Practice when learning from book?

Hi All,

I am reading new topics in Java (Threads, Security, XML, etc.) however, after reading I like to practice those examples which will prepare me as a developer in the software industry.

Are the textbook examples enough? If no, where can I learn more by Practice?

Please help.

Thanks JavaRanch for having such wide range of topics in the forums.

That ought to go somewhere like the Java in General (Beginner's) forum.

It varies from book to book; some (eg Deitel and Deitel) have dozens of suggested exercises at the end of each chapter. We have some suggestions on this site. There are little exercises for writing algorithms on a website called javabat. Bound to be many others, too.

Thanks Campbell,

I will try your suggestion.

Start with book examples & tutorials. There are many free ones on the net as well. Then try to work on self-taught projects. Once you have some confidence try contributing to open source projects. There is no substitute for hand-on experience.

Dear Friends

I will tell you about my learning experience with JAVA.

I am was Civil Engineer with basic knowledge in Fortran 77 and no physical machine to play with.

I had this book Java 2 Complete Reference.

I read it again and again .... could make out anything .......

Finally after the nth time ..... I compiled the examples with my eyes .... and ran it on my VM on my head .......

I could finally serialize some of the JAVA programming concepts into my mind ...

Thanks if it helps !!!

My learning experience is from books? not entirely true. I think book examples or sample code only want to demonstrate what that part of the book is saying. Whether you or I actually understand and eventually apply it, you need to absorb the concepts and this is key: do something similar to the example and play around it - this is not copy line for line and see what happens and let go.

Learning Java by reading is like learning Maths by reading.

Let me add a dimension:
Learning Java by reading is like learning Maths by having someone read out the contents to you

Hmm Let me add another dimension:
Learning Java by reading is like learning Maths by having someone read out the contents to you and that someone stammers.

Now that I have the main idea ahead of you, let me provide a solution.

4 basic rules:

Programs are never planned, they are coded.
Programs are never planned, they are coded.
Learning by mistake is by far the Best Learning method of all.
Programs are never planned, they are coded.

So, Instead of planning and writing code on paper and then running it on computer,
Go Straight ahead and start code,
code simple, code SMALL programs.

ADD concepts to existing programs

I really recommend looking at a CBT (Computer Based trainings) or screencasts as they call it. They will help you Way
better than books.

And when you are stuck up at a concept, none of your experience helps you, the CBT does not too,
Open the book, blow out the dust and Read it. It will strengthen your concepts.

Many people may criticize what i just mentioned, but thats me !!!

Practice Practice Practice !!!

Java RuleZ !!!

Life Sucks.