Data Structures and Other Objects Using Java

by Michael G. Main

Data Structures and Other Objects Using Java is a gradual, "just-in-time" introduction to Data Structures for a CS2 course. Each chapter provides a review of the key aspects of object-oriented programming and a syntax review, giving students the foundation for understanding significant programming concepts. With this framework they are able to accomplish writing functional data structures by using a five-step method for working with data types; understanding the data type abstractly, writing a specification, using the data type, designing and implementing the data type, and analyzing the implementation. Students learn to think analytically about the efficiency and efficacy of design while gaining exposure to useful Java classes libraries.

Genres: Programming, Computer Science, Textbooks

856 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was left for free at my university and I used it for my data structures course. My index for judging a book like is what I've started calling the "K&R (kernighan and ritchie) index". Not a judge of absolute quality, in some pretentious way, but moreover: how much material do they serve to be in a succinct way that allows me to learn topics on my own. I felt like as the material grew in complexity, the ability of the author to explain it succinctly diminished greatly. I was really rewarded in the first few chapters of the book but quickly put it down when we got to trees.

[Kushal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Main’s approach was pretty good for the first half of the book or so, but I think the explanations concerning B-trees could’ve been a lot better.

[Patrick Tilsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad for an introduction to data structures. Decent course material, with mostly solid explanations. Some of them were too thick, some too trivial, but for the most part it was easy to follow without being too vacuous. There are probably better data structures books, even with Java examples, but the multitude of Computer Science students who will undoubtedly get this book assigned will learn much without too much pain.