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Learn Java the Easy Way: A Hands-On Introduction to Programming
Frustrated with Java? Too hard? Too boring? Learn Java the EASY way! Computational thinking and digital literacy will soon be mandatory in high schools across the US, with many already requiring students to learn Java in 11th and 12th grade. Get a jump start now and let Learn Java the Easy Way bring you up to speed in no time! The quickest guide to Java programming that will have you building fun apps right away, from the author of Teach Your Kids to Code (over 50,000 copies sold). Learn Java the Easy Way will have you saying ... Learn Java the Easy Way takes the chore out of learning Java with hands-on projects that will get you building real, functioning apps right away.
312 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
35 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 19, 2017
I had read “Teach your Kids to Code” by the same author and expected “Learn Java the Easy Way” to be similar. It's not focused on young children. While “Learn Java the Easy Way” is certainly readable by middle schoolers. I think the target audience of the book is either older students or adults who don't have a coding background.
There's a lot of emphasis on games. Both with programs like MadLibs and by experiment with making changes to the code. There's also a lot of emphasis on user interfaces for both Java and Android.
The author explains some concepts like user experience as he goes. He covers jshell for quick learning which is good early on. He even covers how to produce a runnable jar. The book starts with easy programming concepts and advances to more complex ones as it goes through the chapters.
The book says it covers Java 8 and 9. That's sort of true. It covers how to run the examples with Java 8 and 9. And it does use JShell from Java 9. I didn't spot any actual Java 8 syntax. That might have been because the syntax was so basic. For example, the book used close at the end of a try rather than in a try with resources (or even finally.)
So I wouldn't recommend this book for someone who wants to become a professional programmer. But I would definitely recommend it for someone who wants to start coding and get the lay of the land.
He also plugs the companion Udemy course a lot. Sometimes this is helpful – the preview/setup videos are free. Sometimes it feels like a sales pitch.
I wanted to give this book 3.5 stars.
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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing this review on behalf of CodeRanch.
There's a lot of emphasis on games. Both with programs like MadLibs and by experiment with making changes to the code. There's also a lot of emphasis on user interfaces for both Java and Android.
The author explains some concepts like user experience as he goes. He covers jshell for quick learning which is good early on. He even covers how to produce a runnable jar. The book starts with easy programming concepts and advances to more complex ones as it goes through the chapters.
The book says it covers Java 8 and 9. That's sort of true. It covers how to run the examples with Java 8 and 9. And it does use JShell from Java 9. I didn't spot any actual Java 8 syntax. That might have been because the syntax was so basic. For example, the book used close at the end of a try rather than in a try with resources (or even finally.)
So I wouldn't recommend this book for someone who wants to become a professional programmer. But I would definitely recommend it for someone who wants to start coding and get the lay of the land.
He also plugs the companion Udemy course a lot. Sometimes this is helpful – the preview/setup videos are free. Sometimes it feels like a sales pitch.
I wanted to give this book 3.5 stars.
---
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing this review on behalf of CodeRanch.
June 21, 2022
Java was my first-ever programming language, so this was good refresher.
A lot of this book I knew already well, as I have a good memory. But this is a good book and one I would recommend reading if you want to learn Java!
Good one!
4.4/5
A lot of this book I knew already well, as I have a good memory. But this is a good book and one I would recommend reading if you want to learn Java!
Good one!
4.4/5
July 5, 2021
This book serves as a good primer or refreshing for the the Java programming language
It also covers all three application platforms: console, desktop, and mobile by delivering a hands-on approach through projects.
However, it doesn't deliver an in-depth discussion of the specialties of the language, so if you are looking for this aspect, it's better to look somewhere else
It also covers all three application platforms: console, desktop, and mobile by delivering a hands-on approach through projects.
However, it doesn't deliver an in-depth discussion of the specialties of the language, so if you are looking for this aspect, it's better to look somewhere else
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews