Product Description

Looking to study up for the new J2EE 1.5 Sun Certified Web Component Developer (SCWCD) exam?

This book will get you way up to speed on the technology you'll know it so well, in fact, that you can pass the brand new J2EE 1.5 exam. If that's what you want to do, that is. Maybe you don't care about the exam, but need to use servlets and JSPs in your next project. You're working on a deadline. You're over the legal limit for caffeine. You can't waste your time with a book that makes sense only AFTER you're an expert (or worse, one that puts you to sleep).

Learn how to write servlets and JSPs, what makes a web container tick (and what ticks it off), how to use JSP's Expression Language (EL for short), and how to write deployment descriptors for your web applications. Master the c:out tag, and get a handle on exactly what's changed since the older J2EE 1.4 exam. You don't just pass the new J2EE 1.5 SCWCD exam, you'll understand this stuff and put it to work immediately.

Head First Servlets and JSP doesn't just give you a bunch of facts to memorize; it drives knowledge straight into your brain. You'll interact with servlets and JSPs in ways that help you learn quickly and deeply. And when you're through with the book, you can take a brand-new mock exam, created specifically to simulate the real test-taking experience.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #60376 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 911 pages

From the Publisher
Want to get to know the latest (J2EE 1.4) versions of Servlets & JSPs so well that you can pass the Sun Certified Web Component Developer (SCWCD) 1.4 exam? No problem! Head First Servlets and JSPs will show you how to write servlets and JSPs, what makes the Container tick, how to use the new JSP Expression Language (EL), and much more. You won't just pass the exam, you will truly understand this stuff and be able to put it to work right away.

About the Author
Bryan Basham is a Sun Certified Developer for Java 2 Platform and one of the key designers of the Sun Certified Web Component Developer exam. He is also a course developer for Sun Microsystems concentrating on Java technology and Object-Oriented design principles. Bryan has worked on a large range of Java courses, including Sun's core Java programming course, the JDBC course, a J2EE overview seminar, the Servlet/JSP course, and the OO Analysis and Design course.

Kathy Sierra has been interested in learning theory since her days as a game developer (Virgin, MGM, Amblin'). More recently, she's been a master trainer for Sun Microsystems, teaching Sun's Java instructors how to teach the latest technologies to customers, and a lead developer of several Sun certification exams. Along with her partner Bert Bates, Kathy created the Head First series. She's also the original founder of the Software Development/Jolt Productivity Award-winning javaranch.com, the largest (and friendliest) all-volunteer Java community.

Bert Bates is a 20-year software developer, a Java instructor, and a co-developer of Sun's upcoming EJB exam (Sun Certified Business Component Developer). His background features a long stint in artificial intelligence, with clients like the Weather Channel, A&E Network, Rockwell, and Timken.

Customer Reviews

Where is the 4.5 star option?
Headfirst books are like marmite - people either love it or hate it. I have met people who say the Headfirst books are the best they have seen on the planet and THE way to prepare for java certification. And then there are others who say they are crap because they waste too much space and time with stupid jokes. I have done both programmer and developer certification but so far I have stayed away from Headfirst. Nothing personal. They just didn't seem right for me. And I started preparing for the Web component exam with Marty Hall's book. (An excellent book indeed!) But Although Marty's book is great (And in some ways better than this one) He is focused on giving a very practical guide to the world of servlets and JSPs. But the authors of this one really want to help you get through the exam. So if you are after the exam this one is indeed the better book. I started reading this one after finishing a little more than half of Marty's book and now I wish I had started with this instead. (By the way I did buy the Manning (Hanumant Deshmukh) book before this one while I was holidaying in India but after coming back I read all those angry reviews for the second edition and not to touch it!)

The plus points are

The explanations are very clear and very logical
100% focused on the exam
Quite a lot of questions and answers
Easy to read

The only negative point is you waste a lot of time because of all the funny 'head first' stuff. I agree it is a matter of taste. I was a fan of the 'C for dummies' once upon a time. But now reading a techie book is not my idea of fun (unless it is written by Dan Gookin maybe). So I am not so amused when they give advice about Herbal Decaff tea and stuff. Some of their jokes make me laugh but I feel I could finish this book a lot quicker if they take away all this stuff. They could have added more review questions instead of those I think.
But over all this is the best I could find for the exam.

Head First: Servlets and JSP
An excellent book that has a very good introduction to java web development, I was converting from .NET and the nicest feature of this is it's heavy integration with Tomcat. It demonstrates thoroughly how to set up a tomcat web application and details configuration procedures. Good ocverage of JSTL and Struts - but also a healthy coverage of best practices for developing servlets.

I recommend to anyone starting out with Servlets - a good introduction.

Excellent - but you have to like the style
Firstly, I should say this book really suits me... I've already read Head First EJB (HFE) and passed the Certification with over 90%.

I have yet to sit the SCWCD Certification but I'm confident this book will get me there. It uses an almost comic book style to get points across which is totally disimilar to any other technical books I've ever read. As a result you actually stay awake and keep focused.

It appears to have addressed one of the most annoying flaws of HFE as well - asking questions at the end of a Chapter that actually require knowledge from later chapters... very irritating!

Be careful though... the style does not suit everyone. Some people prefer the facts and foget the padding. Personally I can't recommend it enough however... So good luck in your Certification if your doing it.