Re: Query: Java Training for the Novice

I like your point about people who are already programmers.

There is a learning style I found in my days as a Linux/Solaris programmer
working mainly in C that encourages playful learning of scripting languages.
Today in Java we call this a Domain Specific Language but it can mean the
same thing. I have found that using Groovy to playfully explore a Java API
has helped me go back and write straight Java. Sometimes I just need to toy
around with an API to learn it.

If you have a PHP, Perl, or Python person that is trying to explore Java API
you might try giving them Groovy as a shell scripting language... putting:

#!/usr/bin/env groovy

...as the first line of the file and marking it executable makes it a shell
script in Linux or Mac OSX. If they are a die hard Linux fan then the idea
of putting Groovy in the environment shouldn't cause a major problem. Once
in the environment path Groovy acts as an interpreted scripting language
that even a die hard bash fan could appreciate. Now you have all the Java
API to explore from a shell script.

That by itself has caused a few die-hard scripting language fans I know to
look at Groovy and by extension Java. Sometimes just toying around with
something is the first step toward learning it. And Groovy helps uniquely
here because it is idiomatically Java and you can switch from using Groovy
as a script to compiling Groovy and from compiled Groovy to Java.

In otherwords, you start small and grow into the entire Java stack at your
own pace. It's definately applicable to the learning styles of many folks in
the LAMP crowd. It may not fit with the learning style of folks coming from
a C or C++ background. In the case of coming from a C or C++ background I
found short tutorials like
http://triton.towson.edu/~mzimand/os/Lect2-java-tutorial.html helpful and
didn't need much else beyond being handed short term acheivable goals.

It's just a thought.

On Fri, Sep 19, 2008 at 9:44 AM, Tim Jowers <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> Hi Harold,
>
> Real happy to see your request. The market here in the USA has a dearth of
> programmers. The bottom line is to give them lots of tasks. Programming can
> only be learned by doing. What worked great for me was giving them
> manageable, mostly independent tasks and guiding them on where to go to
> learn.
>
> Another thing is to know if they are already programmers. The ramp up and
> learning process for SmallTalkers versus C programmers will be different.
> E.g. you'll need to train the C programmers the zen of OO. In contrast,
> VB/MFC folks will need to be convinced the enormous overhead of enterprise
> Java actually buys the programmer and the company something. Maybe your
> framework is not so hefty though. Finally, the GUI problem is just starting
> to be addressed by the Java community (drag-n-drop WYSIWIG)... I guess my
> point is you have to tailor the training to what your team already knows.
>
> For the average C++ programmer, just pointing them to the class hierarchies
> should suffice and then maybe telling them about the anonymous classes et
> al. An be sure to pint out Java "references" are really not "references" in
> the C/C++/assembly parlance but are like handles/smaltalk-references. And
> make a nice joke about NullPointerException. :-)
>
> I've actually tried a few times to et some locals together to learn Java
> but I guess the massive layoff cycles burned up the industry. I know many
> younger programmers who quit the industry after 1-2 years and even several
> older who found better jobs. Maybe the industry is recovering in the USA now
> though and they will come back out of the woodwork. I don't see many
> companies willing to trainup Americans today although this used to be in
> style a few decades ago.
>
> Best,
> Tim Jowers
> here's an online book of the new features in Java 1.4, Java 5, Java 6. Its
> a beta but I found book authoring is a waswte of time WRT financial income.
> http://www.serviza.com/javabook/
>
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 18, 2008 at 9:20 PM, Robert J. Cameron <
> robertjcameron-/[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Thinking in Java by Bruce Eckel. For someone getting started in Java, I
>> can't recommend it strongly enough. And the PDF is a free download. :)
>>
>> http://www.planetpdf.com/developer/article.asp?ContentID=6632
>>
>>
>> --- On Thu, 9/18/08, Vamsee Movva <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> > From: Vamsee Movva <[email protected]>
>> > Subject: Re: [Juglist] Query: Java Training for the Novice
>> > To: "Harold Meder" <[email protected]>
>> > Cc: [email protected]
>> > Date: Thursday, September 18, 2008, 5:27 PM
>> > Hello Meder,
>> > Please have a look at following URL
>> >
>> > http://www.javapassion.com/
>> >
>> > you can Find
>> >
>> > Free online courses (duration 4 to 5 months) that are being
>> > taught by Sang
>> > Shin
>> >
>> > Sang Shin is presently working for Sun Microsystems as a
>> > Technology
>> > architect, consultant, and evangelist.  He speaks on
>> > various Java and
>> > Solaris related technologies to worldwide developer
>> > audience. He is
>> > currently based in Boston area and his duties include
>> > evangelizing and
>> > consulting on important Java technologies such as Java EE
>> > (formerly J2EE),
>> > Java SE (formerly J2SE), Java ME (formerly J2ME), Web-tier
>> > frameworks and
>> > technologies such as JavaServer Faces (JSF), Struts and
>> > AJAX, and SOA and
>> > Web services technologies.  He also speaks frequently on
>> > NetBeans IDE and
>> > platform. He frequently talks on these topics in various
>> > technical
>> > conferences.
>> >
>> > I hope this helps.
>> >
>> > Cheers
>> >
>> > On Thu, Sep 18, 2008 at 5:04 PM, Harold Meder
>> > <[email protected]>wrote:
>> >
>> > > I would be interested in your opinion regarding the
>> > most effect way to
>> > > train novices in the use of Java and J2EE (minus EJB).
>> > > Self study, mentoring and formal training are all
>> > options.
>> > > What training or study groups are available in the RTP
>> > area?
>> > > What are the best texts?
>> > > Are there some good URL?
>> > > What did you do to train novice Java Developers in
>> > your organization?
>> > >
>> > > Thank you,
>> > >    Harold Meder.
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > Juglist mailing list
>> > > [email protected]
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>> > >
>> > >
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>>
>>
>>
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-- 
/** Shawn.Hartsock http://hartsock.blogspot.com/  //*/

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