"We'll be doing this next project in Java."

Unfortunately, you're a C++ programmer, or maybe a Python programmer. How are you going to get up to speed in a hurry? There are lots of Java books for beginners, telling you all about what a computer is and how it represents everything in bits. You don't need that. At the other extreme, there are thousand-page tomes that you aren't going to get through in a few days, if ever. You need something in-between.

This book is intended to fill that gap. It's written for the programmer who doesn't need to be taught how to program, just how to do it in Java--and who needs to get started in a hurry.

Java is covered from the inside out. First, all the things that go inside a class, most of which are practically identical to C++. After that, all the various and complicated kinds of classes and interfaces and how they relate to each other in large-scale programs.

Testing is essential, so (unlike most Java books) JUnit is covered in detail. Then, in case you need to go in that direction, some functional programming, a little about parallel programming, and more than enough to get you started in building GUIs (graphical user interfaces) and doing animation.

There's a lot in this little book and, despite my best efforts, you won't learn Java in a weekend. But it should be a good start.

FEATURES

• Circular approach allows very fast entry into Java
• Full description of JUnit testing
• Summary of functional programming in Java
• Introduction to synchronization and parallel processing
• Extensive description of building GUIs