Learning to design objects effectively with Java is the goal of Beginning Java Objects: From Concepts to Code, Second Edition. Plenty of titles dig into the Java language in massive detail, but this one takes the unique approach of stepping back and looking at fundamental object concepts first. Mastery of Javafrom understanding the basic language features to building complete industrial-strength Java applicationsemerges only after a thorough tour of thinking in objects.

The first edition of B.J.O. has been a best seller; this second edition includes new material on the key features of J2SE 5, conceptual introductions to JDBC and J2EE, and an in-depth treatment of the critical design principles of model-data layer separation and model-view separation.

Despite the plethora of beginning Java titles on the market, this book is truly unique in its coverage of three critical topicsobject concepts, UML modeling, and Java programmingwithin a single cover. It's ideal for both individual self-study and as a university-level textbook. Let Beginning Java Objects, Second Edition be your guide!

The book takes readers through object design, from the very beginning, at a relaxed pace. While you get all of the necessary jargon for really learning the object paradigm (for example, there's full coverage of such concepts as data encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism), the tutorial is likely to reach more readers. Without being doctrinaire about the design process, the author walks you through the steps for "discovering" objects in a business problem (including classes, attributes, and operations) and then determining how these objects work together to model real-world problems. The sample class diagrams offer quite a rich level of detail, and a single case study for a student course registration database demonstrates the design principles, including extensive class diagrams.

By the end of the book, this set of classes is transformed into working Java code, with a simple Swing-based user interface. Although the book cuts a few corners--such as using tab-delimited data instead of JDBC (a must for business programmers)--there's little doubt that this lively approach to mastering Java will benefit a wide range of readers. If ever you've been unsure about what object-oriented design really means, Beginning Java Objects can demystify important concepts and put the power of objects within your reach. --Richard Dragan