How to learn Java?

[Fatfat Tika]

I'm new here in JAVA but I'm really having a hard time learning it
what should I do first?

[Thakur Sachin Singh]

hai you start learning from basic books..like
1.java complete reference
2. java black book etc

[Mohamed Sanaulla]

Fatfat Tika wrote:I'm new here in JAVA but I'm really having a hard time learning it
what should I do first?

You can visit: JavaBeginnersFaq. Which books/material are you referring for your study? Also one has to be clear with the Object Oriented Programming Concepts.

Useful books at Beginning Java

[Roberto Perillo]

Howdy, Fatfat!

Please take a look at the Head First Java book. I think you'll like it!

[Mohamed Sanaulla]

Roberto Perillo wrote:Howdy, Fatfat!

Please take a look at the Head First Java book. I think you'll like it!

+1 for Head First Java

(How come I missed recommending this book )

[Campbell Ritchie]

Lots and lots of practice. Particularly when you can get experienced people to assess your code. I can name a few websites where that happens, for example: webpage.

[Mohamed Sanaulla]

Campbell Ritchie wrote:...I can name a few websites where that happens, for example: webpage.

I curiously clicked on the link- expecting to see a list of websites. No surprises- Its the JavaRanch

[Campbell Ritchie]

mohamed sanaullah wrote:. . . No surprises . . .

Don't tell him, or you'll spoil the surprise!!

[Sreelatha Sankaranarayanan]

You need to go in a staged manner. First pick up a good book, there are quite a few good books out there, below is one of the most recommended one

Thinking in Java (4th Edition)
by: Bruce Eckel

Besides there are several online tutorials that are available directly from Sun. Lay your hands on any of these and start your journey.
make sure you practise everything you read, that will be a good way to go.
Also consider studying for SCJP certification which is an exam from Sun, this will prepare you well enough with basics and more on Java
Good luck.

[Campbell Ritchie]

Sreelatha Sankaranarayanan welcome to JavaRanvch

[Mohamed Sanaulla]

Campbell Ritchie wrote:...welcome to JavaRanvch

JavaRanch

[Campbell Ritchie]

mohamed sanaullah wrote: . . .JavaRanch

I was trying to keep the name of the website a surprise . . .



and if you believe that, you'll believe anything

[Nuwan Arambage]

it is better you understand the java is not only a programming language. As far as I know , java language is a part of the java technology

start form the helloworld program then find how things work behind the scene.
I mean how java virtual machine works

keep going good luck.........

[Allan A Peak]

I like the Head First Java book. Also, the more coding you can do, the more you learn.

[Seetharaman Venkatasamy]

Fatfat Tika wrote:I'm new here in JAVA but I'm really having a hard time learning it
what should I do first?

stay with javaranch .

[Jathon Thompson]

I'm completely new to object-oriented programming...the only experience I have is in HTML and CSS. =/
The Head First Java book (I love the Head First series, btw) tells me I should already have experience - or at least understand the concepts of - in basic programming before trying Head First Java. It says this in the "Who is this book for?" section.
Is there a Head First book anyone would recommend to me to use as a "prerequisite" to Head First Java?

Thank you.

[Stephan van Hulst]

I don't know the Head First Java book, or any other Head First books, but I take it the prerequisites they mean are mostly familiarity with basic variables and control structures.

What you could do is find a tutorial on Pascal or C, and study only the chapters on these basics.

Even though learning Pascal has my recommendation for any beginning programmer, I wouldn't want to sidetrack your Java studies by learning a completely different language. Why don't you just start reading Head First Java, and then look up some information when you run into something you don't understand? You should be able to pick up all the basics as you go.

[Campbell Ritchie]

. . . and welcome to JavaRanch

I don't think there is a book which is a prerequisite to Head First Java (HFJ). See how far you get with HFJ and ask if you get any problems. Beware of the Party class; this is not a complete application and cannot be executed.

[Lolu Peace]

Welcome to Java and the JavaRanch

Aside HFJ, another book you might want to try Beginning Java 2 by Ivor Horton

[Lloyd Blake]

Hi there,

I started learning Java but taking a 10 week course at a college we used 'Objects First with Java: A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ' as the text book for the course. The book is pretty good at getting to know how Java works, with BlueJ you can view how and what your object hold. After this the HFJ book is good at expanding your understanding of Java. Another good book is: Murach's Java SE 6: Training and Reference, also find a good online course. My current role also gives me exposure to Java and I can ask Java developers for advice. But the main thing is write code try to write small programs and then expand these as your experience grows.

[Eswar Nec]

Refer complete reference book.
And you must understand all codes and learn concepts.
Then you will do some exercise.
Then so many materials available in online.
All the best.

[Alan McIvor]

I found the set of java video tutorials by Mark Dexter to be useful. They were bite sized and went through the basics quite nicely. I also found the tutorial he did on the eclipse workbench to provide a good introduction to the eclipse environment. They can be accessed through:Eclipse Workbench.

[Campbell Ritchie]

Welcome to the Ranch Alan McIvor

[Jathon Thompson]

Thank you all so much (for the advice and "warm welcome")!
I will try to get through the Head First Java book...If I have questions or problems,
I guess I will look for that specific topic in JavaRanch's forums...
My college course in "Intro to Computer Programing" (starts Jan 16th) will be teaching in Java (I think).
Hopefully that will also help. =p thank you all so much!
If I need more help, I will check out all the other references you guys gave me!