SCWCD 1.3 or 1.4

[kumar thokkala]

Hello everybody,
I have SCJP and planning to go for SCWCD and then SCBCD.
So first I want to get SCWCD as currently I am working with JSP/Servlets and haven't really worked with EJB's.
Can someone suggest me which version of SCWCD is better to take. I read lot of messages on ranch that 1.4 is trickier and tougher compared to 1.3. Sounds challenging, but do I have enough resources available for 1.4? Can someone suggest me available best books for 1.4?
Guru's help me decide which exam I should go for and anyone here who cleared SCWCD 1.4? I need your advice ..
I have been working with JSP 1.1/Servlets2.2 for almost a year, keeping this as measure, can someone tell me roughly how much time I will need to prepare for SCWCD (1.3 /1.4)

[John Ip]

I got both SCWCD and SCBCD, it seems to me SCWCD is easier. At the moment, there is only SCWCD 1.3 books available in the market.... however I think a new book for 1.4 will be on the market within 2 to 4 months.... 1.3/1.4 really doesn't matter for me as long as you've a book includes all needed for the exam, coz they make your life much easier.

[Lakshmi Kalidindi]

John
I am appearing for SCWCD 1.4 ON May 21 st 2004. I have couple of questions about exam. If u r in USA could you pl email me your contact# so that i can talk to you once before My exam
My email id is [e-mail]
Regards

[Jeff Walker]

I passed SCWCD with 96%. I took the 1.3 exam. If you start down the road of taking an exam for every version of the jdk that comes out, you will end up repeating all the exams for the rest of your Java career. Since jdk1.5 beta is out now, will we end up taking the exam for that version too? Also, if you go to the Sun CertManager website and login:
https://i7lp.integral7.com/durango/do/login?ownername=sun&channel=sun&basechannel=prometric
you'll see that the exams are marked 'always valid', implying exam results used to have a shelf-life. From what I recall about taking my old SCJP exam back in March 2000, the shelf-life was about 2-3 years. That's right, they used to expire! (Notice how I passed the SCJP exam back in 2000 and yet Sun allowed me to sit for the much more recent SCWCD1.3 exam anyway). Sun now clearly states that all exam results are always valid, so I see no real need to keep up with the latest and greatest jdk for exam taking.(Unless there is a tremendous difference between versions, e.g. newer servlets no longer compile in old container, or something).
Anyway, if you do decide on the 1.4 exam, then as a previous poster stated, virtually all the books are all based on 1.3. The differences are noticeable; 1.4 includes Filters, and there is no SingleThreadModel marker interface in 1.4 anymore. I cannot think of any other differences, although I'm sure there are a few more small discrepancies. Be careful with commercial exam simulators too, make sure you purchase the right version. Good luck!
-jeff walker

[Nicholas Cheung]

The differences are noticeable; 1.4 includes Filters, and there is no SingleThreadModel marker interface in 1.4 anymore. I cannot think of any other differences, although I'm sure there are a few more small discrepancies

There is not much difference in the Servlet part, between 1.3 and 1.4, however, the JSP part evolute much! The newly added EL, JSTL, as well as the Simple Tag and Tag files.
For this part, it is better to refer to Hans' book, Java Server Page 3rd edition, it covers all necessary info that you needed.
Or, you can wait for:
1. SCWCD Exam Study Kit, 2nd edition
2. Head First JSP and Servlets
I guess both of them are round the corner already, maybe you need to wait for 1-2 more months.
Nick

[kumar thokkala]

I have decided to go for 1.4 version as it covers JSTL, EL etc which I am planning to use for my next project.
I have Professional JSP (2nd Edition by Wrox), is this sufficient for JSP part of SCWCD 1.4? How about servlets part, which book/material will be helpful? What versions of JSP and Servlets does 1.4 test?
PS: Lakshmi Kalidindi, it would be very helpful if you can provide me the list of books,maerial you are using for your preparation.
Thank you all for your valuable suggestions.

[Shalbha Jindal]

Hi
How long will 1.3 be available in the market?
Thanks
Shalbha

[Nicholas Cheung]

How long will 1.3 be available in the market?

It is difficult to say, however, see the case of SCJP 1.2 and 1.4.
While SCJP has launched for around 1-2 years, SCJP 1.2 is still there, thus, I guess SCWCD 1.3 will still in life for around 1-2 years.
Nick

[Ambika Roy]

Dear Friends,
Hows the difficulty level and kind of questions different for 1.3 and 1.4 version exams?I haveve already passed 1.3 and am now planning to take 1.4.
Regads,
Ambika
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