Book Image

Transitioning to Java

By : Ken Fogel
Book Image

Transitioning to Java

By: Ken Fogel

Overview of this book

This comprehensive guide will help non-Java developers already using different languages transition from their current language to all things Java. The chapters are designed in a way that re-enforces a developer’s existing knowledge of object-oriented methodologies as they apply to Java. This book has been divided into four sections, with each section touching upon different aspects that’ll enable your effective transition. The first section helps you get to grips with the Java development environment and the Maven build tool for modern Java applications. In the second section, you’ll learn about Java language fundamentals, along with exploring object-oriented programming (OOP) methodologies and functional programming and discovering how to implement software design patterns in Java. The third section shows you how to code in Java on different platforms and helps you get familiar with the challenges faced on these platforms. In the fourth section, you’ll find out how you can manage and package your Java code. By the end of this Java programming book, you’ll have learned the core concepts of Java that’ll help you successfully transition from a different language to Java.

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Table of Contents (23 chapters)
Preface
Preface
Who this book is for
What this book covers
To get the most out of this book
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Download the color images
Conventions used
Get in touch
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1
Part 1:The Java Development Environment
Part 1:The Java Development Environment
Free Chapter
2
Chapter 1: Understanding Java Distributions
Chapter 1: Understanding Java Distributions
Technical requirements
A little history
What makes Java special?
Why are there many distributions of Java?
Which Java should you get?
Why are there so many versions of Java?
Installing Java
What is in the box?
Summary
Further reading
3
Chapter 2: Code, Compile, and Execute
Chapter 2: Code, Compile, and Execute
Technical requirements
The first program
JShell – REPL in Java
The two-step compile and execute process – javac and java/javaw
Launch Single-File Source-Code Programs
Integrated development environments
Summary
Further reading
4
Chapter 3: The Maven Build Tool
Chapter 3: The Maven Build Tool
Technical requirements
Installing Maven
Overview of Maven functionality
The pom.xml configuration file
Running Maven
Summary
Further reading
5
Part 2:Language Fundamentals
Part 2:Language Fundamentals
6
Chapter 4: Language Fundamentals – Data Types and Variables
Chapter 4: Language Fundamentals – Data Types and Variables
Technical requirements
Primitive data types
A special case – String
Naming identifiers
Summary
Further reading
7
Chapter 5: Language Fundamentals – Classes
Chapter 5: Language Fundamentals – Classes
Technical requirements
Class fields
Understanding access control
Understanding classes
Summary
Further reading
8
Chapter 6: Methods, Interfaces, Records, and Their Relationships
Chapter 6: Methods, Interfaces, Records, and Their Relationships
Technical requirements
Understanding methods
Understanding inheritance
Understanding the class interface
Understanding the record class
Understanding polymorphism
Understanding composition in classes
Summary
9
Chapter 7: Java Syntax and Exceptions
Chapter 7: Java Syntax and Exceptions
Technical requirements
Understanding coding structures
Handling exceptions
Summary
Further reading
10
Chapter 8: Arrays, Collections, Generics, Functions, and Streams
Chapter 8: Arrays, Collections, Generics, Functions, and Streams
Technical requirements
Understanding the array data structure
Understanding the Collections Framework
Using sequential implementations and interfaces
Understanding Generics in the Collections Framework
Using sequential implementations and interfaces with Generics
Understanding Collections Framework map structures
Understanding functions in Java
Using streams in collections
Summary
Further reading
11
Chapter 9: Using Threads in Java
Chapter 9: Using Threads in Java
Technical requirements
Creating Java native OS threads
Preventing race and deadlock conditions in threads
Creating new virtual threads
Summary
Further reading
12
Chapter 10: Implementing Software Design Principles and Patterns in Java
Chapter 10: Implementing Software Design Principles and Patterns in Java
Technical requirements
SOLID software design principles
Software design patterns
Summary
Further reading
13
Chapter 11: Documentation and Logging
Chapter 11: Documentation and Logging
Technical requirements
Creating documentation
Using logging
Summary
Further reading
14
Chapter 12: BigDecimal and Unit Testing
Chapter 12: BigDecimal and Unit Testing
Technical requirements
Using BigDecimal
What is JUnit 5?
Testing with JUnit 5
Performing parameterized testing
Summary
Further reading
15
Part 3:GUI and Web Coding in Java
Part 3:GUI and Web Coding in Java
16
Chapter 13: Desktop Graphical User Interface Coding with Swing and JavaFX
Chapter 13: Desktop Graphical User Interface Coding with Swing and JavaFX
Technical requirements
A brief history of Java GUIs
Financial calculator program design
Using the Swing GUI framework
Using the JavaFX GUI framework
Summary
Further reading
17
Chapter 14: Server-Side Coding with Jakarta
Chapter 14: Server-Side Coding with Jakarta
Technical requirements
Understanding the role of the Java application server
Configuring a web project with Maven
Understanding what a servlet does and how it is coded
Configuring deployment with the web.xml file
Summary
Further reading
18
Chapter 15: Jakarta Faces Application
Chapter 15: Jakarta Faces Application
Technical requirements
Configuring a Faces application
Creating an object managed by Context Dependency Injection and validated with Bean Validation
Using XHTML, Facelets, and Expression Language for rendering pages
Understanding the life cycle of a Faces page
Summary
Further reading
19
Part 4:Packaging Java Code
Part 4:Packaging Java Code
20
Chapter 16: Deploying Java in Standalone Packages and Containers
Chapter 16: Deploying Java in Standalone Packages and Containers
Technical requirements
Exploring what modular Java is
Creating a custom JRE with jlink
Packaging with an installer using jpackage
Using the Docker container system
Working with Docker images
Creating a Docker image
Publishing an image
Summary
Further reading
21
Index
Index
Why subscribe?
22
Other Books You May Enjoy
Other Books You May Enjoy
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Why are there so many versions of Java?

Java is constantly evolving – bug fixes, enhancements, and new features are in continuous development. Java was initially numbered as 1 plus a version number. The first nine versions starting in 1996 and until 2014 were 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, and 1.8. Between each of these versions, there was a third number that represented an update rather than a major revision, such as 1.8_202.

Starting with Java 1.8, then subsequently named Java 8, here is the timeline of Java versions:

Table 1.1 – Timeline of Java versions

You will see several versions designated LTS, short for Long Term Support, by Oracle. These versions are expected to be supported with bug fixes and security updates for at least 8 years. The non-LTS versions, also called feature releases, are accumulative fixes, updates, and preview features. Support for these versions is expected to last only until the next non-LTS or LTS version is released. Companies that have their own Java distribution may provide support for longer than Oracle does.

LTS versions are typically what many organizations prefer to use for their products. Java 8, released in March 2014, is still supported and will be until December 2030. Subsequent LTS versions are being supported for just 8 years but, as already mentioned, may be supported by other Java distributors for a longer period. The current schedule for new releases of Java has an LTS version every 2 years. A non-LTS version is released every 6 months.

If you plan to develop server-side software, you must use an LTS version. Libraries required for server-side are written to use a specific LTS version. When a new LTS version is released, it might take some time for all such libraries to be updated as is currently the case with LTS Java 17. As I write this, most server-side applications are running Java 11 and some still even use Java 8.

What has contributed to Java’s success is evident in the continuing and now regular cadence of releases. This ensures that Java continues to be a state-of-the-art language.

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