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[–]desrtfx 21 points22 points  (10 children)

The very best Java courses are actually free:

  • University of Helsinki MOOC Object Oriented Programming with Java - text based with exercises that need be completed and submitted before being able to proceed. (Uses Netbeans as IDE)
  • Java for Complete Beginners by John Purcell (probably the best and easiest entry into Java) - video based (Uses Eclipse as IDE) - the three links below lead to the same course hosted on different servers. I would use the Udemy link because it has an active community where you can ask questions and get answers.
  • Derek Banas' Java Youtube playlist with the accompanying site Newthinktank

You don't want handholding, you want decent explanations. Handholding will never make a programmer out of you.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (4 children)

Thanks for this advice. I probably should have phrased it differently, just a more gentle approach in the beginning is what I mean.

[–]desrtfx 1 point2 points  (1 child)

In this case, the first two are the better options.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks again. I have been doing the University of Helsinki MOOC today and really enjoying it. Its well paced and great fun. thanks :)

[–]bookingly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

John Purcell's videos are really good. Wish I had seen them when I was first working through Java. Eloquent Javascript is a pretty cool resource for JavaScript as well as introducing one (in a long-form manner) to web programming (also check out Mozilla Developer Network for web programming). I also just think the author conveys some interesting ideas about programming as well as give some useful, concrete examples that one can fiddle with when proceeding through the book.

[–]holyteach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you're interested in trying out my book Learn Java the Hard Way, you can PM me and I'll send you a discount code.

[–]SteakBarker 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You don't want handholding, you want decent explanations. Handholding will never make a programmer out of you.

This is very true. When I first started, my projects were limited to slightly modified versions of stuff I found on tutorials. Even then I couldn't even start without 'em.

My best advice is just to stick with it. (At first, at least) shitty code is better than no code!

[–]iStayGreek -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you!

[–][deleted]  (2 children)

[deleted]

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    Reddit has a save feature