book

Head First Java, 3rd Edition

by Kathy Sierra, Bert Bates, Trisha Gee

May 2022

Beginner

754 pages

21h 51m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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Who is this book for?Who should probably back away from this book?We know what you’re thinkingAnd we know what your brain is thinkingMetacognition: thinking about thinkingHere’s what WE did:Here’s what YOU can do to bend your brain into submissionWhat you need for this book:Last-minute things you need to know:Technical Reviewers for the 3rd EditionOther people to acknowledge for the 3rd EditionTechnical Editors for the 2nd EditionOther people to credit, for the 2nd EditionJust when you thought there wouldn’t be any more acknowledgments*
The way Java worksWhat you’ll do in JavaA very brief history of JavaSpeed and memory usageCode structure in JavaWhat goes in a source file?What goes in a class?What goes in a method?Anatomy of a classWriting a class with a main()What can you say in the main method?Looping and looping and...Simple boolean testsExample of a while loopConditional branchingCoding a serious business applicationMonday morning at Bob’s Java-enabled housePhrase-O-MaticHow it worksExerciseCode MagnetsBE the CompilerJavaCrossMixed MessagesPool PuzzleExercise SolutionsSharpen your pencilCode MagnetsBE the CompilerPool PuzzleJavaCrossMixed Messages
Chair Wars(or How Objects Can Change Your Life)At Laura’s deskAt Brad’s laptop at the cafeBack at Laura’s deskAt Brad’s laptop at the beachBack at Laura’s deskAt Brad’s laptop on his lawn chair at the Telluride Bluegrass FestivalSo, Brad the OO guy got the chair and desk, right?What about the Amoeba rotate()?The suspense is killing me. Who got the chair and desk?When you design a class, think about the objects that will be created from that class type. Think about:What’s the difference between a class and an object?A class is not an object (but it’s used to construct them)Making your first objectMaking and testing Movie objectsQuick! Get out of main!The two uses of main:The Guessing GameRunning the Guessing GameExerciseBE the CompilerCode MagnetsPool PuzzleWho Am I?Exercise SolutionsCode MagnetsBE the CompilerPuzzle SolutionsWho Am I?
Declaring a variable“I’d like a double mocha, no, make it an int.”Primitive TypesYou really don’t want to spill that...Back away from that keyword!This table reservedControlling your Dog objectAn object reference is just another variable valueJava ExposedLife on the garbage-collectible heapLife and death on the heapAn array is like a tray of cupsArrays are objects tooMake an array of DogsControl your Dog (with a reference variable)What happens if the Dog is in a Dog array?A Dog exampleExerciseBE the CompilerCode MagnetsPool PuzzleA Heap o’ TroubleThe case of the pilfered referencesFive-Minute MysteryExercise SolutionsSharpen your pencilCode MagnetsBE the CompilerPuzzle SolutionsFive-Minute MysteryA Heap o’ Trouble
Remember: a class describes what an object knows and what an object doesCan every object of that type have different method behavior?The size affects the barkYou can send things to a methodYou can get things back from a methodYou can send more than one thing to a methodCalling a two-parameter method and sending it two argumentsYou can pass variables into a method, as long as the variable type matches the parameter typeJava is pass-by-value. That means pass-by-copy.Reminder: Java cares about type!Cool things you can do with parameters and return typesEncapsulationDo it or risk humiliation and ridicule.Hide the dataJava ExposedEncapsulating the GoodDog classHow do objects in an array behave?Declaring and initializing instance variablesThe difference between instance and local variablesComparing variables (primitives or references)ExerciseBE the CompilerWho Am I?Mixed MessagesPool PuzzleFive-Minute MysteryExercise SolutionsSharpen your pencilBE the CompilerWho Am I?Puzzle SolutionsFive-Minute MysteryMixed Messages
Let’s build a Battleship-style game: “Sink a Startup”First, a high-level designThe “Simple Startup Game” a gentler introductionDeveloping a ClassThe three things we’ll write for each class:Writing the method implementationsWriting test code for the SimpleStartup classBased on this prep code:Here’s what we should test:Test code for the SimpleStartup classThe checkYourself() methodJust the new stuffFinal code for SimpleStartup and SimpleStartupTestDrivePrep code for the SimpleStartupGame class Everything happens in main()The game’s main() methodrandom() and getUserInput()One last class: GameHelperLet’s playWhat’s this? A bug ?Gasp!More about for loopsRegular (non-enhanced) for loopsTrips through a loopDifference between for and whileThe enhanced for loopCasting primitivesExerciseBE the JVMCode MagnetsJavaCrossMixed MessagesExercise SolutionsBe the JVMCode MagnetsPuzzle SolutionsJavaCrossMixed Messages
In our last chapter, we left you with the cliff-hanger: a bugHow it’s supposed to lookHow the bug looksSo what happened?How do we fix it?Option one is too clunkyOption two is a little better, but still pretty clunkyWake up and smell the librarySome things you can do with ArrayListJava ExposedSolutionSharpen your pencilComparing ArrayList to a regular arrayLet’s fix the Startup codeNew and improved Startup classLet’s build the REAL game: “Sink a Startup”What needs to change?Who does what in the StartupBust game (and when)Prep code for the real StartupBust classThe final version of the Startup classSuper powerful Boolean expressionsReady-Bake CodeUsing the Library (the Java API)You have to know the full name* of the class you want to use in your code.How to discover the API Browse a book Use the HTML API docsUsing the class documentationExerciseCode MagnetsJavaCrossExercise SolutionsCode MagnetsJavaCross
Chair Wars Revisited...What about the Amoeba rotate()?Understanding InheritanceAn inheritance example:Let’s design the inheritance tree for an Animal simulation programUsing inheritance to avoid duplicating code in subclassesDo all animals eat the same way?Which methods should we override?Looking for more inheritance opportunitiesWhich method is called?Designing an Inheritance TreeUsing IS-A and HAS-ABut wait! There’s more!How do you know if you’ve got your inheritance right?When designing with inheritance, are you using or abusing?So what does all this inheritance really buy you?Inheritance lets you guarantee that all classes grouped under a certain supertype have all the methods that the supertype has*Keeping the contract: rules for overridingOverloading a methodExerciseMixed MessagesBE the CompilerExercise SolutionsBE the CompilerMixed MessagesPool Puzzle

Did we forget about something when we designed this?The compiler won’t let you instantiate an abstract classAbstract vs. ConcreteAbstract methodsYou MUST implement all abstract methodsPolymorphism in actionUh-oh, now we need to keep Cats, tooWhat about non-Animals? Why not make a class generic enough to take anything?So what’s in this ultra-super-megaclass Object?Using polymorphic references of type Object has a price...When a Dog won’t act like a DogObjects don’t barkGet in touch with your inner ObjectPolymorphism means “many forms.”Casting an object reference back to its real type.What if you need to change the contract?Let’s explore some design options for reusing some of our existing classes in a PetShop programInterface to the rescue!Making and implementing the Pet interfaceInvoking the superclass version of a methodExercisePool PuzzleExercise SolutionsWhat’s the Picture ?What’s the Declaration?Pool Puzzle
The Stack and the Heap: where things liveMethods are stackedA stack scenarioWhat about local variables that are objects?If local variables live on the stack, where do instance variables live?The miracle of object creationConstruct a DuckInitializing the state of a new DuckUsing the constructor to initialize important Duck state*Make it easy to make a DuckBe sure you have a no-arg constructorDoesn’t the compiler always make a no-arg constructor for you? No!Nanoreview: four things to remember about constructorsWait a minute...we never DID talk about superclasses and inheritance and how that all fits in with constructorsThe role of superclass constructors in an object’s lifeMaking a Hippo means making the Animal and Object parts too...How do you invoke a superclass constructor?Can the child exist before the parents?Superclass constructors with argumentsInvoking one overloaded constructor from anotherNow we know how an object is born, but how long does an object live?What about reference variables?ExerciseBE the Garbage CollectorPopular ObjectsFive-Minute MysteryExercise SolutionsBe the Garbage CollectorPopular ObjectsFive-Minute Mystery
MATH methods: as close as you’ll ever get to a global methodThe difference between regular (non-static) and static methodsWhat it means to have a class with static methodsStatic methods can’t use non-static (instance) variables!Static methods can’t use non-static methods, either!Static variable: value is the same for ALL instances of the classInitializing a static variablestatic final variables are constantsfinal isn’t just for static variables...Math methodsWrapping a primitiveJava will Autobox primitives for youAutoboxing works almost everywhereBut wait! There’s more! Wrappers have static utility methods too!And now in reverse...turning a primitive number into a StringNumber formattingFormatting deconstructed...The percent (%) says, “insert argument here” (and format it using these instructions)The format String uses its own little language syntaxThe format specifierThe only required specifier is for TYPEWhat happens if I have more than one argument?Just one more thing...static importsFireside ChatsExerciseBE the compilerTrue or FalseExercise SolutionSharpen your pencilBE the compilerTrue or False
Tracking song popularity on your jukeboxYour first job, sort the songs in alphabetical orderGreat question! You spotted the diamond operatorExploring the java.util API, List and CollectionsIn the “Real-World”™ there are lots of ways to sort“Natural Ordering,” what Java means by alphabeticalBut now you need Song objects, not just simple StringsChanging the Jukebox code to use Songs instead of StringsIt won’t compile!The sort() method declarationGenerics means more type-safetyLearning genericsUsing generic CLASSESUsing type parameters with ArrayListUsing generic METHODSHere’s where it gets weird...Revisiting the sort() methodIn generics, “extends” means “extends or implements”Finally we know what’s wrong...The Song class needs to implement ComparableThe new, improved, comparable Song classWe can sort the list, but...Using a custom ComparatorUpdating the Jukebox to use a ComparatorFill-in-the-blanksBut wait! We’re sorting in two different ways!Sorting using only ComparatorsJust the code that mattersWhat do we REALLY need in order to sort?Enter lambdas! Leveraging what the compiler can inferWhere did all that code go?Some interfaces have only ONE method to implementUpdating the Jukebox code with lambdasReverse EngineerUh-oh. The sorting all works, but now we have duplicates...We need a Set instead of a ListThe Collection API (part of it)Using a HashSet instead of ArrayListWhat makes two objects equal?How a HashSet checks for duplicates: hashCode() and equals()The Song class with overridden hashCode() and equals()If we want the set to stay sorted, we’ve got TreeSetWhat you MUST know about TreeSet...TreeSet elements MUST be comparableWe’ve seen Lists and Sets, now we’ll use a MapCreating and filling collectionsConvenience Factory Methods for CollectionsFinally, back to genericsUsing polymorphic arguments and genericsBut will it work with List<Dog>?What could happen if it were allowed...?We can do this with wildcardsUsing the method’s generic type parameterExerciseBE the Compiler, advancedExercise SolutionFill-in-the-blanks“Reverse Engineer” lambdas exerciseSorting with lambdasTreeSet exerciseBE the Compiler solution
Tell the computer WHAT you wantFireside ChatsWhen for loops go wrongMixed MessagesSmall errors in common code can be hard to spotBuilding blocks of common operationsIntroducing the Streams APIGetting started with StreamsStreams are like recipes: nothing’s going to happen until someone actually cooks themGetting a result from a StreamStream operations are building blocksBuilding blocks can be stacked and combinedCustomizing the building blocksCreate complex pipelines block by blockYes, because Streams are lazyTerminal operations do all the workCollecting to a ListGuidelines for working with streamsCorrect! Stream operations don’t change the original collection.ExerciseCode MagnetsHello Lambda, my (not so) old friendPassing behavior aroundThe shape of lambda expressionsAnatomy of a lambda expressionVariety is the spice of lifeA lambda might have more than one lineSingle-line lambdas don’t need ceremonyA lambda might not return anythingA lambda might have zero, one, or many parametersHow can I tell if a method takes a lambda?ExerciseBE the Compiler, advancedSpotting Functional InterfacesFunctional interfaces in the wildLou’s back!ExerciseReady-Bake CodeLou’s Challenge #1: Find all the “rock” songsFilter a stream to keep certain elementsLet’s Rock!Getting clever with filtersLou’s Challenge #2: List all the genresMapping from one type to anotherRemoving duplicatesOnly one of every genreJust keep building!Sometimes you don’t even need a lambda expressionCollecting results in different waysBut wait, there’s more!Checking if something existsFind a specific thingCount the itemsWell, some operations may return something, or may not return anything at allOptional is a wrapperYes, but now we have a way to ask if we have a resultDon’t forget to talk to the Optional wrapperThe Unexpected CoffeeFive-Minute MysteryPool PuzzleMixed MessagesWho Does What?Exercise SolutionsCode MagnetsBE the CompilerSharpen your pencilFive-Minute MysteryPool Puzzle
Let’s make a Music MachineThe finished BeatBox looks something like this:We’ll start with the basicsThe JavaSound APIFirst we need a SequencerSomething’s wrong!What happens when a method you want to call (probably in a class you didn’t write) is risky?Methods in Java use exceptions to tell the calling code, “Something Bad Happened. I failed.”The compiler needs to know that YOU know you’re calling a risky methodAn exception is an object... of type ExceptionIf it’s your code that catches the exception, then whose code throws it?Flow control in try/catch blocksFinally: for the things you want to do no matter whatFlow ControlDid we mention that a method can throw more than one exception?Catching multiple exceptionsExceptions are polymorphicMultiple catch blocks must be ordered from smallest to biggestYou can’t put bigger baskets above smaller basketsWhen you don’t want to handle an exception...Ducking (by declaring) only delays the inevitableGetting back to our music code...Exception RulesCode KitchenMaking actual soundVersion 1: Your very first sound player appMaking a MidiEvent (song data)MIDI message: the heart of a MidiEventAnatomy of a messageChange a messageVersion 2: Using command-line args to experiment with soundsWhere we’re headed with the rest of the CodeKitchensExerciseTrue or FalseCode MagnetsJavaCrossSharpen your pencilExercise SolutionTrue or FalseCode MagnetsJavaCross
It all starts with a windowPut widgets in the windowYour first GUI: a button on a frameBut nothing happens when I click it...Getting a user eventListeners, Sources, and EventsGetting back to graphics...Make your own drawing widgetFun things to do in paintComponent()Behind every good Graphics reference is a Graphics2D objectBecause life’s too short to paint the circle a solid color when there’s a gradient blend waiting for youWe can get an event. We can paint graphics. But can we paint graphics when we get an event?GUI layouts: putting more than one widget on a frameLet’s try it with TWO buttonsSo now we need FOUR widgetsAnd we need to get TWO eventsHow do you get action events for two different buttons when each button needs to do something different?Inner class to the rescue!An inner class instance must be tied to an outer class instance*How to make an instance of an inner classJava ExposedLambdas to the rescue! (again)ActionListener is a Functional InterfaceLambdas, clearer and more conciseUsing an inner class for animationCode KitchenListening for a non-GUI eventAn easier way to make messages/eventsVersion One: using the new static makeEvent() methodVersion Two: registering and getting ControllerEventsVersion Three: drawing graphics in time with the musicExerciseWho Am I?BE the CompilerPool PuzzleExercise SolutionsWho am I?BE the CompilerPool Puzzle
Swing componentsComponents can be nestedLayout ManagersHow does the layout manager decide?Different layout managers have different policiesThe Big Three layout managers: border, flow, and boxPlaying with Swing componentsCode KitchenMaking the BeatBoxExerciseWhich code goes with which layout?Code FragmentsGUI-CrossExercise SolutionsWhich code goes with which layout?GUI-Cross
Capture the beatSaving stateWriting a serialized object to a fileData moves in streams from one place to anotherWhat really happens to an object when it’s serialized?But what exactly IS an object’s state? What needs to be saved?If you want your class to be serializable, implement SerializableDeserialization: restoring an objectWhat happens during deserialization?Saving and restoring the game charactersThe GameCharacter classVersion ID: A big serialization gotchaUsing the serialVersionUIDObject SerializationWriting a String to a Text FileText file example: e-FlashcardsQuiz Card Builder (code outline)The java.io.File classReading from a text fileQuiz Card Player (code outline)Parsing with String split()NIO.2 and the java.nio.file packagePath, Paths, and Files (messing with directories)Finally, a closer look at finallyRemember, finally ALWAYS runs!!Finally, a closer look at finally, cont.There IS a better way!The try-with-resources (TWR), statementAutocloseable, the very small catchAutocloseable, it’s everywhere you do I/OCode KitchenSaving a BeatBox patternRestoring a BeatBox patternCan they be saved?ExerciseTrue or FalseCode MagnetsExercise SolutionsTrue or FalseCode Magnets
Real-time BeatBox chatConnecting, sending, and receiving1. Connect2. ReceiveReading from the network with BufferedReader3. SendWriting to the network with PrintWriterThere’s more than one way to make a connectionUsing a SocketThe DailyAdviceClientDailyAdviceClient codeWriting a simple server applicationDailyAdviceServer codeWriting a Chat ClientThe really, really simple Chat ServerJava has multiple threads but only one Thread classWhat does it mean to have more than one call stack?To create a new call stack you need a job to runTo make a job for your thread, implement the Runnable interfaceHow NOT to run the RunnableHow we used to launch a new threadA better alternative: don’t manage the Threads at allRunning one jobThe three states of a new threadThe thread schedulerHow did we end up with different results?Putting a thread to sleepUsing sleep to make our program more predictableThere are downsides to forcing the thread to sleepCounting down until readyMaking and starting two threads (or more!)Pooling ThreadsRunning multiple threadsWhat will happen?Closing time at the thread poolUm, yes. There IS a dark side. Multithreading can lead to concurrency “issues.”ExerciseWho Am I?New and improved SimpleChatClientExerciseCode MagnetsExercise SolutionsWho Am I?Code MagnetsCode Kitchen
What could possibly go wrong?The Ryan and Monica problem, in codeThe Ryan and Monica exampleWe need to check the balance and spend the money as one atomic thingUsing an object’s lockUsing synchronized methodsIt’s important to lock the correct objectThe dreaded “Lost Update” problemLet’s run this code...Make the increment() method atomic. Synchronize it!Deadlock, a deadly side of synchronizationYou don’t always have to use synchronizedAtomic variablesCompare-and-swap with atomic variablesRyan and Monica, going atomicWriting a class for immutable dataUsing immutable objectsChanging immutable dataMore problems with shared dataReading from a changing data structure causes an ExceptionUse a thread-safe data structureCopyOnWriteArrayListExerciseBE the JVMFive-Minute MysteryExercise SolutionBE the JVMFive-Minute Mystery
Final BeatBox client programFinal BeatBox server program
#11 JShell (Java REPL)Why do you care?#10 PackagesPackages prevent class name conflictsPreventing package name conflictsCompiling and running with packages#9 Immutability in Strings and WrappersWhy do you care that Strings are immutable?Why do you care that Wrappers are immutable?#8 Access levels and access modifiers (who sees what)#7 VarargsWhy do you care?#6 AnnotationsWhy do you care?#5 Lambdas and MapsWhy do you care?#4 Parallel StreamsGoing parallelOK now what?Multithreading is taken care ofDo not use parallel everywhere!#3 Enumerations (also called enumerated types or enums)Who’s in the band?The old way to fake an “enum”:#2 Local Variable Type Inference (var)Type inference, NOT dynamic typesSomeone has to read your codeTip: Better with useful variable namesTip: Variable will be the concrete typeTip: Don’t use var with the diamond operator#1 RecordsWhy do you care?

Content preview from Head First Java, 3rd Edition

How to Use This Book: Intro

Who is this book for?

If you can answer “yes” to all of these:

Have you done some programming?
Do you want to learn Java?
Do you prefer stimulating dinner party conversation to dry, dull, technical lectures?

this book is for you.

Note

This is NOT a reference book. Head First Java is a book designed for learning, not an encyclopedia of Java facts.

Who should probably back away from this book?

If you can answer “yes” to any one of these:

Is your programming background limited to HTML only, with no scripting language experience?

(If you’ve done anything with looping or if/then logic, you’ll do fine with this book, but HTML tagging alone might not be enough.)
Are you a kick-butt C++ programmer looking for a reference book?
Are you afraid to try something ...