Product Description

Imagine a world without eBay...unthinkable! How would you get that Farrah Fawcett poster, retired Beanie Baby, or first-edition pet rock? Handling over a gazillion (OK, we exaggerate--it's actually only 1 billion) page views each day, server-side Java makes eBay work.

Isn't it time you learned the latest (J2EE 1.4) versions of Servlets & JSPs? This book will get you way up to speed on the technology you'll know it so well, in fact, that you can pass the Sun Certified Web Component Developer (SCWCD) 1.4 exam. If that's what you want to do, that is. Maybe you don't care about the exam, but need to use Servlets & JSPs in your next project. You're working on a deadline. You're over the legal limit for caffeine. You can't waste your time with a book that makes sense only AFTER you're an expert (or worse one that puts you to sleep).

No problem. Head First Servlets and JSP's brain-friendly approach drives the knowledge straight into your head (without sharp instruments). You'll interact with servlets and JSPs in ways that help you learn quickly and deeply. It may not be The Da Vinci Code, but quickly see why so many reviewers call it "a page turner". Most importantly, this book will help you use what you learn. It won't get you through the exam only to have you forget everything the next day.

Learn to write servlets and JSPs, what makes the Container tick (and what ticks it off), how to use the new JSP Expression Language (EL), what you should NOT write in a JSP, how to write deployment descriptors, secure applications, and even use some server-side design patterns. Can't talk about Struts at a cocktail party? That'll change. You won't just pass the exam, you will truly understand this stuff, and you'll be able to put it to work right away.

This new exam is tough--much tougher than the previous version of the SCWCD. The authors of Head First Servlets and JSP know: they created it. (Not that it EVER occurred to them that if they made the exam really hard you'd have to buy a study guide to pass it.) The least they could do is give you a stimulating, fun way to pass the thing. If you're one of the thousands who used Head First EJB to pass the SCWCD exam, you know what to expect!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #91659 in Books
• Published on: 2004-07
• Format: Illustrated
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 886 pages

About the Author
Bryan Basham is a Sun Certified Developer for Java 2 Platform and one of the key designers of the Sun Certified Web Component Developer exam. He is also a course developer for Sun Microsystems concentrating on Java technology and Object-Oriented design principles. Bryan has worked on a large range of Java courses, including Sun's core Java programming course, the JDBC course, a J2EE overview seminar, the Servlet/JSP course, and the OO Analysis and Design course. Kathy Sierra has been a master Java trainer for Sun Microsystems, teaching Sun's instructors how to teach the latest Java technologies. She is the founder of one of the largest java community websites in the world, javaranch.com . She is also a key member of the development team for the Sun Certified programmer exam and has developed dozens of applications to demonstrate Java technology. Bert Bates is a 20-year software developer, a Java instructor, and a co-developer of Sun's upcoming EJB exam (Sun Certified Business Component Developer). His background features a long stint in artificial intelligence, with clients like the Weather Channel, A&E Network, Rockwell, and Timken.

Customer Reviews

Not good for anyone
This book really sucks up all your motivation. The almost cartoon like format makes searching and a broader understanding almost impossible. The book is not just bad for the reader when he reads it. The worst part is: If a young reader (say a newbi at some university) actually use this book as a course book, he might pass the course but he won't be able to share his thoughts in writing in a common writing language. What's worse he won't understand the next course when reality steps in with a format that the rest of the world is using.

So teachers at universities all over the world. If you ever use this book as a course book at a bigginners level. Be aware that you will missguide the whole class at a time when the students needs guidance the most. This book is like beer, most of the students will like it because it gives them a nicer yet wrongfull picture of the reality at uni. However, it will also make passing the university much harder in the long run.

The only time when this book can be of use is if you have a crazy father that thinks that just because you are in computers you are into computer viruses. if you give this book to him he will. One: Not understand a thing. Two: Think that you are to stupid to code viruses.

Great Book to Pick-up Servlets & JSPs Quickly
The recently released edition of the book is a great improvement - there is less errata and the Q&A is much more tied into the Sun Web Component Exam.

One of the challenges with picking up Servlets & JSPs is the mass of acronyms and figuring out how it all relates to Java. The Head First book is here to help pick-up the technology as fast as possible and in a fun way.

This book has some of the best tutorials to get from zero to a working web application - and have fun learning along the way. Many readers will probably also want to use the book to cram for Sun's web component exam.

I would highly recommend the book but please do your due diligence: Have a look at the content section. Evaluate if the contents cover what you hope to learn. Read through some of the sample pages and make a decision.

Great but a little bit short
It's another Head First wonderfull book. But sometimes you get the feeling that they're missing some points they should get on.
I find it a perfect work to learn J2EE (except EJBs), but I'm not really sure this book prepares you completely to face the exam.