Murach's Java Servlets and JSP, 2nd Edition by Andrea Steelman, Joel Murach 2nd (second) edition [Paperback(2008)] Paperback – January 1, 1994

I've been a software developer for the last 17 years. Since most corporate applications can and should be done on an intra or extranet, I made the jump from procedural languages and client/server to web development a couple of years ago. With web development It's always been tough to find concise, correct help that actually works- But this book delivers. If you've got at least a beginning Java class under your belt, a little SQL experience and just a little experience with HTML then you'll really be able to take advantage of all the things the book contains. You can actually start from scratch, the book walks you through the install and config of Apache's Tomcat, and after just a few chapters you'll have the knowledge to build a complete web site including the most important part, accessing data in a database.

I bought this because Amazons pairing system linked this book to a JDK6 book with a publication date of 2007. This book was published in 2003! That'll teach me to check the publication date of the links.This book is fine if you are still using Tomcat 4.1 as a release enviroment for your web apps. If you are like the rest of the world and have moved on to Tomcat 5 or 6, then forget it. This means the 2.1/1.2 Servlet/JSP specs rather than the 2.5/2.1 spec. From 1.2->2.1 there have been some powerful additions to the tagging which you obviously won't find any info on in here.I'll give the book 2 stars as it is well laid out, thought there are a few niggles where the content is wrong, but nothing major.

I've been developing software for 28 years and using Java for 10 years. However, I've never developed a web application. I needed a crash course on all things web and Java. On my shelf I have about two feet of new books on a variety of Java topics including three books on Java servlets and JSPs. Almost without exception all of these books make these mistakes:- Assume the reader knows too much and in some cases assumes the reader is already familiar with the topic- Takes a complex subject and makes it more complex by taking many digressions, explaining something without explaining why and referring to technologies not explained in the book.- Is loaded with undefined acronyms- Has a "smirky" attitude as though there is some private joke- Only shows code snippets without providing the complete context allowing for your own testing- Doesn't take a building block approach so that you learn the topic step by stepMurach's book makes none of these mistakes. I think all technical "how to" or tutorial books should follow Murach's format. There is one concept for each two pages. The left page explains the concept with clearly written text and the right page shows the example that demonstrates the concept. Each concept is built on concepts already learned in previous pages so that if you have understood all the previous concepts you easily understand the next concept. In this book the only assumption is that you're familiar with Java but not necessarily an expert. Along the way unimportant details are identified or there is an indication that the detail will be explained in a later section. If you read the book from start to finish you will not be confused at any point.Because there is an assumption that the reader only knows Java some basic topics such as HTML and the web paradigm are explained. The good news is that these topics are clearly identified and if the reader is already familiar with the topic they can be skipped without fear of missing something important and required for future sections.Aside from the format and process of this book there is the spirit of the book. It is clear the authors care very much about whether their book will help the reader become conversant on the topic. They act as a technical sherpa and are never condescending.I believe this is the only book a beginning Java servlet and JSP programmer will need. I'm not a servlet and JSP expert but I'm guessing this may be the only Java servlet and JSP book you'll ever need.My only disappointment in Murach books is that they don't have more of their books on more recent technologies such as Jakarta Struts or Enterprise Java Beans. It seems that most of their books are on legacy technologies (has Java servlets and JSPs become legacy?).

This is a great book! It starts from very basic structure of web applications with examples and builds upon that to creation of an actual web application. Of course, I am assuming you know HTML. You also need to know some Java or other programming languages that helps you pick up Java quick. Here is the simple idea, you write your program with Java and then using JSP, Servlets and J2EE make that appliaction a web application. Of course don't get scared by these topics and titles. Simply start reading this book, then you get a better idea if you need to put this book on hold while you are learning Java before tackling the rest. Normally the first 4 chapters are very easy to follow if you know HTML and some programming. The rest is not hard but it needs a little attention.That is where the actual JSP and ... starts!! It is a lot of fun!!Thank you Murach

Excellent product and delivered in a very timely manner :-)