5 comments about JavaFX Script: Dynamic Java Scripting for Rich Internet/Client-side Applications.

1. If you are looking to have fun with programming, JavaFX is a good place to start. And if you want to learn JavaFX Script, this book can help. The book starts by giving you an overview of JavaFX and its future. Then we get a classic Hello World example which is used to explain declarative programming and how to split up source files and begin binding to a model. Then we get to do some code by example. The main example chosen was a word search program. This gives us a chance to exercise a lot of the features of JavaFX. There is even a section on 2d animation and translation. Throughout the book there are practice problems and challenges to help you exercise your programming muscles. The book also makes a great reference with detailed tables for most of the language features. Overall this is a great introduction to this exciting language. There is a slight learning curve when you get to the Hello World example. I would take it slow after that and make sure you have the foundations of declarative language down. It's just a thought hurdle you have to make, but well worth it in the end.



2. JavaFX is a great tool to leverage the advantages of all the vast Java class libraries and Swing in a declarative but statically typed style. I had come to this conclusion when I first noticed JavaFX through stumbling across a link on Sun's Java web-site and portal.
   
   The one thing that JavaFX lacked was a basic, get up to speed tutorial or book which didn't assume you were a programming dunce, didn't assume that you were somehow clueless about how Swing or SWT (or any modern) user interface library worked.
   
   This book filled the gap for me.
   
   I am a reasonably adept Swing GUI developer, can understand SWT and write it (but can't see any particular advantage to SWT unless you're using a product that already uses it or it's an Eclipse based product) and understand GTK+. Hence, I don't need a lecture on how GUIs work, what an event model is, what a widget is; nor do I need a how to program, what does Java syntax look like.
   
   This book gives you sufficient information to: determine if JavaFX may fit into your GUI needs, how to use JavaFX and Java classes together and how to put together a small, JavaFX application. Others have stated the application isn't real-world: I challenge them - I wrote a "real world" word place program for a client...games aren't "real world" but they contain very real concepts both in their play and in their creation.
   
   The book doesn't: teach you how to program Java or any other programming language; it's a fairly tutorial style book. JavaFX is the type of tool where you can bring up a small(ish) example and fiddle with bits to work out what changes. It doesn't teach you a heap about Swing but gives pointers to Swing documentation where appropriate. Those not used to programming or Swing may find it difficult to translate Swing documentation into what JavaFX does. It will show you how to make classes, but not why you'd make them and it presupposes you know a little about programming.
   
   That said, I do know these things and it was certainly worth my money.
   
   I think this book would suit anyone who wanted to peek at JavaFX to see what a basic, but functional example does. It would also suit someone who knew Java, who wanted to add JavaFX to their toolset. It would be less suitable for someone who didn't know what a "for" or "while" loop does and it doesn't go into great detail about "classes", "class hierarchies" and such.
   
   It's a good book and it augments and isn't, by any means, a regurgitation of online documentation.



3. Maybe I'm just an old entrenched Java programmer, but quite frankly, after reading this book, I just don't get why somebody would want to use JavaFX. First off, you are forced to use Netbeans if you want to program in JavaFX. I don't use Netbeans and I'm not interested in doing so. I don't know many Java programmers who are interested in doing so either. Second, the JavaFX language itself doesn't parallel well with the Java language. Many simple constructs are completely different from what is done in Java. In short, I'm having to learn yet another language. Finally, it just doesn't deliver what I'm looking for - a simpler faster way of writing reliable multimedia applications. Sure you can put up some nice 2D GUIs and displays, but Sun had been promising a Java answer to Flash, or at least the beginnings of one. The problems with pure Java solutions to multimedia - runtime startup time, resource usage, and a lack of complete multimedia solutions including audio, animation, etc. is a problem that has existed since the early days of Java Media Framework and its eventual orphaning by Sun. JavaFX doesn't solve any of these problems or even put a real dent in it.
   
   However, to the author's credit, I learned all of this by reading his book. He doesn't editorialize on the language, but his examples make clear the shortcomings of this new language and therefore prevent you from wasting anymore time than necessary on it. I commend him on that.



4. This book is poorly typeset. The block structure of the code is almost impossible to discern because the indentation varies. APress, there's a reason that code is usually typeset with constant spacing courier fonts. It's much easier to read.
   
   This book has no index rendering it absolutely useless as a reference.
   
   
   I had intended to use JavaFX Script to create simple guis for displaying data. Perhaps, JavaFX Script is capable of doing this, but if it is, you certainly couldn't prove it from this book.



5. I'm starting in the JavaFX world and this book is helping me on this. I'm using some JavaFX tools and the Netbeans JavaFX plugin.
   James L. Weaver is always in the jfx discussion lists and is very accessible. Thanks. :)

No comments about Programming BASICS: Using Microsoft Visual Basic, C++, HTML, and Java (Basics Series (Boston, Mass.).).

5 comments about WebLogic: The Definitive Guide.

1. In chapter 8 author wrote a note: Even with container managed transaction in MDBs there may be message redelivery .The Cause - was pointed out as possible server crash. But why was important point that onMessage exceeding transaction-timeout also causes message redelivery left out?? Topics lack depth.. Things like what happens when <trans-timeout-seconds> is exceeded in MDB, stateless EJB etc is not written crisp and straight.. Didn't like anything much including clustering, JVM tuning etc.. What I expect is - that which is not there in weblogic documentations.. Something extra is needed based on extensive author experience.
   Go for book like "BEA Weblogic Server 7.0 deployment and Administration"- Aaron Mulder- Wrox.



2. Tons of typos and technically inaccurate in many places - according to me.



3. Hi,
   Though a good book but it is simplly a cut and paste of online weblogic documents.
   if you want to carry all the online doc in one book then buy this book.
   But still, I would recommend this book to all interested in weblogic admin.
   
   
   Thanks
   
   deepak



4. I just got this book about 2 weeks ago. I followed the link in the book where it said that I could download the examples code. I found the book, but not the examples code. Without the example code, I can not really follow the book. Can someone send me the link to the examples source code in the book or post the link on this review.



5. Don't be fooled by the bad reviews here...if you need to learn WebLogic in "21 days" or want a "kick start", then perhaps this book is not for you. But if you are an experienced developer that needs information one notch better than the BEA docs, then this book should be on your bookshelf. Mine stays at work, dog-eared and always ready to explain some detail to help solve a problem. Node Manager? Clustering? Domains configuration? SSL? It's all covered, in depth. Note that this book covers BEA WebLogic Server 8.1, not Portal, Integration, or WorkShop.

5 comments about Textpattern Solutions: PHP-Based Content Management Made Easy (Solutions).

1. Despite using Textpattern (TXP) since I started my own website I knew there was still a lot for me to learn and also a few things that could be improved with the way I setup my site. Needless to say when I got wind of this book there was no doubt in my mind that it would help me to be a better TXP user.
   
   The book is well-written and takes you through every aspect of TXP. Everything and I mean everything about TXP is covered in this book. You'll learn the ins and outs of installation, navigating and accomplishing various tasks in the administrative interface, go through the process of building a complete site covering articles, forms and pages, and even learn how to build you're own plugins. There are also 3 case studies that help to further demonstrate just how flexible TXP can be. What more could you ask for?
   
   This book was a great read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is new to TXP, thinking about using it or who currently uses it and would like to learn more about this wonderful CMS.



2. I have been reading the e-book version and I am very dissapointed with this book. I needed a simple CMS for a 3 page site, and wanted an alternative to Jooma! which seemed overkill for this.
   After doing some research I decided to use Texpattern due to its simple core, with this book as a guide. What can I say? The book is so poorly written that I am seriously considering to just use Joomla!
   The authors use a sample site approach to illustrate how to use Textpattern. This usually is a great approach to learning, except they do an aweful job of it. The illustrations are never on the same page as the explanations. And instead of a clear and concise step by step approach (install this file here, modify it there...), authors dwell into lengthy passages including jokes and useless analogies, that by the time you wake up, you realized you missed some vital step which always seem to get lost in this verbosity. Usually actual instruction is merely mentioned or not clearly indicated.
   In comparison, Building Websites with Joomla, is a much better text that makes Joomla! (a far more complex CMS than Texpattern) easy to understand.
   If anything, "Textpattern Solutions" has made a potentially easy CMS become a nuisance to learn. You will be better off reading the online documentation.



3. Textpattern solutions is a great resource for those looking to learn how to use this excellent Open Source CMS. The example site (Buzzbomb) is not quite as linear as I would have hoped and doesn't quite function like you would expect a tutorial to, but I was able to follow along with a little help from the TXP forums. Regardless, the book serves as a great launching pad to get into the nuts and bolts of the cms and begin creating your own sites using TXP. It is also the only book out there on the subject, so the choice is either to use this book, or to muddle through the online resources (which you will need anyway). The book certainly cuts down the learning curve (which isn't that steep, really) and gives you the tools you need to start using the cms with more confidence.



4. I'd have liked to give this book more stars, because I do love Textpattern, but I just didn't get enough out of it. I don't consider myself an expert, but I've been using Textpattern for a couple of years. I'm not sure what I expected from this book, but mostly what I got was a validation that Yes, I'm doing this-or-that correctly or the most efficient way. I didn't gain a lot of new knowledge or tricks, except for the (small) section on plugins.
   So this book might be good for Textpattern beginners, but even then most of the information presented is in the very complete Textpattern wiki, or elsewhere online.
   So I'm glad this book was published, to promote Textpattern, but for me it was a slight disappointment.



5. Extremely easy to follow and well written. My only problem was a lot of the times the illustrations or images weren't on the same page as their textual reference. Not a big deal, but I lost my place a lot while flipping back and forth through pages.
   
   This book is really aimed at beginners. Luckily for me, I was one. Since I purchased this book a few months ago, I've made three sites using Textpattern and they've all been a hit with my clients. The admin interface is superbly easy to use and I love the clean XHTML.
   
   So, in conclusion, buy this book if you're wanting a beginner's guide to Textpattern, but do not buy if you already know your way around as a lot of this content may be redundant for you.

5 comments about Core Java(TM) 2, Volume I--Fundamentals (7th Edition) (Core Series) (Core Series).

1. Whenever I buy a book that teaches programming I always compare to the classic C Programming Language (2nd Edition) (Prentice Hall Software) which is my standard for how a good programming book should be written. Inevitably most books suffer by that comparison.
   Apart from lack of conciseness the main problem here is the quality of the examples. The examples in this book are very basic illustrations of the concepts so working through them is a waste of time because you won't learn much from them. The book could benefit from some examples with real usefulness and a learning curve for e.g examples with more complex/less simplistic object classes than 'Manager' and 'Employee' to reinforce OOP concepts.
   Another shortcoming is its lack of conciseness. I hate to slog
   through a dozen pages only to find that what I've really learnt could be summarized in a paragrah or so. One reason for this is that the authors keep repeating code fragments from previous examples, and that makes the examples overly long without adding anything to their learning content. That said, the silver lining is that it makes many chapters are self- contained and this is great for a modular approach to reading the book. Also the book is thorough and written in clear easy to follow text. The target audience is mainly experienced programmers who want a fast-paced introduction to the java language. If like me you're not quite the overly experienced and you prefer to learn by doing, with solid examples that you could actually use, with concise pithy explanations and maybe some good exercises to really rub it in, you might prefer some other book.



2. I have an earlier version of this book and would love to get a Kindle version for reference. But... You save $3 by getting the digital version despite the fact that there is no shipping, storage, or printing costs?
   
   WTF?
   
   At $10 a piece I'd love to fill a Kindle with dozens of coding reference books that are filling up my library, but at $30+ a piece it's just not worth it.



3. I only wish the authors would have understood that it's better to write variables and declarations first and then use them later in the code. All the code examples are funnily written with the use of the variables first only to wonder from where they come from and later to realize that they're are at the end!!!!
   
   Also author has tried to pack too much of details which can be halved.
   Herbert schildt is a better option.
   
   But still the books is readable for beginners.



4. I have an older version of this book but it covers many of the core features of the language. This is a good book if you are looking to start
   programming in Java.



5. This is my favorite Java book. Although I have a background programming in C++, I find many of the other Java books to be cryptic or assume you wish to develop for the web. This book is straightforward and easy to read. I especially found the comparisons between Java & C++ interspersed throughout the text to be helpful.

5 comments about The Definitive Guide to JasperReports (Expert's Voice).

1. 218 pages, not a single example, less than 20 total lines of code. In my opinion you are better off just reading the api.



2. I've been using JasperReports for years, and periodically purchase the on-line PDF version. The APress printed book is the same as the on-line PDF version. The scope of the book is cleanly defined: JasperReports. It does not cover Eclipse plugins or related libraries such as JFreeChart. It does not mention JasperServer. The book is comprehensive, though more of a reference than a tutorial. I would have been pleased to see more tutorial information and chase a few rabbits for related topics. Other people may appreciate it's close adherence to scope.



3. I miss more Java code examples in the book, also it is too much an aseptic reference of the options of JasperReports, being really not a friendly or instructive book.



4. This book does not provide enough details about the JasperReport especially about how to use it. It also be lack of examples.
   
   I strongly recommand directly using iText for PDF file generating.



5. JasperReports is a great reporting engine which suffers heavily from its utter lack of useable documentation. I bought this book, written by JasperReports' author Teodor Danciu in the hopes of finally getting adequate documentation. Boy! was I disappointed!
   
   The book is an extremely superficial overview of the product; it's really no more than a glorified README file. Chapter 5 ("Large File Support") is a perfect case in point: The classes in the virtualization API are named, but nowhere is there any explanation on how to actually use them.
   
   It's quite unfortunate that Danciu has put his name on this poor excuse for a book. Luckily, I bought the PDF version, so I wasn't responsible for any trees dying...

5 comments about Java Servlet Programming (Java Series).

1. I wouldn't say this is an excellent book, but it's not bad. The book covers good fundamentals in its first 8 chapters for those beginning Servlets. The book also covers some useful information on JDBC and Java Server Pages. There's also some additional coverage on Applet-Servlet communication, Internationalization and Tea & WebMacro application frameworks. However some topics like JavaBeans, SSL, Filters, deployment descriptors and XML were too brief and should have been given some depth. Another dissappointment is that all examples are based on API 2.2 but not 2.3!!. The Appendix just touches on new features of API 2.3 with also a separate listing of API 2.3.
   It's been 8 mths since I purchased this book. I'd suggest that starters either wait for the next edition or get something that is based on Servlet API 2.3.



2. I found this book to be semi helpful. It would have been nice if it was more tutorial like. The examples also were not the most straightforward. The book does cover alot though.



3. This book's examples in later chapters may be a bit much for the beginner, but it does a good job of covering thing very well. Good coverage of various protocols, etc.



4. I completely agree with the 5-star positive reviews listed here. I saw a couple of new ones that were not so positive, so I wanted to voice my opinion.
   
   This book is very well written - well structured, with in depth explanations, humor, good code examples. It can be used both as a tutorial and as a reference.
   
   Even though it may be showing its age now in a couple of places (e.g. Tapestry is not mentioned, uses JDK 1.0 and 1.1 for the examples), it is still very good. It paints a complete picture, so one ends up with understanding of the principles and architecture - which is what matters - for the updated APIs there is always JavaDOC.
   
   I don't know how suitable it is for beginners, but for an experienced programmer it is a thoroughly enjoyable read - once I started it I couldn't stop until I finished (I didn't actually type the examples - that isn't necessary for understanding the material) .



5. If you do not understand servlets and program in Java this book is for you. I found it very easy to read and comprehend right off the bat. The examples are excellent and you will get off writing servlets very quickly. It is somewhat shallow in complex examples but then again how complex are servlets. Some best practices and commercial examples could have helped a lot.

1 comments about Java CAPS Basics: Implementing Common EAI Patterns.

1. The only complaint I have with this book is the word 'Basics' in the title. As the subtitle suggests, it's expected the reader is at least familiar with common EAI patterns. But it's better if the reader has Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture (The Addison-Wesley Signature Series) as well; it is a important prerequisite to getting the most out of this book.
   
   The authors also assume the reader has read the docs on JCAPS and is at least familiar, if not proficient with some of the tools. With that in mind, this book and its companion CD relate each discussed pattern to the appropriate components and configuration in JCAPS. It took me a fair amount of time to figure out some of these solutions on my own, and I was pleased to have my hunches confirmed by experts. Other pattern implementations were not apparent to me; I'll save a great deal of time using them as given.
   
   The discussion is thorough, deliberate and complete, including drawbacks and limitations that go hand-in-hand with certain pattern solutions. These are valuable insights, but they can make the reading heavy work at times. I recommend chewing off no more than a chapter's worth of patterns at a time, and reading each pattern implementation twice before implementing it once.
   
   The companion CD has very many screen shots of JCAPS in action, so don't be put off by the few illustrations in the printed text. The PDF on the CD is almost 700 pages itself and provides detailed graphic cues for implementing the patterns as discussed.
   
   Originally the price put me off a bit, even though I really need this book. Having browsed the companion CD as well, however, it's clear there was no small effort made in putting this book together. Still, I think the market could also use a book that just covers the fundamentals of using JCAPS. This guide is not for people getting started.

5 comments about Beginning Cryptography with Java.

1. Cryptography is still a delicate issue with a lot of people. There are those, especially in certain law enforcement agencies, who believe that access to stong encryption should not be allowed in the hands of the general public. Indeed, there are export regulations that define encryption technology as munitions. ==At the other end of the scale, there is the simple fact that without secure data transmission, web based electronic commerce would simply be impossible.
   
   This book is on the use of standard Java encryption libraries. This book is written for people who are Java developers and are trying to make use of cryptography in their applications. It presumes that you are familiar with the Java language, but it does not assume you have any familiarity with the encryption APIs. The book covers the recent updates in the security APIs with J2SE 5.0.
   
   This book is very good from the programming point of view, it does not have a lot of history or the background technology of how encryption is done.



2. Whether it is complete or not (of course, it is not), I would challenge anyone to point at a single alternative book covering Java cryptography at a greater level of details. The style is clear, coverage of ASN.1 is very helpful, and selection of BouncyCastle open source cryptoprovider is the most natural one. Lots more of details and code samples can be found in Bouncy Castle javadocs, but to navigate them without conceptual understanding of Java security in general and BouncyCastle implementation in particular, gained from the book like this one, would be a nightmare.
   
   "Inside Java 2 Platform Security: Architecture, API Design, and Implementation (2nd Edition)" would be another book to recommend, for general overview of Java Security Platform, and, also, to make sense of Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) APIs standardizing access to cryptoproviders' (such as BouncyCastle) libraries. But, of course, the two books have very little overlap.



3. This book does a good introduction but the book needs an update to J2SE 5.x security updates. I like Core Security Patterns by Steel, Nagappan, Lai covers a lot more details on Java security apis than this book.



4. By anyone's measure, cryptography is a dry and dusty subject but Hook has made it a pleasure to read this book both by trying to keep the tone light and having such a deep and thorough understanding of the topic that the discussion is effortless. While he moves through the subject matter briskly, his mastery of the area means that it's elegantly structured and easy to follow.
   
   All the Wrox books seem to follow a pretty rigid format and I felt sometimes that had the author been given a little more flexibility there, it could have flowed more easily. That said, the consistent organisation of the book makes it easier to use as a reference.



5. This book is the best choice if you need to initiate in the use of java crypto API (as its title claims) and it informs extensively about Bouncy Castle crypto API (which I also recommend).
   
   Definitely a good book.

5 comments about Graphic Java 2, Volume 2, Swing (3rd Edition) (Sun Microsystems Press Java Series) (2 Book Set).

1. Mr. Geary has produced a wonderfully comprehensive guide to Java Swing, patiently explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each component, along with the theory behind Swing's framework.
   Every piece of software was written to solve a problem. If a programmer really wants to understand the limitations (i.e. how to use it effectively) of software, he/she must understand the problem it was developed to solve. Mr. Geary goes the extra step in his book to give the theory/history/reasoning behind Swing, as well as, providing examples you can actually use in your code. Congratulations on an outstanding job!!



2. This book is very comprehensive and is a must for any serious Swing developer. I have found it as a good reference for all sorts of examples and also in a method lookup like way.



3. That is all, pure java. Simple, organized, interfaced, estructured, conceptual and objective point of view of reality. Some examples, lots of them, really, some descriptions of classes, all of swing JFC, really, and that's all folks. No more, no less. But that's the best, it's a reference of swing, "thousand and more" pages reference, but clear reference. A must if you're interested in collecting java muscle books.

   Nice cover desing. Strong, doesn't break easily. Sorry ;)




4. Like a fine movie, this book is still very useful even as the language advances. A wonderful reference I still find myself reaching for it several times a week for parts of the GUI that I don't reach into that often. Considering that I use the Eclipse front-end I do all of my GUI coding by hand (that and most GUI builders put out some really terrible code), so maybe I am a bit atypical in this regard.



5. I wish I had bought this book first...I found this book to be a great read; fun, entertaining, and structered in a way that answered my questions before I could ask them. This is the only Swing reference I ever use besides web searches. If I'm picking up a new topic, my first step is to see if this author has a book!