LOL, Jim, thanks for the link -- as for java versus python, I think the "Thinking in Java" book first came out long before python was on the map. Yes, I hear lots of good things about python. Happy hacking. --le ----- Original Message ----- From: Homme, James To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 12:27 PM Subject: RE: Best Java Guides for a Newby? Hi Laura, Man, I truly dislike getting into my language is better than yours on this list. I'll couch this in a purely personal tone. As many on this list are tired of hearing by now, I have struggled to get into learning Object Orientation for some time now. I have no idea why this is happening for me, but Python seems to be the language that is making things come together for me more than when I was messing with Java. And guess what. One of the books I'm reading says that Python is the easiest to help people get over what I'm dealing with. I have more gaping holes than I do computer science knowledge, so take that with a totally personal grain of salt. Speaking of which, I found a site that explains English sayings. http://www.phrases.org.uk Jim From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of qubit Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 12:47 PM To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: Best Java Guides for a Newby? Hi Jim -- That is what I hoped to find in the TIJ book. It purports to discuss rather tutorially how to build a program in java, which, he claims, is the only language designed for the purpose of making OO programming easy and natural for the programmer. (Other languages he claims are terse and crammed with features that are confusing to many newbies.) I am not trying to sell his book. I am annoyed that it seems to crash my system before it finishes loading. --le ----- Original Message ----- From: Homme, James To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 11:36 AM Subject: RE: Best Java Guides for a Newby? Hi, I think that, as with many things, this is one of those things that can be different, depending on the learning style and knowledge of the person. Speaking just for myself, I get more out of tutorial style books, when I'm learning a language. I tend to freeze up at reference type material that is full of code and short on words, but that's my taste. According to me, you will probably do well with the nutshell books, if you already know lots of programming concepts and want to see how certain things are done in Java. On the other hand, you may do better if you have little programming experience by looking at the Java Tutorial, which takes things a concept at a time and explains them with lots of words and examples. You can see that at http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/reallybigindex.html. Thanks. Jim From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of qubit Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 12:30 PM To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: Best Java Guides for a Newby? I would recommend if you have a subscription to bookshare.org, that you download a copy of "Java in a Nutshell". It is a nice summary of features with some examples. I was going to read "Thinking in Java, 4th edition", which I forked $25 for online, but got a package that I cann't display on my system. I have been unable to read more than the preface, and most the time, the html just freezes things. So I'm pitching it. A shame as it sounds like a useful guide to using java the way it is meant to be used. Online there are also common tasks implemented in java, which you can find in http://commons.apache.org/ Good luck and happy hacking. --le ----- Original Message ----- From: Florian Beijers To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 6:44 AM Subject: Re: Best Java Guides for a Newby? Hello Brandon, Do you have any form of IM or perhaps skype? I would like to help you but it's easier for me to recommend something if i know a bit more about your background. Florian On Jul 6, 2011, at 8:04 AM, Brandon Keith (Biggs) wrote: Hello, I'm new to programming, (I have just made it past "Hello World") and am looking for some guides. I would like to learn Java, but I'm not quite sure where to start. I downloaded the 500 or so documents from the "Java Documentation" at: http://www.nonvisualdevelopment.org/node/20 as well as reading all the tutorials on Eclipse and Java. I've installed the SDK 1.6 and Eclipse, is there anything else I need? I see there are Jaws scripts for Eclipse, where do I insert those? I arrowed through the 500 documents dealing with Java and found: Java Tutorial 3rd Edition, a short course on the basics but I see it was written in 2001 and only deals with Java 1.3 and Windows 2000 and before. Is this something I should read? What books best describe the language in an exciting and useful format? I'm wanting to eventually program for Android, but I think that is stepping a little ahead of myself. Where do I start? Thanks, Brandon Keith Biggs Check out MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/brandonkeithbiggs Also add me on facebook! brandonkeith http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=675097942 And for my resume go to: http://www.sfcasting.com/brandonkeith ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail and any attachments to it are confidential and are intended solely for use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. 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