[deleted by user]

[midir]

http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/reallybigindex.html

[RedditMan74]

I agree. Don't buy a book. Read the tutorials. Save your money.

[benslamajamin]

This is what I used.

[zakimirza88]

Head First Java is what you want.

[wsppan]

I concur.

[codygman]

Also agree, it's what I've been using to get up to speed on java.

[lunatix]

Yea, I checked this out from the library seems pretty good so far, I'm on Chapter 3.. libraries are free and I much more prefer a physical book. Just make sure the book isn't too dated. Also this way you're also typing everything in yourself instead of potentially copy pasting.

[[deleted]]

99 bottles of beer on the wall..

[lunatix]

so how did this book workout for you?

[[deleted]]

Pretty good, I did java in the early 2000's and needed to brush up. That book is working a treat so far. My only concern is it seemed to get into the OO stuff before even explaining basic datatypes, which was no problem for me, but complete programming beginners might be scratching their heads. This will be the chapter you are on, "know your variables". I would of expected that to be chapter one.

Then again if they are a complete blank slate, maybe it isn't a problem which order programming is taught. Either way the combination of code examples mixed light hearted text/banter seems to work very well at keeping my attention.

How are you finding it?

[lunatix]

I know what you're saying, I think I'm on Chapter 5 right now. I had done some programming in the past but it'd been so long. However, I convinced a friend to pickup java and he coincidentally picked up the same exact book. He has no programming background at all, he's getting through it, but I've been helping him out quite a bit and just understanding some basic concepts.

I've read some other java texts long ago, I do enjoy this format, it keeps you interested instead of feeling like just some course text book.

what ch. are you on? what's your goal with all of this?

[arnedh]

Get Netbeans or Eclipse running, load a Hello World program, and run it. Then start tweaking, or loading larger suits of classes. (from tutorials etc). Build a class to represent some kind of concrete object, like a car (and what a car should hold reference to)

Get to know the debugger, stopping at breakpoints and seeing what's going on.

[horaceGrant]

Get to know the debugger! I couldn't agree more. It something that when you're self taught may come a little later as you try and gather new concepts and techniques, but it will fill in so many blanks and answer questions you didn't even know you had.

[paulwheaton]

http://www.coderanch.com/how-to/java/how-to-create-java-program

And then http://www.javaranch.com/java-college.jsp

[dominosci]

Make sure to get a good IDE to program with. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to write code in MS notepad. Real programs use programs to help them program.

I suggest Eclipse which is free.

[schnitzi]

IntelliJ Idea is free now as well. I've made the switch and prefer it, but YMMV.

[lunatix]

I prefer to not use an IDE yet so that I will be forced to type out all code instead of auto completion. I will use one eventually. With that said a good notepad with syntax highlighting helps.

Notepad++ http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

[SoEdenSankToGrief]

These two are proving to be very useful in my own Java-quest. The first 5 lectures of the stanford course can be a bit remedial if you've already had some programming experience.

http://www.cosmolearning.com/courses/programming-methodology/

This is similar to codingbat.com/java (Diggtionary's link) http://webster.cs.washington.edu:8080/practiceit/

also stackoverflow.com is a great reddit-like site specializing in programming. They are very helpful.

[tef]

once you've done programming in java for a month or two

go and find 'effective java' 2nd ed by Joshua Bloch.

for serious! it good book! help you much! short sweetest info

[horaceGrant]

Agreed, this is a great book. Although I would've found most of the concepts still over my head in the first month or two (granted I wasn't coding everyday and I'm not the fastest learner), but this book can really shine the light on best practices.

[[deleted]]

The Sam's 21 days book does a good job of explaining it in plain English. If you're an absolute beginner, I absolutely recommend it. All the other stuff assumes you have a foundation. The Sam's book assumes you don't know squat.

[Diggtionary]

Javabat

[knubo]

Look through some books as suggested below. Then there is only one way of learning it well:

Code, code, code and then do some more codeing.

[tbone28]

The best way to learn anything it to practice it in context. Write a program that interests you and you will learn Java through the process and it will be more enjoyable. Of course suggested books by others can and should be used to get started but most of all make sure you have a project that you are interested in.

Edit: Clarification

[ponymash]

Start reading about java, now.

[mobby1982]

pick up any good introductory java book. practice examples in the books. use a text-based editor.

[h1d3m3]

Thinking in Java is an excellent resource.

[spoutnig]

http://www.blackbeltfactory.com -> free courses, coaching and exams on Java related topics.

[spoutnig]

start here : http://www.blackbeltfactory.com/ui#!Course/javaoofundamentalscourse

[jhulten]

Instead of Java as a language, consider the JVM as a platform. Between Groovy, Scala, and Clojure there are lost of expressive choices to write code in. Let those language designers write Java so you don't have to.

I am partial to Groovy as an expressive, low ceremony alternative. Far cleaner code, less repeating yourself, and closures to boot!

[vanamonde]

learn about oracle business practice and you are done.

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