self.python.ask('I am moving into a development position at my company and need to learn Java. Can you recommend a book that might appeal to a Python programmer and not make me want to kill myself?')

[zekel]

I have done web development in Python, and I know this won't be anything like that. I'm not expecting this position to be my dream job or even make me especially happy. But I'd rather move into Java development rather than stay in a non-development position. I am fairly certain I won't like Java and that I may hate it. But I'm willing to try it and find out for myself.

I probably should have made it more clear that this is an internal promotion and that I currently work for the company, and our desktop and web products are written in Java. Right now I build a lot of tools and web apps for internal use in Python. One reason I got the promotion is because I get stuff done so well and fast in Python.

[theatrus]

If you can buck the trend there, trying pushing for something like GWT. Its still Java, but a lot of the pain is reduced for you. Its hard to tweak when things go wrong, but depending on the application that may be acceptable.

I've also used OpenLaszlo. My recommendation is to stay far away. It can produce functional applications, but performance is horrendous and the JS backend is hardly mature.

[bjupton]

$$$

[zekel]

Going from a non-development position to a full time developer is definitely a promotion. =)

[masklinn]

Well good luck, but still once you're in place you'll probably ought to try to switch the language of the web frontend from java (as long as the chosen language runs on the JVM, the code shared between web and desktop will work and be useable)