Programmers: How long to learn Java?

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Any idea how long you think it will take me to learn java if I work out of a book for an hour a day? How many hors a day to get it done in 1 1/2 months? Here is what I know so far:

HTML
Javascript

Lots of work with and understanding how it works as well as ability to modify to my liking, not as much as HTML and javascript though:

DHTML
CGI scripts in general, but PHP, Perl, using SQL or MySQL databases

I'm more of a web designer/maintainer in a way since that is what I like doing. An example of my website is at www.ankitgupta.com

If age matters in learning it, I'm 15 and I'll be taking Computer Science AP A this year and AP B next year in which they will now be teaching Java.

Also, when I say I want to know how long it will take to learn, I mean to be able to program without having to refer to the book or a website every 2 seconds.

 

[silverpig]

#993 +(1047)- [X]

serluny: how long did it took u to learn c?
ReDPriest:4.5 minutes
serluny:how did u do that?
ReDPriest:i downloaded it into my brain..i got a program to do
that
serluny:what program
ReDPriestownload sh!t into your brain v3.1
serluny:how do i download it?
ReDPriest: go to www.downloadable-sh!t-for-your-brain.com
serluny:i cant download it something is wrong

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

There are three books you can get. One teaches you "java" in a 10 minutes. That's the core essentials. The next tries to teach you in 24 hours. That's a good read. The third takes you a week.

I don't remember what the names of the books are, though.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
There are three books you can get. One teaches you "java" in a 10 minutes. That's the core essentials. The next tries to teach you in 24 hours. That's a good read. The third takes you a week.

I don't remember what the names of the books are, though.

Thats all right, I already have a book for like 24 or 30 days. Its the Sam's one... too lazy to the find the book...must fight.... forget it... i can't even get the book from m y closet, how am I going to use it once I do?

Seriously, I'm gonna try and do one day of programming a day...

 

[speg]

Cool, I was thinking of learning Java this summer before I get to school in the fall. Let me know how it goes.

 

[agnitrate]

You can learn the basics of any language pretty fast. Once you learn how to actually 'program', it's just memorization of syntax, API, specifics, etc.

You can learn all the basic stuff in a week, easy.

-silver

 

[FrogDog]

Originally posted by: agnitrate
You can learn the basics of any language pretty fast. Once you learn how to actually 'program', it's just memorization of syntax, API, specifics, etc.

You can learn all the basic stuff in a week, easy.

-silver

Yeah once you pick up the basics it's just a matter of applying general programming skills, and knowing how to use all the different classes you'll need.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: FrogDog

Originally posted by: agnitrate
You can learn the basics of any language pretty fast. Once you learn how to actually 'program', it's just memorization of syntax, API, specifics, etc.

You can learn all the basic stuff in a week, easy.

-silver

Yeah once you pick up the basics it's just a matter of applying general programming skills, and knowing how to use all the different classes you'll need.

Thats what I was kind of expecting because thats in a way like how Perl, PHP, and javascript were to me. While I never really read a book about them or took courses, I just messed around with them and after some time I had begun to understand how they work.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: speg
Cool, I was thinking of learning Java this summer before I get to school in the fall. Let me know how it goes.

So are you going to be learning Java this summer? There would be no point of me telling you once school starts since summer is over and so no time to learn ahead of time... I'm confused by what you said.

 

[bradruth]

I took a Computer Science class all about java last year...it sucked. I remember very little of it. Programming is teh 5uck.

 

[jagr10]

Originally posted by: bradruth
I took a Computer Science class all about java last year...it sucked. I remember very little of it. Programming is teh 5uck.

Some people are just plain geeks and can program after a class or two. Programming is not for everyone. I tried taking it and couldn't figure out sh*t. I'm better at other subjects, but programming wasn't my thing at all.

 

[Chaotic42]

Get "Java How to Program" by Deitel and Deitel. If it's anything like their C and C++ books, it will serve you well.

 

[DJFuji]

I just finished a semester with java-- pretty easy if you already know other programming languages. It was one of the first formal classes i've had with OO programming, though, so that was new. It's a pretty easy language to learn-- it's like javascript (same syntax) with OO features. Personally, though, i wouldn't even bother with it unless you have to learn it for class. (or you plan to use it for actual programming). I personally like C# using the .net framework MUCH better. I already knew classic asp, though, so it was an easier transition.

edit: nice job on the website. Very clean look. Wish i could have done that when i was 15...

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: jagr10

Originally posted by: bradruth
I took a Computer Science class all about java last year...it sucked. I remember very little of it. Programming is teh 5uck.

Some people are just plain geeks and can program after a class or two. Programming is not for everyone. I tried taking it and couldn't figure out sh*t. I'm better at other subjects, but programming wasn't my thing at all.

You said it. I fancy myself more of a hardware guy anyway.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Try looking for "Teach Yourself Java in 24 Hours". Java is syntactically simple, so if you're familiar with Javascript, you'll be able to pick up many of the basics quickly. However, if you don't have any experience with compiled or type-safe languages, there will be a learning curve.

Don't forget to download a Java Development Kit (JDK) from java.sun.com.

 

[rh71]

Another question for beginners is... what release of the JDK should a noob work with ? Books are always behind, so is it okay to learn off the old releases first ? For example, they're on 1.4.1, but a Sams book I have is 1.3.1.

Are there big differences in the real-programming-world ?

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: rh71
Another question for beginners is... what release of the JDK should a noob work with ? Books are always behind, so is it okay to learn off the old releases first ? For example, they're on 1.4.1, but a Sams book I have is 1.3.1.

Are there big differences in the real-programming-world ?

If you want to be a programmer, you always need to stay current, if only to know what the feature set is (and plan for technology migrations). Working on older releases of technology only invites pain (ask any COBOL or PL/1 programmer). Since the shift from Java 1.1 to Java 1.2, most APIs have been stable, so learning 1.3 isn't a waste of time even when 1.4 and 1.5 show up.

There's always going to be a lag between new platform releases and third-party libraries, however, so expect that "real development" on anything with an existing codebase will be done a version or two back. This is especially true perhaps not as much in the J2SE (standard edition) world, where all that's really being done is additional functionality being placed into the core libraries, but definitely true in the J2EE (enterprise edition) world, where the specification defines the function of the container (essentially, a program that manages plugins that you will develop) can significantly change the contract between application developer and the platform.

 

[manly]

Generally speaking, you should use the newest Java2 SDK available for your platform. For most of us (Solaris/Linux/Wintel), that's 1.4.2.

Java doesn't implement side-by-side versioning of components in the manner that .NET does, but almost all Java APIs (both standard and 3rd party) do an excellent job of maintaining backwards compatibility. There are essentially no concerns for a beginner to use the latest SDK with an older book.

In the Java world, breaking a public API is a sin, as it should be. OTOH, this does leave some design errors in some code for fear of breaking clients.

Since AgaBooga is Indian, it'll take him about 20 minutes to learn Java.