Hi, i just downloaded Java 2 platform edition 1.4 SDK from java.sun.com and i want to learn how to use it and learn java so please help me!

Check out this link: https://davnit.net/bnet/vL/phpbbs/index.php?board=34;action=display;threadid=5461

Specifically I would read Thinking in Java by Bruce Eckel. It is very informative, and a plus for me is that it is free. Learn the syntax of the language and figure out how it works.

Next I would recommend reading up on OOP in general. A lot of books even use Java as their testing language, so that is another plus.

Next download and learn how to navigate and understand the Java API Specification located here: http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/api/index.html . This will be your best friend shortly.

Next have fun and start making things. I recommend joining some sort of community project like JavaOp or something, only because it has tremendously helped me learn programming concepts in general.

Have Fun,
Tuberload

Edit: Added JavaOp link.

When I started learning Java as part of a programming course, we used the book "An Introduction to Programming and Object-Oriented Design using Java" by Jaime Nino and Frederick A. Hosch - which does pretty much what it says in the title - it's not exactly about Java, but it's a good introduction to OO (if the book's being used at a University level introductory programmign course it can't be that bad right?)

A good book about Java that I've used is "Just Java" by Peter van der Linden

[quote author=TangoFour link=board=34;threadid=8785;start=0#msg81392 date=1095855562]
(if the book's being used at a University level introductory programmign course it can't be that bad right?)
[/quote]

Actually.... yes.

However, I believe that's the same book I used a couple years ago, and yes, it's quite good. :)

Our AP compsci class uses www.scsite.com/java

It's TERRIBLE! They're trying to make people hate computer science.

I'm liking Oreilly's Learning Java.

[quote author=muert0 link=board=34;threadid=8785;start=0#msg81503 date=1095904838]
I'm liking Oreilly's Learning Java.
[/quote]
O'Reilly is an awesome author. His "Practical C++ Programming" book is amazingly good. :)

[quote author=Newby link=board=34;threadid=8785;start=0#msg81529 date=1095918120]
[quote author=muert0 link=board=34;threadid=8785;start=0#msg81503 date=1095904838]
I'm liking Oreilly's Learning Java.
[/quote]
O'Reilly is an awesome author. His "Practical C++ Programming" book is amazingly good. :)
[/quote]

Dear die hard, you rock. Especially the part where that guy was on the roof. PS. do you know Mad Max?



O'Reilly isn't a person, it's a publishing company :P

Our CS class uses "Fundamentals of Java".

Right now I'm using "A Guide to Programming in C++" by Lawrenceville Press, which is pretty good.  They have books for other things, and, if you can wait till July 2005, you can get their Java book.

PS: Stay away from "Java for Dummies" and "An Idiot's Guide to Java", they suck.

[quote author=Falcon[anti-yL] link=topic=8785.msg81603#msg81603 date=1095970006]
Our CS class uses "Fundamentals of Java".
[/quote]

My AP CS class uses that book as well. I've known everything pretty much so far so I've only skimmed it, I do think it's a bit vague on some things though - such as binary conversion.

[quote author=R.a.B.B.i.T link=topic=8785.msg82788#msg82788 date=1096595308]
Right now I'm using "A Guide to Programming in C++" by Lawrenceville Press, which is pretty good.  They have books for other things, and, if you can wait till July 2005, you can get their Java book.

PS: Stay away from "Java for Dummies" and "An Idiot's Guide to Java", they suck.
[/quote]

The best way to learn any language in my opinion is just reading scripts.  You get real life examples free  ;D

By the way, any book with more than 150 pages is probaly a waiste.  You only need to learn the basics and then you can just learn off java.sun.com

[quote author=CrAzY link=topic=8785.msg88506#msg88506 date=1100204163]
[quote author=R.a.B.B.i.T link=topic=8785.msg82788#msg82788 date=1096595308]
Right now I'm using "A Guide to Programming in C++" by Lawrenceville Press, which is pretty good.  They have books for other things, and, if you can wait till July 2005, you can get their Java book.

PS: Stay away from "Java for Dummies" and "An Idiot's Guide to Java", they suck.
[/quote]

The best way to learn any language in my opinion is just reading scripts. You get real life examples free ;D

By the way, any book with more than 150 pages is probaly a waiste. You only need to learn the basics and then you can just learn off java.sun.com
[/quote]

Worthless post alert!!!

[quote author=Banana fanna fo fanna link=topic=8785.msg88508#msg88508 date=1100204715]
[quote author=CrAzY link=topic=8785.msg88506#msg88506 date=1100204163]
[quote author=R.a.B.B.i.T link=topic=8785.msg82788#msg82788 date=1096595308]
Right now I'm using "A Guide to Programming in C++" by Lawrenceville Press, which is pretty good.  They have books for other things, and, if you can wait till July 2005, you can get their Java book.

PS: Stay away from "Java for Dummies" and "An Idiot's Guide to Java", they suck.
[/quote]

The best way to learn any language in my opinion is just reading scripts. You get real life examples free ;D

By the way, any book with more than 150 pages is probaly a waiste. You only need to learn the basics and then you can just learn off java.sun.com
[/quote]

Worthless post alert!!!
[/quote]

Worthless post alert!!!

(Note: I think you're generally a pretty good guy $t0rm.  But sometimes you're a hypocrite.  :P)

Eh, I dunno. I was debunking the statement that the "best way to learn any language is just reading scripts", and that "any book with more than 150 pages is probaly a waiste."

Yes, I agree with $t0rm here. Explanations of the more complex/advanced features of a language like Java are more valuable than explanations of the basics, imo, making Rabbit's statement blatantly false.