Re: Best Java Guides for a Newby?

  • From: "Littlefield, Tyler" <tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:08:14 -0600

I have to agree with Sina and jim. Using a basic editor makes you learn what's wrong, look at the errors and fix it without everything being done for you.

On 7/7/2011 8:40 AM, Ken Perry wrote:

Um what does sdk have to do with it if you use it to find out what the base object of java has in it? Sure my example was talking about an sdk but all the base classes work the same.

For example if I have string and want to know how to format something its there.

Ken

*From:*programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Sina Bahram
*Sent:* Thursday, July 07, 2011 9:51 AM
*To:* programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* RE: Best Java Guides for a Newby?

That's not learning a language Ken, that's learning an SDK, which implies one already knows how to use the language.

I think you should start off with text as well, so that six months later you aren't asking basic questions like why doesn't this class run, because you never had to put a mian method in it since Eclipse always did that for you, etc. etc.

Of course, that implies that you actually want to learn the fundamentals of the language, and not just code.

Take care,

Sina

*From:*programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Ken Perry
*Sent:* Thursday, July 07, 2011 7:17 AM
*To:* programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* RE: Best Java Guides for a Newby?

I have to disagree with this. There is nothing like using eclipse when you're learning a language. Let's say you are in Android and need to make an Application. Ok so you start it up and there is an Activity class. You're in your text editor what do you do?

You go out on line or into a document and try to read up on all the possible functions you can run in an activity. Not bad but why not make it quicker.

Just arrow to your myactivity and use the source menu and go down and select override members. Then you can arrow through the list of things you have that you can do in that class. You check a few and tab down and hit ok. Now you have 6 stub functions that work perfect. You then go down to the keydown function that you just added and arrow over keyEvent and select help it tells you all the functions

Eclipse and Visual studio are not just environments but they are great learning tools. Not to mention learning the environment now with an easy program will speed up both development of a harder program but it also teaches you how to download other peoples projects and get them running.

Heck for that matter if you don't use eclipse you have to learn another way to compile your project. Which normally means you start compiling at the command line with javac. That sounds easy but how many of you have tried this and ran into the java path problems. That is not something you want to get a new user into right away. Then if you want to get real bold and use ant as a new programmer you better have a lot of antacid.

So I guess in short I just wanted to say sure Eclipse is a big pig but the gains for a new coder is pretty high if you learn to use it. Now if you're on a Mac sorry to hear it while I like Mac I have not been impressed with the amount of work I had to go through to get Eclipse set up. I use it on both Mac and Windows but I will tell you there is nothing like Eclipse and Jaws 12. I use no scripts and do just fine.

Ken

*From:*programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Homme, James
*Sent:* Thursday, July 07, 2011 6:49 AM
*To:* programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* RE: Best Java Guides for a Newby?

Hi Brandon,

This is my opinion, so take with a grain of salt. Right at the beginning with Java, I feel that you should use a text editor. Personally, I prefer EdSharp, but there are lots of good ones. Learn to use the command line tools that come with the Java Development Kit. After you have written some programs, and you know what's going on with basic Java, start to use something like Eclipse or Net Beans. I have no experience with SodBeans, but I understand that that package for NetBeans is making a big difference in NetBeans accessibility. So scrap fancy editors for now.

Jim

*From:*programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Brandon Keith (Biggs)
*Sent:* Thursday, July 07, 2011 12:17 AM
*To:* programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* Re: Best Java Guides for a Newby?

Thanks and I started reading those, the only problem is I use Eclipse and these talk about the Netbeans IDE which I think it is inaccessible.

My big question is: What are all the differences in the different things you can create with the new menu in Eclipse? There are like projects, classes, Java projects and all kinds of other things that aren't really talked about with Java.

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:
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*From:*Homme, James <mailto:james.homme@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

*Sent:*Wednesday, July 06, 2011 9:36 AM

*To:*programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

*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 <mailto:florianbeijers@xxxxxxxxx>

    *To:*programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    <mailto: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

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--

Take care,
Ty
my website:
http://tds-solutions.net
my blog:
http://tds-solutions.net/blog
skype: st8amnd127
My programs don't have bugs; they're randomly added features!

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