Why isn't SCJD as popular as other Java certifications ?

I am facing great difficulty finding good resources and books on SCJD. Except for this forum, resources for SCJD are practically non existent on the internet and elsewhere.

Most bookshops (in Asia) don't have books on this certification although books on SCJP,SCWCD etc. are in abundance. Even Safari online doesn't have any of the popular SCJD books.

Anyone knows why ? Is it because most people prefer taking the other certifications over SCJD since they are exam based ?

Hi Rah,

Reasons I can think of:

You have to put a lot more time and effort in this certification

if you want to illustrate you know Java, you take SCJP. If you want to prove your knowledge about Servlets & JSP you take the SCWCD. And the SCJD doesn't guarantee any particular knowledge

My former company purchased the famous book of Andrew Monkhouse and that was not really a problem. But you are right: I know a whole lot SCJP and just very few of them are also SCJD.

Kind regards,
Roel

Does SCJD provide a good foundation for EE and
Architecture certifications, or is it too far off-topic?
Are there other non-Sun certifications to consider?

Jim...

Hi Rah,

I read the legendary Monkhouse&Camerlengo book, in addition to this "Head first Design Patterns" by Freeman and a SCJD book provided by Sun (The Broker Tool application). In my opinion the "Broker Tool application" suited the best because it deals intensively with special design patterns being very useful for the assignment and not covered by Monkhouse.

I think this certification exists mainly to prove one's knowledge of using accepted design patterns.
My trainer from Sun Microsystems also says this exam is actually about design patterns.
Of course anybody can accomplish the SCJD assignment without knowing anything about patterns,
but that's surely not the way it is supposed to be.
Since design patterns have little to do with architecture, SCJD is no requirement and only a little help for other exams (like SCEA).

Regards,
Andy