.

Rating:
Summary: Difficult to read
Review: Jini is a true breakthrough in distributed computing and it's popularity is likely to increase rapidly.

This book serves as a *very* useful guide to Jini . The authors have done a great job of explaining the concepts of Jini and the practical aspects of deployment. This guide will serve useful to architects, designers and programmers. Included are may tips to ease the pain of the first time implementer.

I would recommend this book to any one interested in understanding and/or implementing JINI.

Rating:
Summary: its very good
Review: jini technology is the upcoming technolog

Rating:
Summary: Won't teach you how to code it..but a good reference book
Review: This book is horrible if you want to learn how to code JINI. The good points are the wonderful RMI primer in the Appendix, and nice explanations of what is actually going on for each aspect of a JINI network, chapter by chapter.
This book can serve as a nice conceptual reference when trying to understand JINI.
The wrox book on JINI is also very good, and good to learn the coding.

Also, don't expect any email to this author to be answered...

Rating:
Summary: Won't teach you how to code it..but a good reference book
Review: This book is horrible if you want to learn how to code JINI. The good points are the wonderful RMI primer in the Appendix, and nice explanations of what is actually going on for each aspect of a JINI network, chapter by chapter.
This book can serve as a nice conceptual reference when trying to understand JINI.
The wrox book on JINI is also very good, and good to learn the coding.

Also, don't expect any email to this author to be answered...

Rating:
Summary: Great book but code breaks on two machines
Review: This is a great book for learning JINI Technology. Also, the
author has a great web site to help you along. It's one of the
few books that has example code that mostly works. He simulates
a multi machine environment on one computer. However, his
example code breaks when you run the server-side code on one
Window 2000 computer and the client-side code on another
Window 2000 system (unfortunately, his book or web site
doesn't help you here and this would be the real world
environment for JINI Technology).

Rating:
Summary: Well formulated, thorough and still easily accessible.
Review: This is just the book I have been looking for! It explains Jini in all needed details, starting from the assumption that you know Java. It leads you the way through what exists prior to Jini, including Corba and DCOM, and what key issues they don't handle. It explains what Java makes possible, and what is needed on top of that.

One of the many strong points of the book, is that it looks at each topic from several angles. And it explains and stresses all the small, seemingly unimportant aspects that really make a big difference. "What is the big deal" type of questions, with corresponding informative answers.

The five key elements of Jini is explained at several levels of detail. In the introductory chapter they are listed with a one liner each, followed by a paragraph or two on each of them. In later chapters they are looked at in all needed detail.

Edwards is very conscious about each word and description used. There is never any misunderstanding what he wants to explain, and what each term that is used means. In this kind of a book that is one of the most important aspects.

This book is highly recommended!