Re: Learning java - any advice please?

Pete,

I'm sorry I don't have time for my typical long response, so please accept my 
down and dirty version:

1)  Don't try to get started in any kind of an IDE.  The best learning editor 
on the market is still notepad and a DOS prompt.  If you can learn to do it 
right this way then learning an IDE down the road will make a lot more sense.  
Plus you probably already have all the tools you need, just download the SDK 
and you'll be set.

2)  Read: A LOT.  There are some great books and plenty of lousy ones.  Since 
you already know RPG you might try Don Denoncourt's book "Java Application 
Strategies for the iSeries".  Sun's CORE series is pretty decent as well and so 
is the online tutorial at http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/index.html.

3)  Go slow.  As recently evidenced on the RPG list, RPG is not OO is not RPG.  
Comparing the two, especially from a beginners point of view, is like apples 
and volkswagons.

4)  Read some more.  Learn to use Sun's online API at 
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.1/docs/api/index.html, it will be your best friend.

5)  Go to http://www.javaranch.com/.  Great forums: a LOT of very knowledgable 
people hang out there just to help other people.  Also they have a super 
tutorial system where you actually write code and get reviewed etc.  It does 
cost $200 but it is the BEST money you could spend if you are serious about 
becoming a good Java programmer.

6)  Did I mention that you should read?  If I could only buy one Java book I 
would shoot myself, and then pick Ivor Horton's "Beginning Java".  This is the 
single most complete beginners book on the market and if you don't like it you 
can always use it as a jack stand.


Best of luck!

Joel

>I've finally decided it's time I learnt java. I
>want to be able to write
>client applications in java which interact with
>the AS/400.
>
>However, I'm confused and unsure where to start.
>
>First question. What software do I need to obtain
>and install on my PC to do
>this? I thought I wanted VisualAge for Java, but
>it appears the goalposts
>have moved and it's now some flavor of Websphere I
>need. Can anyone tell me
>precisely what flavor? I want to develop under
>Windows - learning Linux at
>the same time doesn't sound like my idea of fun.
>And I think I need the
>equivalent of what used to be called the
>"Enterprise Toolkit for AS/400".
>What do I ask for to get the iSeries bits?
>
>Second question. Where do I get this software
>from? Can I buy it online?
>You'll probably say "yes", but wait a minute - I'm
>in the UK and I can't
>find anything that looks remotely like what I want
>on the IBM UK online
>sales site. And the website appears to be down at
>the moment in any case.
>
>Third question. If IBM are so eager for
>grey-haired old RPG-ers like me to
>switch on to this brave new world of java, why do
>they make it so
>complicated?!
>
>Any help gratefully received by a poor decripit
>S/38 guy who's almost ready
>to give up before he's even started!
>
>Pete
>
>
>
>
>
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