James McGovern

In my travels I've run across lots of bad Java code (some of which I've written myself). Usually it's due to unrealistic project deadlines, bad estimates for how long something will take, no architecture in place, and developers' not really understanding the subtleties of the language. Many people have learned Java by reading those 1,000-page books where you cut and paste code from the accompanying CD. Usually this teaches you how to get simple things working but doesn't help you learn Java. This book is the solution to all these problems. The author, who has years of experience teaching computer science, emphasizes the importance of learning debugging skills. Industry research has shown that people who learn these skills first, master computer languages significantly f... (more)

View Of JMS From The Inside

This is my first book review for Java Developer's Journal. As coauthor of a competing book, I figured I'd be very critical of the author's writing and the book's content. I must admit I'm pleasantly surprised; this is a really good book and, in many ways, better than the book I coauthored. One of my biggest pet peeves is to walk into a bookstore and see overpriced 1,000-plus page books th... (more)

DataBase Programming with JDBC and Java

Database Programming with JDBC and Java by George Reese Published by O'Reilly & Associates Database Programming with JDBC and Java was originally published four years ago and is now in its second revision. Significantly improved over the first edition, the book is targeted toward those who want ideas on how database programming works with Java. This latest edition also covers advanced topic... (more)

Prescriptions for Your Java Ailments

I'm developing an Internet application where the user can register. How would i check if the e-mail address entered is valid? I have a couple of ideas you can implement. First, I suggest using JavaScript in the browser to check for allowable characters by scanning the input. The JavaScript could also look for a single instance of the @ character and at least one period. For a list of all ... (more)

Prescriptions for Your Java Ailments

Unlike the doctor who works for your HMO, I won't require a copayment for each visit nor ask you to fill out long arduous forms. I'm here to help readers of Java Developer's Journal find a cure for their Java system ills. Q: I'm constructing a tree from a file and I need a way to halt the tree construction until after the file is finished reading from a separate thread. A: A couple of appr... (more)