Java Programming Resources Online (Java Foundation Classes)

0.3. Java Programming Resources Online

This book is a quick reference designed for speedy access to frequently needed information. It does not, and cannot, tell you everything you need to know about the Java Foundation Classes. In addition to the books listed earlier, there are several valuable (and free) electronic sources of information about Java programming.

Sun's main web site for all things related to Java is http://java.sun.com/. The web site specifically for Java developers is http://developer.java.sun.com/. Much of the content on this developer site is password protected, and access to it requires (free) registration.

Sun distributes electronic documentation for all Java classes and methods in its javadoc HTML format. Although this documentation is rough or outdated in places, it is still an excellent starting point when you need to know more about a particular Java package, class, method, or field. If you do not already have the javadoc files with your Java distribution, see http://java.sun.com/docs/ for a link to the latest available version.

Sun also distributes its excellent Java Tutorial online. You can browse and download it from http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/. Developers who are using the Swing GUI toolkit should read "The Swing Connection," a periodically updated online newsletter devoted to Swing programming. It contains news and useful tutorial articles. You'll find it at http://java.sun.com/products/jfc/tsc/.

For Usenet discussion (in English) about Java, try the comp.lang.java.programmer and related comp.lang.java.* newsgroups. You can find the very comprehensive comp.lang.java.programmer FAQ by Peter van der Linden at http://www.afu.com/javafaq.htm.

Finally, don't forget O'Reilly's Java web site. http://java.oreilly.com/ contains Java news and commentary and a monthly tips-and-tricks column by O'Reilly Java author Jonathan Knudsen.