Are you a coder and wondering how to improve your Java knowledge or become a better Java
developer?
As Dr. Seuss rightly said “Sometimes the questions are complicated, and the answers are simple,” we agree to it, don’t we? But have you ever thought about how we sometimes become capable of solving such complicated questions and end up getting those simple answers?
Yes, it’s through the process called “learning,” but again how?
There are tons of resources that can make this road of learning a bit easier to walk, and in this journey, there is no other better aid than books!
Java, an original Sun Microsystems programming language has been around the block for two
decades. Starting from games to mobile apps, desktop software, to enterprise programs for servers,
Java can be used for anything.
Learning a new language is not a walk in the park! Thus, despite the sheer number of freely available
tutorials and blogs, people still look for the best books for beginners.
So why rely on books when we have so many other options?
- Java books are written by people who have in-depth knowledge of the subject.
- The subject comprises of thorough explanations with relevant examples.
Want to become a Java Programmer? Add these 8 books to your reading list:
1. Head First Java by Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates
Let’s start with the most recommended and favorite of all the “Head First Java” or affectionately
referred to as Java Programming “bible” by the readers! It’s a unique and creative approach that makes it to the top of the list. Head First Java is different when compared to other Java books, as the
information presented in it is visually in rich format, designed around how the brain works and
processes information.
You can always learn a subject better when you can relate it to your everyday life. Guess what, this
book just does the same. It teaches you how to write code by working on fun examples like games,
quizzes, and fun little apps. Additionally, it also comprises of tons of enlightening interviews with
professional Java programmers where they share secrets of the language in order to help beginners
learn the rope faster. The book doesn’t just cover the core language and Object Oriented
Programming (OOP), but also holds your attention and keeps things interesting.
2. Java: A Beginner’s Guide by Herbert Schildt
If you are new to coding, then the first book is apt for you, but if you have a little knowledge about
the language then this book is a great read! Author of this book is Herbert Schildt and it covers all
the fundamentals in a coherent manner.
Read this book to start with the key skills like basic Java syntax, compiling, and application planning,
followed by live, actionable lessons that will force you to think about the main constructs behind Java
code. Once you are done with the learning, it’s time for self-test and for this you have puzzles that
will help you test your knowledge. Also, you will find tons of Q&A sections from professional Java
programmers who discuss the difficulties and quirks related to the language most beginners
face. In short, a very detailed book that covers a lot about Java, although it may be a bit too technical
for beginners to grasp.
3. Java for Dummies by
If you have experience in coding, then this book is rarely worth your money, as this one is perfect for
absolute beginners. This book covers multiple chapters that include: setting up your computer to
writing your first Java programs through loops, objects, switches, classes, and GUI’s.
Coming towards the final part, you will find some useful online resources to take your knowledge
further it also outlines ten of the most useful classes you will come across in the Java API. Sometimes
images give you a better idea of the concept than theory, this book has images in abundance.
Outstanding images and screenshots make this book stand out.
The diagrams in this book visually explains how your code actually executes on a CPU (Central
Processing Unit) and also shows you the differences between byte code and source code generated
by the compiler.
Good diagrams are the soul of this book, as it visually explains how your code actually executes on a
CPU (Central Processing Unit) and explains the differences between source code and byte code
which is generated by the compiler.
4. Effective Java by Joshua Bloch
Looking for some practical guidance on your Java Programming projects but in a dilemma on whom
to ask it for? If yes, then well this is your book! Joshua Bloch, the Author of Effective Java, describes
the best practices a developer would find useful on a daily basis. To read this book
it doesn’t matter if you are a beginner, manager or developer; there is something for everyone. In
short, this book encompasses quite a few eye-openers.
5. Absolute Java by Walter Savitch
Absolute Java is not just for the absolute beginners but also a reference book for the undergraduate
students who have some knowledge of coding with no experience in Java language.
The beginning chapters gives introductions about the language; accessible to beginners. Towards the
end there are also chapters on designing GUI layouts using an IDE with a walk-through on simple
drawing program.
This book is worth if you are looking towards taking your Java knowledge a bit further, perhaps to an
intermediate sort of level. You will also find some of the advanced topics like deep copy vs. shallow
copy and recursion and the stack for example.
6. Clean Code by Robert C. Martin
Clean Code is yet another eternal classic for Java programmers. Writing a code might look a bit difficult, but this book teaches you how to write better code. It is easy to learn Java, but it’s challenging to write better Java code which uses strong OOP principles, and that’s where this book aids.
Uncle Bob, the author of this book, shares a lot of his experience as a software developer, along with teaching you various programming techniques and practices, which will help u as a coder in your day-to-day job.
7. Core Java Volume I- Fundamentals by Cay S. Horstmann
You can use Core Java as a reference book as it is simple to read and as the name suggests it covers Java very well with detailed explanations throughout.
In this book, each section deals with a different aspect of Java. For instance, the first chapter gives you an introduction to the language, the second is all about the Java programming environment, and then it goes onto classes, objects, data structures, inheritance and so on.
There are chapters that include Swing (which will help you with building small desktop-based applications), Jars, Applets and deploying your applications.
Additionally, it also covers collections and generics in great detail, which can be useful given how much these things are actually used in the real world.
8. Test Driven by Alex Garcia and Viktor Farcic
As you are aware, automation is the way to future and automation testing is already gaining considerable momentum and will be the next big sought out skillset in the future. Also with increasing adoption of Agile, DevOps, and BDD, QA enterprises are rapidly moving towards shift left testing in order to transform their engineering qualities.
When it comes to developers for them, it all starts with unit testing. Java has been blessed to have the JUnit from the start, but by just knowing the library will you become a coder who can write tests? Definitely not! It takes much more than that, like JUnit or Mockito, and that’s where this book comes into the picture. Are you serious about code quality and writing unit, integration, and automation test? Then Test Driven is the book you must read!
Wrapping-up
Above listed are just recommendations for learning Java. Although you won’t turn into a coder overnight by just reading these Java books, these books will definitely help you in exploring the world of Java Programming.
Cheers!
References
https://javarevisited.blogspot.com/2018/07/top-9-java-programming-books-best-must-read.html https://dzone.com/guides/automated-testing-your-end-to-end-ecosystem?oid=18atbanner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2MnuEHHtsw https://dzone.com/articles/10-all-time-great-books-for-java-programmers-best https://www.journaldev.com/6162/5-best-core-java-books-for-beginners https://javarevisited.blogspot.com/2018/06/10-all-time-great-books-for-java.html https://whatpixel.com/best-java-books/ https://medium.com/swlh/top-10-java-books-for-programmers-all-time-great-82b0ee0b831a
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