The Java platform is perfect for large businesses that have complex software needs, and it's easy enough to learn and use that any moderately skilled programmer can design and implement a usable solution in a reasonable amount of time. Having the right equipment, software tools, and knowledge can make programming in an enterprise environment far easier, more efficient, and more secure. For that reason, O'Reilly's Java Enterprise in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition should be on the desk of every Java enterprise developer, and on the bookshelf of every student Java programmer looking for a career in business software development. It excellently condenses every important aspect of designing Java programs for large, network-connected businesses.

Writing analysis

Generally, Java Enterprise in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition is easy to read and understand. Terms are not left unexplained, and if you miss something, the index is good enough to show you where you need to reread. The book flows organically, from building, deploying, and testing the software to connecting it to other application servers, mobile devices, and remote objects.

Java Enterprise in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition is rife with code snippets and examples that show how technologies are implemented, and diagrams explaining layouts of programs, application frameworks, and networks.

The only thing that bothered me about the book was the authors' misuse of third-person subjunctive pronouns. Standard English calls for hypothetical third-person entities to have a male gender; the authors consistently use a female gender throughout the book. As a reader purely interested in Java programming, I don't want to read someone else's political feminist crap; as a writer, I find it horribly distracting when the English language is abused.

Putting the book to the test

If you're already a Java hobbyist programmer and want to move into professional application development, you'll receive a great benefit from Java Enterprise in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition -- you'll be able to learn as you work more with the J2EE platform and the various other de facto standards established by the developer community (Ant, JBoss, Cactus, and Struts, for instance). Established Java developers will find new ways to do the same things; the book covers competing standards and technologies and shows how each, though similar in functionality, is useful. There are also tips for creating better documentation; refactoring existing code for greater speed, efficiency, and security; moving to a different database; improving code adaptability; and moving from a homogeneous Java environment to a mixed, heterogeneous one.

If you already own a previous version of Java Enterprise in a Nutshell, the 3rd edition will give you a more updated perspective on enterprise Java development. Most notably, the book takes into account the additions made to Java 5.0 (JDK 1.5).

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Copyright 2006 Jem Matzan.