Thread: Effective java book is very advanced.

I have bought the Effective Java book to enhance my java skills but i find it hard to follow it and the examples seem incomplete.I have already read Head First Java which was animated and very informative.Any opinion is welcome and i would like to know if i should read other book before move on to a more advanced book.
Thanks in advance.

How much coding have you done? Did you finish the Head First book, including coding every example and completing every exercise?

Originally Posted by GregBrannon

How much coding have you done? Did you finish the Head First book, including coding every example and completing every exercise?

Yes, i did all the examples and the exercises too.Also i did many examples that are not included in the book just to realize how it works.Also i figure out that the book does not explain in detail each section, maybe is because the author is a very advanced/top level programmer without stating the obvious.

If Effective Java feels too advanced, put it down for a bit. Even better, read the descriptions of each "Item." They are grouped by topic, Generics, for example, so if you don't know about Generics yet, skip those Items for now. For the topics you do know and plan to practice more, read the basic description of each Item in that topic area. The first few paragraphs of each Item are usually pretty basic, and then the theory gets deeper and deeper from there. Read the first few paragraphs of Items that interest you or sound familiar, then put the book down and continue your study by practicing what you think you already know well, adding more advanced topics as you go.

Some of the Items' descriptions should come back to you when you're faced with a new programming challenge. If a memory of a possible way to do something better comes to you from your introductory reading, pick the book back up and dig into that Item a little deeper. If you're applying his knowledge to actual code you're working on, the lesson should be more meaningful and memorable.

I frequently see questions here that remind me of Effective Java's Items, and I'm often inspired to pick the book up to review what he said to give a good answer.

I am unemployed because of the lack of skills thats why i try to become better.Anyway i am planning to buy design patterns books, it will help me to enhance my skills in software development or i should try another book?

In Effective Java book he mentioned << , >>, <<< operators which i have never seen them and i searched the web to find out what are they and how they work.Also why to overide the equals or the hashcode methods.Also he uses advanced programming syntax and because English is not my mother language i have dificulties to understand.

Thank you mate for your help!!!

Others here are much more qualified to advise you on the recommended steps to employment, though our advice for someone in your area might not translate well.

I'm going to repeat a bunch of stuff I've heard others say, but I can't vouch for any of it:

Establish an Internet presence that displays your knowledge and experience, even if the experience has not been gained from a paying job. Write a blog, write tutorials, display your study pieces along with the lessons you've learned from them, and help others when you can. Build and publish a portfolio of your work that you're proud of and believe accurately represents your talents.

Consider joining an open source project and develop relationships there that could help you find employment. Seek opportunities to intern at companies you're interested in.

Establish relationships with people who work for employers you're interested in or do the kind of work you'd like to do. Seek their advice for gaining an interview, positions opening, etc.

Continue learning, gaining knowledge and skills that you believe are desired by employers in your area. If not formal learning that will gain you a certificate of some kind, then document it yourself in your blog or Internet portfolio.

Good luck!

The book Head First Design Patterns will be useful for software development?