I've been looking for a good book to introduce programming as well as teach a useful language, and after considering both free and payed options I finally came across an excellent and recently updated book called "Introduction to Java (http://math.hws.edu/javanotes)" by David Eck available free in PDF version. Far better than the C++ book that I'm reading concurrently for my class.

Java is a language that does not require a recompilation for every operating system you develop on and therefore can run on many platforms very easily, meaning that you don't have to change your code to run on many different platforms. Java can also be used for many web based applications.

The book is used in a number of college classes as well. It covers Object Oriented Concepts very well as well as all the basics of programming (classes, CPU complier interaction, Ways of commands reaching CPU,ect) for people who have never programmed and just have a basic understanding computers. Also, it has quizzes which comes in pretty handy.

I reccommend using Netbeans (http://www.netbeans.org/) to build your first programs.

Download Link
(http://math.hws.edu/eck/cs124/downloads/javanotes5-linked.pdf)
Reviews (http://www.lulu.com/content/612392#contentReviews)

Resources for Book:

Course Material for First Part of Book From Eck's CPSC124 Intro to Java Course: (http://math.hws.edu/eck/cs124/index_s06.html) . Includes labs and run through. From 2006, but still basically has all the important information.

Course Material for Advanced Part of Textbook (Ch8 onwards) (http://math.hws.edu/eck/cs225/) . Current Semester. Course Title CPSC 225. Includes Labs and the run through guide of the labs. Quite good. Thanks compguy!

Note: David Eck's labs use Eclipse for the programming tutorials so you may want to use that too if you are going to follow the labs verbatim.

:thanks:

Thanks, OP. I've been toying with the idea of teaching myself some basic programming language skills, so this'll be a great start. Rep!

:thanks:

Cool, thanks.

Thank you

Danke.

repped

thanks, i use a similar one in my programming class
repped

Looks like something i was looking for. Thanks

Thanks! Hope it's the one we'll be using in next semester :rolleye:

thank you

Thanks for the post! Although I HATE Java...it's the one thing that is standing between me and finishing my IT Degree!! I have another book written by Dietel which I don't care for perhaps this can supplement. I thought C++ was much easier, Java syntax is too wordy!

Thanks for the post! Although I HATE Java...it's the one thing that is standing between me and finishing my IT Degree!! I have another book written by Dietel which I don't care for perhaps this can supplement. I thought C++ was much easier, Java syntax is too wordy!

Java is fun :soccer: Although the syntax is pretty wordy. On the plus side Eck brings a lot of the terminology early on, so its easier to memorize. On the negative, the only way I am getting through the first few chapters is by writing down all the definitions and usage of all these functions in a notebook. I might even need flashcards :glasses2:

I've been looking for a good book to introduce programming as well as teach a useful language, and after considering both free and payed options I finally came across an excellent and recently updated book called "Introduction to Java (http://math.hws.edu/javanotes)" by David Eck available free in PDF version. Far better than the C++ book that I'm reading concurrently for my class.

Java is a language that does not require a compiler (don't worry if you don't know that is. The book explains that too :yummy: ) and therefore can run on many platforms very easily, meaning that you don't have to change your code too run on many different platforms. Java can also be used for many web based applications.

The book is used in a number of college classes as well. It covers Object Oriented Concepts very well as well as all the basics of programming (classes, CPU complier interaction, Ways of commands reaching CPU,ect) for people who have never programmed and just have a basic understanding computers. Also, it has quizzes which comes in pretty handy.

I reccommend using Netbeans (http://www.netbeans.org/) to build your first programs.

Download Link
(http://math.hws.edu/eck/cs124/downloads/javanotes5-linked.pdf)
Reviews (http://www.lulu.com/content/612392#contentReviews)

I thought I might as well repost this in Hot Deals, because so few people check out the Freebies section, and people here might find it handy :)

Original Post (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=120804&p=16681109#post16681109)

Update: You might want to download the source code (http://math.hws.edu/javanotes/source/index.html) for the examples in the book (note that the examples are very good for beginners!)

Update: lol. Looks like this got modded back into freebies. So much for frontpage ambitions :D

I'm pretty sure this was designed for his java class so if you go to his webpage and find the class it's for you may find syllabi or other useful documents to help structure how you try to learn it.
http://math.hws.edu/eck/cs225/index.html
http://math.hws.edu/eck/courses/cpsc225_s09.html

I'm pretty sure this was designed for his java class so if you go to his webpage and find the class it's for you may find syllabi or other useful documents to help structure how you try to learn it.
http://math.hws.edu/eck/cs225/index.html
http://math.hws.edu/eck/courses/cpsc225_s09.html

Thanks for the suggestion. I was just plowing through the book, but this could be useful.

Here's a good list of resources (http://math.hws.edu/eck/cs124/index_s06.html)for the first part of this textbook (Ch1-7) including a good number of lab explanations (Course page for 2006 for CPSC124).

Wow...cool!

Thanks.

"Java is a language that does not require a compiler"

And this is what the book teaches you?

Unbelievable.

Currently taking programming class in college, gotta say it's pretty fun.

"Java is a language that does not require a compiler"

And this is what the book teaches you?

Unbelievable.

:O My mistake. I meant to say that it does not require the code to be compiled into different operating systems and only compiled into Java bytecode and then run through the JVM on each individual OS, which prevents the need to recompile on each OS you run the code on.