Welcome to the Java Workshop (2006)

The original idea behind the Java Workshop was to introduce some of the practicalities faced when developing software using the Java Platform. As such, the original book focused on developing software using the Java Platform and not so much on the tools or the practical side of things. In revising the text, I decided to shift the focus somewhat to a new direction, the tools that a Java Developer should have in his / her toolbox.

It has often been said that the right tools for the job can make the job a lot easier. This is even more so when one considers the practice of developing software. When one uses the right tools, suddenly the task at hand becomes easier and quicker to accomplish creating a marked improvement in productivity. This book therefore focuses on the practical aspects of developing in Java specifically looking at common tasks and at the tools that make accomplishing these tasks easier and faster.

This is not a book that teaches Java. Instead it is a book that showcases typical tools found in a Java developer’s toolbox. If you are looking for a book that teaches Java you should look elsewhere and once you’ve found such a book, you should couple it with this one, I guarantee the result will be worth it.

1.2. An “Open Source Book“?

The idea behind this is far from original. Credit must be given to Bruce Eckel‘s Thinking in Java, which is freely available on the web and also available in printed format. While I used a similar concept, the Java Workshop differs fundamentally in that it may be redistributed and modified, much like open source software. For those that are a little finicky about details, the license is available here: License (licence.html) .