Thread: Starting with Java

Hi all,

I've joined this forum because I will be starting a new role within my company, as Java developer.

To this date, I have had no programming experience - I went to uni to do Law! However, I've worked my way up in my company right from the bottom and they see the potential and enthusiasm I have to the work I put in. I was offered the job on the basis that I knew nothing about Java and I would be taught on the job, put on intense courses and develop micky mouse applications for the first 6 months until I'm up to scratch.

I've been reading a book for the last month, Head First Java and completed all the exercises etc up until chapter 6. The main problem I have with this book is that it assumes some experience with Java, namely C++. I'm looking for advice, in essence, about the best way of learning Java from a very base, beginner level. I have no doubt that my new colleagues will help me in every way they can as I have worked with them for the last 9 months constantly in my previous role in the company - I used to troubleshoot complex issues and locate the exact cause, then I would pass this over to the developers who then find the offending code and fix it :-)

I'm not an idiot, but I have no programming experience. So, if there is anyone who would like to give me some advice about their experiences with learning Java and the best way I can quickly get up to speed and start coding in less than 6 months, please, do let me know!

Cheers,
Corbs

I feel that I'm doing ok so far - although I need to re-read chapter 5 again. I'm not totally confident on this chapter.

I'll have a look at the "Head First: Programming" book - thanks for the recommendation!

Head First is not the best book by any means. It is also old and in need of an overdue update.

See what books they are using on programming courses at university and pick that one. Find one that is comprehensive, starts slowly and gives you enough background to go further on your own.

books for Java-

Java Application Development on Linux by Carl Albing and Michael Schwarz(PDF)
How to Think Like a Computer Scientist
The Java EE6 Tutorial (PDF)
Java Thin-Client Programming
Sun's Java Tutorials
Thinking in Java
OSGi in Practice (PDF)
Category wise tutorials - J2EE
Introduction to Programming Using Java - David J. Eck

But the best waay to learn a programming language is just start coding,may be from a small "hello world" program.
codingbat.com/

It has programming problems that you write code for, submit, and it determines if it meets the criteria.