Java For Dummies. 9 Ed

Title Page....5

Copyright Page....6

Table of Contents....9

Introduction....17

About This Book....17

Foolish Assumptions....18

Icons Used in This Book....19

Beyond the Book....20

Where to Go from Here....20

Part 1 Getting Started with Java....21

Chapter 1 All about Java....23

What You Can Do with Java....24

Why You Should Use Java....25

Gaining Perspective: Where Java Fits In....26

Three Ways to Write Computer Programs....28

A word you can use to impress people....29

Imperative programming....29

Object-oriented programming....30

Functional programming....33

Whats Next?....35

Chapter 2 All about Software....37

Get Ready for Java....37

The Inside Scoop....40

What is a compiler?....41

What is a Java virtual machine?....44

Developing Software....48

Spoiler Alert!....49

Chapter 3 Using the Basic Building Blocks....51

Speaking the Java Language....51

The grammar and the common names....52

The words in a Java program....53

Checking Out Java Code for the First Time....55

Understanding a Simple Java Program....57

The Java method....57

The main method in a program....59

How you finally tell the computer to do something....60

Brace yourself....62

BEGIN THE BEGUINE....64

CAPITAL PAINS....65

STOLEN SEMICOLON....65

MISCELLANEOUS MISCHIEF....65

And Now, a Few Comments....66

Adding comments to your code....67

Whats Barrys excuse?....69

Using comments to experiment with your code....70

Part 2 Writing Your Own Java Programs....73

Chapter 4 Making the Most of Variables and Their Values....75

Varying a Variable....76

Assignment statements....78

The types of values that variables may have....79

How to hold the line....82

Numbers without decimal points....83

Combining declarations and initializing variables....85

Experimenting with JShell....87

The Atoms: Javas Primitive Types....90

The char type....91

The boolean type....94

Creating New Values by Applying Operators....95

Initialize once, assign often....99

The increment and decrement operators....99

Assignment operators....104

The Molecules and Compounds: Reference Types....106

Javas String type....107

Javas Random type....107

Coding with classes, objects, and their methods....108

Reserving a variable name....108

Reserving a variable name....108

Creating an instance and making a variable refer to the instance....109

Calling a method....110

What did he just say?....111

Chapter 5 Controlling the Flow by Making Decisions....113

Making Decisions (Java if Statements)....114

Guess the number....114

She controlled keystrokes from the keyboard....115

Reading double values: a cautionary tale....116

The if statement....117

Equal, equal....118

Brace yourself....119

Your intent to indent....119

Elseless in Helsinki....120

Forming Conditions with Comparisons and Logical Operators....123

Comparing numbers; comparing characters....123

Comparing objects....124

When one line isnt enough....127

Javas logical operators....128

Vive les nuls!....130

(Conditions in parentheses)....132

An import declaration....133

Warning! Explicit content!....136

The Nesting Habits of if Statements....138

Choosing among Many Alternatives....139

Javas glorious switch statement....139

Express yourself....143

Your grandparents switch statement....145

Free fall....146

Chapter 6 Controlling Program Flow with Loops....151

Repeating Instructions Over and Over Again (Java while Statements)....152

Count On Me....155

The anatomy of a for statement....157

The world premiere of Als All Wet....158

You Can Always Get What You Want....161

Who moved my file?....164

Reading a single character....164

On the var side....165

File handling in Java....166

Block on the while side....167

Part 3 Working with the Big Picture: Object-Oriented Programming....171

Chapter 7 The Inside scOOP....173

Defining a Class (What It Means to Be an Account)....174

Declaring variables and creating objects....176

Using an objects fields....177

One program; several classes....178

The road not taken....179

Defining a Method within a Class (Displaying an Account)....180

An account that displays itself....182

The display methods header....184

Sending Values to and from Methods (Calculating Interest)....187

Passing a value to a method....190

Returning a value from the getInterest method....191

Giving Your Numbers a Makeover....193

Hide-and-Seek....196

Good programming....197

Public lives and private dreams: Making a field inaccessible....199

Enforcing rules with accessor methods....201

Streamlining Java....202

Experiments with Variables....206

Putting a variable in its place....207

Telling a variable where to go....209

Passing Parameters....213

Pass by value....213

Returning a result....214

Pass by reference....215

Returning an object from a method....217

A final word....219

Chapter 8 Constructing New Objects....221

Defining Constructors (What It Means to Be a Temperature)....222

What is a temperature?....223

What is a temperature scale? (Javas enum type)....223

Okay, so then what is a temperature?....224

What you can do with a temperature....227

What does a temperature look like?....230

Constructing a temperature; a slow-motion replay....231

The default constructor....233

The Easy Way to Create a Class....236

Constructors dont have to be dull....239

Equality for all!....242

Chapter 9 Piles of Files: Dealing with Information Overload....245

What It Means to Be an Employee....246

Putting your class to good use....248

She reads keystrokes from the keyboard....250

Working with Disk Files....253

Cutting a check....257

Repeat after me....258

Reading from a file....259

Wheres your file?....260

You can decide where to put your file....261

Reading a line at a time....261

Clean up after yourself....263

Chapter 10 Saving Time and Money: Reusing Existing Code....265

Defining Subclasses (What It Means to Be a Full-Time or Part-Time Employee)....266

Creating a subclass....269

Creating subclasses is habit-forming....273

Using Subclasses....274

Making types match....275

The second half of the story....276

Changing the Payments for Only Some of the Employees....278

A Java annotation....279

Using methods from classes and subclasses....280

Yet Another switch....284

Doing Something about the Weather....286

Constructors for subclasses....288

Using all this stuff....289

Constructor madness....290

Part 4 Smart Java Techniques....295

Chapter 11 Putting Variables and Methods Where They Belong....297

Making a Package....298

Package deal....298

Using the Player class....300

Running the code....303

One class; nine objects....304

Some notes on formatting....305

Its All About Access....307

Access for Java modules....308

Access modifiers for classes....309

Public classes....309

Nonpublic classes....310

A word or two about method-local variables....310

Access for members (fields and methods)....311

Members in the same class....311

Members in different classes....311

Making Static (Finding the Team Average)....317

So much static!....319

Meet the compact constructor....319

Displaying the overall team average....320

All about static import....322

All about static references....323

Why static members dont always play well with others....324

Chapter 12 Using Collections and Streams....329

Using an ArrayList....330

A new way to do looping....334

Import a module in one fell swoop....335

Using generics....336

You have options....336

Wrap it up....337

Are we done yet?....339

Once and again....340

Sorting and Searching....340

Another Kind of Collection Class....342

So many collection classes!....344

Functional Programming....345

Problem-solving the old-fashioned way....346

A familiar problem....347

Lambda expressions....348

The interpretation of streams....350

Getting a stream from a collection....352

Filtering the items in a stream....352

Getting a value from each item in a stream....353

Summarizing the items in a stream....353

Why bother?....356

Method references....359

Some black sheep among the lambdas....360

Chapter 13 Using Arrays to Juggle Values....365

Getting Your Ducks All in a Row....365

How to book hotel guests....367

Tab stops and other special things....368

Make life easy for yourself....369

Array versus ArrayList: The Ultimate Showdown....372

Do You Have a Room?....373

Writing to a file....375

What else can go wrong?....376

Array Madness....377

Return to Sanity....379

Arrays of Objects....381

Using the Room class....383

The conditional operator....386

How to Argue with Your Code....387

Settling the argument....388

Checking for the right number of program arguments....390

Chapter 14 Looking Good When Things Take Unexpected Turns....393

Garbage In....394

Making things right....398

The parameter in a catch clause....398

Do it yourself....401

Who will catch the exception?....403

Catching two or more exceptions at a time....410

The Buck Stops Here, Except When It Doesnt....411

Catch it soon....412

Catch it later....414

Checked or unchecked?....416

Try, Try Again!....418

Chapter 15 Fancy Reference Types....423

Javas Types....423

The Java Interface....424

Declaring two interfaces....425

Implementing interfaces....427

Putting the pieces together....429

Abstract Classes....433

Caring for your pet....436

Using all your classes....438

Relax! Youre Not Seeing Double!....440

Chapter 16 Oooey GUI Was a Worm....443

Getting Started with GUI Applications....444

Setting up your computer....444

Installing the JavaFX plug-in....445

Installing Scene Builder....446

Creating a bare-bones JavaFX project....447

Running your bare-bones JavaFX project....450

Adding Stuff to Your JavaFX Project....452

Wheres my Scene Builder application?....452

Building a scene....453

Tweaking some code....456

Running your new project....457

Part 5 The Part of Tens....459

Chapter 17 Ten Packs of Java Websites....461

This Books Website....461

For Business Issues Related to This Book....461

Download the Java Development Kit....462

Your Grandparents Java Download Site....462

The Horses Mouth....462

Join Java User Groups....462

Find the Latest News about Java....462

Find News, Reviews, and Sample Code....463

Got a Technical Question about Anything?....463

Become Involved in the Future of Java....463

Chapter 18 Ten Bits of Advice for New Software Developers....465

How Long Does It Take to Learn Java?....466

Which of Your Books Should I Read?....466

Are Books Other than Yours Good for Learning Java?....466

Which Computer Programming Language(s) Should I Learn?....467

Which Skills Other than Computer Coding Should I Learn?....467

How Should I Continue My Learning as a Software Developer?....468

How Else Should I Continue My Learning as a Developer?....468

How Can I Land a Job Developing Software?....469

I Still Dont Know What to Do with My Life....469

If I Have Other Questions, How Can I Contact You?....470

Index....471

EULA....499

Learn to code with Java and open the gate to a rewarding career

Now in its 9th edition, Java For Dummies gives you the essential tools you need to understand the programming language that 17 million software developers rely on. This beginner-friendly guide simplifies every step of the learning process. You'll learn the basics of Java and jump into writing your own programs. Along the way, you'll gain the skills you need to reuse existing code, create new objects, troubleshoot when things go wrong, and build working programs from the ground up. Java For Dummies will help you become a Java developer, even if you're brand new to the world of coding.

• Learn the basic syntax and building blocks of Java
• Begin to write your own programs in the latest Java version
• Test out your code and problem-solve any errors you find
• Discover techniques for writing code faster

This is the must-have Dummies resource for beginning programmers and students who need a step-by-step guide to getting started with Java. You'll also love this book if you're a seasoned programmer adding another language to your repertoire.