Head First Servlets and JSP: Passing the Sun Certified Web Component Developer Exam (SCWCD)

Murach's Java Servlets and JSP

Servlets

Java Servlet Programming Bible (With CD-ROM)

Format: Paperback
Author: Suresh Rajagopalan
ReleaseDate: 01 March, 2002
Publisher: Wiley
Rating:

Great Starter and Concise
Hall's and O'Reilly's books are good after you read this one first since they are more in-depth. After reading Marty Hall's Core Servlets and JSP and O'Reilly's Java Servlet Programming 2ED, I think this book does a better job of teaching and explaining the concepts and examples as they pertain to servlets in a clear and concise manner. I've been looking for a book that clearly explains Applet-to-Servlet communications. I've finally found a book that explains Applet-to-Servlet communications far better than the other 2 books, or any other books for that matter.

Marty Hall's examples are too scattered. For instance, you'll be on one page, but it will reference code from a totally different chapter-the layout of such examples are too annoying for me. Most of O'Reilly's examples are not explained very well and needlessly complicated (like most O'Reilly's books), but its examples are comprehensive. Both books over-use multiple classes or user-created packages when explaining a concept. I'd suggest using just one or 2 classes to explain a concept, as this book has done, which has reduced code clutter spanning multiple pages. This may go against "proper" OOP, but who cares as long as the point is made. If you have read any books published by Murach, then you'll know what I'm talking about. Too bad Murach don't publish a book on servlets! Don't get me wrong, Hall's and O'Reilly's books are good for in-depth coverage, just wished I had read Java Servlet Bible prior to reading the others.

Anyways, Java Servlet Bible isn't comprehensive and in-depth as it should NOT be in one book. The title is just marketing-if you feel tricked, look at that 545-page book again. But, it does a good job of covering the basics. It explains Servlets at their core and other APIs that servlets often use (JDBC) and useful programming paradigms (MVC architecture). It even threw in a brief intro to JSP to illustrate how to create dynamic web pages.

BOTTOM LINE: This is an excellent book to understand, learn, and get startly quickly with servlets. Read the other books afterwards for more comprehensive and in-depth coverage.

PROS: easy to follow, examples are clear and concise. Best of all, it doesn't try to teach you XML-related technologies like several other books : ) .
CONS: pricey, section on security too brief.

Amen
The writers must have kept their audience in mind when they wrote it. If only I had this book when I first worked with Java Servlets. The detailed explanations and examples, in this book, are extremely helpful. I was completely thrown away by their Shopping Cart examples because till this point I have not found any reference material that could superbly explained it the way they do. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is, or plans on, working with Java Servlets to get this book.

great examples
They helped a lot in understanding the concepts. I thought the examples in this book were excellent. However the 2. 3 API has not yet been covered. But overall a good read with good examples.