Reference

Java Foundation Classes: Swing Reference

Format: Paperback
Author: Stephen C. Drye
ReleaseDate: June, 1999
Publisher: Manning Publications
Rating:

An excellent reference

The inheritance diagrams are a great help, along with the table of Look and Feel keys in the appendix. Definitely for the advanced Swing user (or someone who feels they are done with tutorials), I have been finding this book a useful reference.

Useful for quick reference
It is organized so nicely that referencing things is often faster than it is in the online docs. Though this book is not nearly as useful as other Swing books when it comes to learning hoiw things work. Not my favorite book, but well done and original. I recommend it only for veterans. Also its the only book that covers all of the Basic PLAF (I would have given it 3 stars if it didn't have this).

Disappointing - doesn't live up to the publicity
Most of the space is taken up by a listing of the Swing class types and parameters. I was disappointed by this book. Whilst the annotation is useful, and the book is distinctive in it's reference style, the information is too focussed on a method by method rather than "how do I do this?" types of questions.

If you already have David Geary's Swing book and the O'Reilly book, this adds a small value but get those titles first.