This textbook presents a focused and accessible primer on the fundamentals of Java programming, with extensive use of illustrative examples and hands-on exercises.
Addressing the need to acquire a good working model of objects in order to avoid possible misconceptions, the text introduces the core concepts of object-oriented programming at any stage, supported by the use of contour diagrams. Each chapter has one or more complete programs to illustrate the various ideas presented, and to help readers learn how to write programs on their own. Chapter summaries and practical exercises also are included to help the reader to review their progress and practice their skills.
This substantially updated second edition has been expanded with additional exercises, and includes new material on bit manipulation and parallel processing.
Topics and features:
Introduces computing concepts in Chapter 0 for new programmers
Adds new chapters on bit-manipulation and parallel processing
Contains exercises at the end of each chapter with selected answers
Supports both text-based and GUI-based Input/Output
Objects can be introduced first, last, or intermixed with other material
Uses contour diagrams to illustrate objects and recursion
Discusses OOP concepts such as overloading, class methods, and inheritance
Introduces string variables and illustrates arrays and array processing
Discusses files, elementary exception processing, and the basics of Javadoc
This concise and easy-to-follow textbook/guide is ideal for students in an introductory programming course. It is also suitable as a self-study guide for both practitioners and academics.

Dr. James T. Streib is Professor Emeritus of Computer Science and Dr. Takako Soma is Associate Professor of Computer Science, and both are at Illinois College, Jacksonville, IL, USA. They are also co-authors of the follow-up text Guide to Data Structures.

1. Variables, Input / Output and Arithmetic.- 2. Objects: An Introduction.- 3. Selection Structures.- 4. Iteration Structures.- 5. Objects: Revisited.- Strings.- 6. Arrays.- Recursion.- 7. Objects: Inheritance and Polymorphism.- 8. Elementary File Input and Output.- 9. Simple Graphical Input and Output.- 9. Exceptions.- 10. Java doc Comments.- 11. Glossary.- 12. Answers to Selected Exercises.