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How do think about Max Habibi's book

 
Greenhorn
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Hi All,
I just ordered the Max Habibi's book, it's on the way to my home. I want to know your comments about this book. Is that enough for passing the exam by reading it, and following the design the book mentioned? I read one review on Amazon site, it said bad words about book, the reviewer said:
--------------------------------------------------------------
If you compare the proposed solution with the exam specs, you will see that the book solution is much simpler and avoids all the critical questions(such as deadlocks, remote garbage collection, error recovery, etc.)
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But I know somebody who didn't implement error recovery got passed the exam.
How deep I need to step in for passing the exam?
I am looking forward to your replies!
Thanks in advance!
Jianhua
 
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Hi Jianhua,
Welcome (back ) to this forum.
I bought and read Max's book before downloading my assignment, and it has been as valuable in my SCJD trip as the SCP&D for Java 2 study guide (from Kathy Sierra & Bert Bates) was for preparing my SCJP cert.

If you compare the proposed solution with the exam specs, you will see that the book solution is much simpler and avoids all the critical questions (such as deadlocks, remote garbage collection, error recovery, etc.)


I agree and disagree with that review.
I agree because all questions are not covered (but are the missing ones so critical BTW ? - I don't think so).
And I disagree, because within its 364 pages, this book really covers all the main SCJD subjects and is of great help in getting the whole stuff.
If you regularly read the posts on this forum, you'll accept that there are many valuable solutions in each of the main areas of our assignment (data access, locking, GUI, network with RMI, network through sockets). If Max had chosen to cover all those possible solutions, he'd have written an unreadable 1500 pages book, completely missing the subject.
Really, I bet that you won't be disappointed after reading.
And for the remaining questions if any, this place could be the right one to get answers.
Let's say that if I had to meet a guy on the bus asking me "I'd like to get SCJD, could you give me two useful advices ?" (OK, it's highly unprobable because I never take the bus ), I'd reply :
1� Buy Max's book.
2� Join the SCJD JavaRanch forum after reading.
Best,
Phil.
 
Cowgirl and Author
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Originally posted by Philippe Maquet:
Let's say that if I had to meet a guy on the bus asking me "I'd like to get SCJD, could you give me two useful advices ?" (OK, it's highly unprobable because I never take the bus ), I'd reply :
1� Buy Max's book.
2� Join the SCJD JavaRanch forum after reading.


I agree. No book is *all you need* for the Developer cert, because you also need practice, research, design, trouble-shooting, etc. -- but you cannot do better on those other things than JR. I will say one thing, Max's book does a way better job on preparing you for the SCJD than the developer section of *my* book does. Not to say that ours doesn't have some good things to say -- (somewhere around here there are links to some of the chapters, which we posted because we don't want folks who are already SCJP-certified to have to BUY our book *just* for the developer portions.)
But Max's book really gives you the overall framework for thinking about and preparing for the certification, and a good amount of detail, even though you probably *will* still need additional detail as you actually work on *your* particular implementation of the project.
Good luck,
Kathy
 
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Sorry, I wasn't following the topic.
Could you provide more information about the book?
Author: Max Habibi
Book name: ??
Where to buy?
Thank you!
 
Philippe Maquet
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Here is it : The Sun Certified Java Developer Exam with J2SE 1.4.
Best,
Phil.
 
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Hi,
I have read "The Sun Certified Java Developer Exam with J2SE 1.4." and am just starting to do the project part of the exam. I am going to do a basic version of the project first (basic db without locking threading etc, basic gui, basic network support) and then revisit each part and implement it correctly. I have got the very basics of the db working. I am going to look at gui next.
My question has to do with how closly my project can resemble Habibi's example project? Would the testers pick up on the fact (would they care) if I used the same process to create the main gui for example (not necessarily same code)? Or that I used the same design pattern for my database package?
I know the examiners are not necessarily looking for me to re-invent the wheel but would "copying" the design of Habibi's project be deemed as plagerism?
Thanks,
Aidan
 
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Originally posted by Aidan Castle:
...
My question has to do with how closly my project can resemble Habibi's example project? Would the testers pick up on the fact (would they care) if I used the same process to create the main gui for example (not necessarily same code)? Or that I used the same design pattern for my database package?
...


Hi Aidan--
IMO, I don't think you'll need to worry about your project closely resembling Max's -- I think Sun's specifications will challenge you with alot more requirements that will ultimately differentiate your work from his. Furthermore, from what I recall from reading his book, his project was based off of very clear specs -- and Sun's specs are unfortunately vague in a few areas. Your unique interpretation of these vague specs will also differentiate your project from his.
About your concerns of using the same process or same design pattern-- don't worry, they're meant to be reused! Patterns (and I guess processes too- XP? RUP?) are common solutions to everyday object-oriented design problems - so reuse in this case is normal, and actually quite commonly encouraged. Touching upon my first point again, I think ultimately you'll find that although you may decide to use the same pattern(s)/process(es) as Max did, you'll probably discover a unique way in applying it/them in order to satisfy all of Sun's specs.

Regards,
Paul
[ November 13, 2003: Message edited by: Paul Tongyoo ]
 
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Jianhua,
I wouldn't worry too much about copying. The assignment is sufficiently different. Also, you still have to figure the flaws and ambiguities that Sun deliberately puts in the assignment and its specification. BTW, I don't agree with Paul that this is unfortunate, it's one of the things that make this certification worthwhile to the implementor and useful to potential employers. What is unfortunate is that no HR people will probably ever understand this .
In my case, I found Max's book to be of great help, for me most particularly in the area of locking. My own locking design is somewhat different then Max's but a very close and detailed study of Max's design told me what I needed to know to be able to design my own and get it right, and that is what's important.
The certification won't do you any good if you still can't analyze, design, and program yourself. The important thing is to be able to think through the problems yourself.
It's really hard work to think through someonelse's design and even harder to do your own and get it right but that's where the big payoff is.
Good luck

kktec
SCJP, SCWCD, SCJD
"The journey is the reward."
 
Aidan Castle
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Hi,
Thanks for the replies! Now where did I put that book...
Aidan
 
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