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Greenhorn
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I have just started a program to learn
Java. I know nothing. We just finished the track on Java and I don't feel ready to take my exam yet. Two of my classmates who are working in the field already took the exam and failed. That really scares me because I don't feel I am anywhere near as prepared as they are. What can I do to help me better prepare for this now that the class is over? Thanks!
Let me clarify the question, the track I started is Web Development, we just completed the Java track. Also, what is JXTA. Probably way out of my scope?? JH
[ February 11, 2002: Message edited by: Jacque Higgins ]
 
mister krabs
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First you can post in the correct forum because if you can't figure out the difference between "distributed Java" and "programmer certification study" then you are definitely not prepared.
 
Jacque Higgins
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That you for your kind words
 
High Plains Drifter
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Now now, Thomas. Try to be nice to new people. Rile the customers in your own bar!
I was checking for cross-posts before I moved this to Programmer Certification. Jacque, I'm going to do that now, so you'll get more answers to your question.
 
Author & Gold Digger
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Well, I'm not sure the Programmer certification is the right forum either. I would first hang in the beginner forum for a while and then come back to the programmer certification forum.
One step at a time, folks! If you know nothing about Java, you first have to learn the basics and the Beginner forum is definitely the best place to start.
How does that sound?
I'm moving this to Java in General (Beginner)
Jacque, a good piece advice is to begin with the Java tutorial and start coding some small programs. It is very important that you learn the basics before attempting a certification.
Don't hesitate to ask questions
HIH
[ February 11, 2002: Message edited by: Valentin Crettaz ]
 
Jacque Higgins
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Well, hopefully I am where I belong. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! JLH
 
Valentin Crettaz
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Jacque,
a good piece advice is to begin with the Java tutorial and start coding some small programs. It is very important that you learn the basics before attempting a certification.
Don't hesitate to ask question
[ February 11, 2002: Message edited by: Valentin Crettaz ]
 
Ranch Hand
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Jacque,
You seem to be in the same position I was 5 months ago. SCJP was part of my track (CIW Enterprise Developer) also, and thus far it's the only cert I haven't got. Took a try 1 time after 1 week training and 1 month study and failed (52%). Now I understand it's as good as impossible to do it that way. It's at least as hard as SUN says (minimal 6 months of experience and so on....). In that 5 months I had to work also for 3 more certs of my track besides SCJP. Finished them all and am studying now almost fulltime on SCJP.
Now I think the only way to pass is to like it. When it's obligatory for you (e.g. just to finish your track) you're going to have a hard time.
Bottom-line: don't rush this (it's not going to take you anywhere) and the way to (start) study Java was already mentioned above...
GoodLuck, Erik Dark
[ February 11, 2002: Message edited by: Erik Dark ]
 
Ranch Hand
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A good environment for beginners to get a good
grasp of OO and Java concepts is BlueJ
-> http://www.bluej.org
It is designed as a learning and teaching
environment, but it's full, real Java with a
simple environment interface. It lets you
experiment with your objects directly. And it's
free!
There is a tutorial and examples with it.
Regards,
Michael
DISCLAIMER: This is a biased view - I am in the
BlueJ development team :-)
 
Ranch Hand
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Is this going to become a common feature of javaranch now?? Advertising in decent technical discussions?? I hope moderators will take notice of this..
Cheers
Jayram
 
"The Hood"
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Joshi,
You have a problem with folks offering you free learning tools?
I took notice, and thanks to the BlueJ folks. I downloaded it and installed it just fine.
Course I personnally think that trying to learn a BlueJ tool along with an IDE environment is NOT a good way to learn java. It will confuse IDE issues with basic java issues. However it is kinda cute.
That aside, Jacque,
Is your goal to learn Java and Object-Oriented programming or to get the Java Certification, because they really are different goals. Unfortunatly it is possible to get certified without being good at it.
To get certified you need to learn to think like the compiler and know ALL the rules.
To be good at it you need to understand why you do certain thing rather than others, and start understanding some design patterns and etc.
In either case you NEED to get a good book and start studying from it.
We have a BunkHouse section full of recommendations in different sections.
Then as you are studying, you can bring your questions here, and we will try to explain the stuff that you are having problems with.
Good Luck.
(PS: LOTS of folks fail the exam the first time - so do not be upset by that - just keep at it).
 
jayram
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Cindy
I have no objection to people providing good tools or others knowing about them. But the same tool has been mentioned at couple of other forums also and one of the "bartenders" (i dont remember which forum and who but the post is very recent) had pointed out that there is a proper place for advertising. It really gets annoying if this thing gets out of hand. There are very good examples like javalobby where i have seen some product being advertised(suggested whatever u want to call that)
as reply to any number of posts even on irrelevant topic. I sincerely hope that behaviour does not become part of javaranch.
Anyways i dont want this discussion to go out of hand ...so i will stop here
Ultimately ur the boss
Cheers
Jayram
 
Cindy Glass
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If they were asking for money, then I would agree with you. But this is free, and he is just enthused about it.
If he gets TOO outrageous I will write him a nice "tone it down" letter. But other than that - I like to see folks enthused about stuff.
 
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