Most efficient way to learn java if you already know how to code?

Question

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Is there a canonical book for learning Java as an experienced developer?

I've been coding for close to 25 years now in basic, (C64 & Amiga), (Object) pascal, C, LPC and for the last few years, Python. Python is definitely my favourite (and strongest) language. However, lately I've been forced to do stuff in Java - I have never written a single line of java code so far.

So I'm asking your advice - what is the fastest and most efficient crash course to learn java.

EDIT: I'm really looking for something along the lines teaching java to people who know how to code and what OOP is - not something that has with no previous programming experience in the synopsis.

Answer 1

For a much cheaper and far more up-to-date alternative to the books mentioned, I recommend starting with Oracle's Java Tutorials. Since you have a programming background already, some of it is going to be easy that you can read and power through. When you get to a topic you aren't comfortable with, spend the time to read it, understand the sample code, and work through it. It might be a good idea to have the API documentation handy as well.

Just a note - the links I provided are for Java 7. Searching can find the documentation and tutorials for Java 6 as well. I know the API documentation is available, and the tutorials should be as well.

If you're going to be developing enterprise applications, you might also be interested in the Java EE Tutorial as well.

Answer 2

I would recommend the book Thinking in Java. IMHO opinion it's one of the best books about object-oriented programming and Java. You can even download the previous edition of the book for free to make your own conclusions.

Answer 3

You already know how to code? Great! Pick something, that is relatively generic, that you've written in Python (or any of your existing languages) and write it in Java. You'll start off not knowing anything, but by the end of it, you would've learnt a huge amount.

Answer 4

I know c# and recently learned Java. I got a couple of good Java books and just started doing the project. If you know the concept of programming then language specifics are easy to pick up as you go.

The best way of picking it up is on the fly while doing something.

Answer 5

Jump right into it with a good IDE (for syntaxctic support) and always have the standard API docs open. Then work through the tutorial that comes with the Oracle JDK distribution.

Answer 6

I started with Core Java.

This book is to the point, it has most of the basics covered, and you can read the second volume if you want to know more about Java.

Answer 7

You could use BlueJ to learn both Java and Object Oriented (OO) programming at the same time. The BlueJ environment provides class diagramming and object inspectors which would help you understand OO in an easier fashion.

I'm pretty sure that you might have an easy time learning Java with Head First Java as well, since they try to go over the class-based OO. It is quite verbose, so if you like reading a lot of pages that explain with figures and text then that book is for you.

Answer 8

I would recommend Sams Teach Yourself Java in 24 Hours, that's what I learned on. then just give yourself a programming project with it. one of the great things about the book is that after every chapter, it has you build something, gives you the code, and explain each line.

Answer 9

Write an Android app. You might end up producing something genuinely useful along the way.