Java in a Nutshell Contents
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“The first six chapters document the Java language and the Java platform — they should all be considered essential reading. The book is biased toward the Oracle/OpenJDK (Open Java Development Kit) implementation of Java, but not greatly so. Developers working with other Java environments will still find plenty to occupy them. Part I includes:
Chapter 1, Introduction to the Java Environment
This chapter is an overview of the Java language and the Java platform. It explains the important features and benefits of Java, including the lifecycle of a Java program. We also touch on Java security and answer some criticisms of Java.
Chapter 2, Java Syntax from the Ground Up
This chapter explains the details of the Java programming language, including the Java 8 language changes. It is a long and detailed chapter that does not assume substantial programming experience. Experienced Java programmers can use it as a language reference. Programmers with substantial experience with languages such as C and C++ should be able to pick up Java syntax quickly by reading this chapter; beginning programmers with only a modest amount of experience should be able to learn Java programming by studying this chapter carefully, although it is best read in conjunction with an introductory text (such as O’Reilly’s Head First Java by Bert Bates and Kathy Sierra).
Chapter 3, Object-Oriented Programming in Java
This chapter describes how the basic Java syntax documented in Chapter 2 is used to write simple object-oriented program]]s using classes and objects in Java. The chapter assumes no prior experience with object-oriented programming. It can be used as a tutorial by new programmers or as a reference by experienced Java programmers.
Chapter 4, The Java Type System
This chapter builds on the basic description of object-oriented programming in Java, and introduces the other aspects of Java’s type system, such as generic types, enumerated types, and annotations. With this more complete picture, we can discuss the biggest change in Java 8 — the arrival of lambda expressions.