Cover imageA Programmer's Guide to Java™ Certification

A Comprehensive Primer

(First Edition)

Khalid A. Mughal Rolf W. Rasmussen

Softcover
ISBN: 0201596148

We have written A Programmer's Guide to Java Certification to allow the reader to master the Java programming language. Mastering the language should naturally culminate in the practical goal of passing the Sun Certified Programmer for Java™ 2 Platform exam. In addition to preparing the reader thorougly for the exam, this book also provides comprehensice coverage of all the essential Java freatures and core APIs that every proficient Java programmer should master.

The authors

About this book

This book provides an extensive coverage of the Java programming language, with particular emphasis on its syntax and usage. The book is primarily intended for professionals who want to prepare for the Sun Certified Java Programmer Exam (Sun CJPE), but it is readily accessible to any programmer who wants to master the language. For both purposes, it provides an in-depth coverage of essential features of the language and its core Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

There is a great and increasing demand for certified Java programmers. Sun Microsystems has defined the Sun CJPE which professionals can take to validate their skills. The certification provides IT industry the standard to use for hiring such professionals, and allows the professionals to turn their Java skills into credentials that are important for career advancement.

The book helps the reader to master all features of the Java language, and this mastering of the language can culminate in accomplishing the exam. It provides an extensive coverage of all the objectives defined for the exam by Sun. Since the exam objectives are selective, they do not cover all the essential features of Java. The book provides extensive coverage of additional topics that every Java programmer should master in order to be proficient in this field. In this regard, the book is a comprehensive primer for learning the Java programming language.

This book is not a complete reference for the Java programming language as it does not attempt to list every member of every class from the Java Development Kit (JDK) API documentation. Its purpose is not to document the JDK APIs. It is also not a book on teaching programming techniques. Again, this is not its purpose. Its emphasis is on the Java programming language features, their syntax and correct usage.

The book assumes background in programming. We believe the exam is accessible to any programmer who works through the book. A Java programmer can easily skip over material which is well understood and concentrate on parts that need reinforcing, whereas a programmer new to Java will find the concepts explained from basic principles.

Each topic is explained and discussed thoroughly with examples, and backed by review questions and exercises to reinforce the concepts. Common pitfalls and programming style are discussed where appropriate. The book is not biased toward any particular platform but provides platform-specific details where appropriate.

Using the book

The reader can choose a linear or a non-linear route through the book depending on her programming background. Non-Java programmers wishing to migrate to Java can read chapter 1 which provides an introduction to object-oriented programming concepts, UML (Unified Modelling Language) basics, and compiling and running Java applets and stand-alone applications. For those preparing for CJPE the book has a separate appendix providing all the pertinent information on taking the exam.

The objectives defined by Sun are organized into major sections detailing the curriculum for the examination. The book is organized into chapters that logically follow the order of these major sections. Exam objectives are stated clearly at the start of every chapter, together with any additional objectives. Each chapter concludes with a summary of the topics, pointing out the major concepts discussed in the chapter.

Reviews questions are provided after every major topic to test and reinforce the material. Programming exercises are provided at the end of each chapter, so that concepts can be tried out in practice. A complete sample exam is provided in a separate appendix that the reader can try when she is ready. Annotated answers to the review questions and the sample exam, and solutions to the programming exercises are provided in a separate appendix.

Each topic is explained and discussed thoroughly with the aid of numerous code examples. Throughout the book, ample complete programs demonstrate the concepts. The code examples will be available electronically, allowing the reader to experiment with them and thus help to reinforce the material.

The various table of contents give details about the contents of the chapters and appendices, and of tables, figures and examples contained in the book. An extensive index facilitates locating every topic discussed in the book.

Copyright 1999 (legal terms)