Project Technical Lead
The best Java books for advanced developers and experts (2023) part 1
Nowadays, when information technology is advancing rapidly, education and learning new things is an essential part of success for all those who work in the field of software development. The IT industry is changing so rapidly that technologies and practices that were relevant a few years ago may be obsolete today. In addition, new technologies, frameworks and tools are constantly emerging that can fundamentally affect the way developers work.
Those who have achieved a certain level of knowledge and experience in Java development may feel comfortable believing that their current knowledge and experience is sufficient to remain relevant in the job market and slip into a comfort zone. However, the IT world is highly competitive, and less experienced developers who are willing to continually educate themselves can quickly acquire new skills and knowledge that would allow them to compete with java developer expert.
While experts may have an advantage in the depth of their knowledge, less experienced developers (e.g., medior java developer) may excel in the speed of adapting and implementing new technologies. Ultimately, the ability to adapt and grow with technological change is what distinguishes true experts from those who stay in their comfort zone and risk making their knowledge obsolete.
The world of Java development is no exception. Every year not only new improvements to the Java language come along, but with them come new books that bring these innovations closer to us in an easy-to-read form. But in today’s dynamic times, when free time is getting scarcer, there are so many books that the problem arises, which books are worth investing not only money, but also precious time.
That’s why we’ve prepared this article, which is aimed at more experienced senior Java developers and all those who would like to learn something new by studying the best books ever written for the advanced Java community.
For a list of books for beginner Java developers, see our previous article Java books for beginners.
Thinking in Java 4th Edition
The book Thinking in Java, written by Bruce Eckel, has generated enthusiasm from developers around the world for its clear explanation of the language’s principles, thoughtfully structured chapters, and many direct programming examples. From the basics of Java syntax to its most advanced features, Thinking in Java is designed to teach you, one simple step at a time.
Fourth edition Thinking in Java, which is ideal for people who are not yet familiar with Java but have a basic understanding of an object-oriented language (such as C++), continues the previous version’s thoughtful approach to learning Java inside and out, while also speeding it up by explaining some of Java’s newest features. This comprehensive tutorial covers the many nooks and crannies of a language that has a significant say in the world of programming.
The most striking feature of the book is its careful and extremely thorough treatment of Java, with particular emphasis on object-oriented design. For example, ten pages of sample code show all available operators. Some of the best considerations about objects are in this book, including when to use composition over inheritance.
The esoteric details of Java in connection with the definition of classes are thoroughly described. The material on interfaces, inner classes and designing for reuse will delight any practitioner. Each section also contains sample exercises that will allow you to test and extend your Java knowledge.
Java: The Complete Reference (13th Edition)
Fully updated for the current version of Java, Java SE 21, this comprehensive guide shows step-by-step how to design, write, debug, run, and maintain high-performance Java programs. Bestselling author Herbert Schildt and programming expert Dr. Danny Coward cover the entire Java language, including its syntax, keywords, and libraries. The book presents state-of-the-art development techniques and best practices.
Java: The Complete Reference, Thirteenth Edition, includes clear explanations, detailed code samples, and real-world examples that demonstrate how Java can be used in the real world. Language features such as JavaBeans, servlets, applets, Swing, lambda expressions, multithreading, and the default interface method are thoroughly discussed. With this book, you’ll get a detailed overview of all the latest features and changes from JDK 18 to the recently released JDK 21 Long Term Support (LTS).
Written in the clear, uncompromising style for which Herb Schildt is known, the book is designed for beginning, intermediate, and professional developers. The source code of all examples and projects is also available for download.
Core Java: Fundamentals, Volume 1 (12th edition)
Core Java, Volume I: Fundamentals, Twelfth Edition, is the definitive guide to writing robust and maintainable code. Regardless of the version of Java you use – up to and including Java 17 – this book will help you achieve a deep and practical understanding of the language and APIs. With hundreds of realistic examples, Cay S. Horstmann reveals the most effective and efficient ways to get the job done.
This book is written for readers with previous programming experience who are looking for in-depth coverage of the Java language and platform. Learn in detail about all the language features, including recent improvements in Java 17. The chapters and code examples used cover the most up-to-date features of the extensive Java library. Core Java has been preparing serious developers for serious Java programming for 25 years.
This first of two volumes offers in-depth coverage of basic Java programming, including object-oriented programming, generics, collections, Java lambda expressions, parallel and functional programming. For those who need it, classic Swing UI programming material is included. New content in this release includes text blocks, switch enhancements, records, pattern matching for instanceof, sealed classes, and more.
Core Java Advanced Features, Volume 2 (12th Edition)
Core Java is the leading hands-on tutorial and reference guide for experienced developers who want to write robust Java code for real-world applications. Now Core Java, Volume II: Advanced Features, Twelfth Edition, has been revised to cover the new features and enhancements of the Java 17 LTS release. As always, all chapters have been completely updated, outdated material has been removed, and new APIs are covered in detail.
This volume focuses on the advanced topics a developer needs to know for professional software development and includes authoritative coverage of enterprise programming, networking, databases, security, modularization, internationalization, code processing, and native methods, as well as complete chapters on streams, XML, and the Date and Time API. In addition, the chapter on Advanced Swing and Graphics covers techniques that are applicable to client-side user interfaces and server-side graphics and image generation.
Cay S. Horstmann clearly explains the new sophisticated features in minute detail and shows how to use them to create professional-quality applications. In thoroughly tested sample code, Horstmann demonstrates modern Java style and best practices. You can also use the carefully crafted examples for easy understanding when writing your own programs.
Java By Comparison: Become a Java Craftsman in 70 Examples
Write code that is clean, concise and to the point. A code that others will be happy to read and use again. Comparing your code to that of experienced developer is a great way to improve your coding skills. Get practical advice on improving your coding style through small, easy-to-understand examples that compare flawed code with improved solutions. Discover useful tips and tricks as well as common mistakes that an experienced Java developer needs to know. Make your way from Java novice to master craftsman.
This book is a useful companion for anyone learning to write pure Java code. The authors introduce you to the basics of becoming a software craftsman, comparing parts of problematic code with improved versions to help you develop a sense of clean code. This unique before-and-after approach will teach you how to create clean Java code.
Learn to keep your booleans under control, avoid formatting mistakes, get rid of magic numbers and use the right repetition style. Write informative comments when necessary, but avoid them when they aren’t. Make your code more understandable to others by following conventions and naming your objects accurately. Make your programs more robust with intelligent exception handling and gain confidence that everything works as expected using JUnit5 as your testing framework. Impress your colleagues with your elegant functional programming style and clear object-oriented class design.
Writing great code is not just about implementing functionality. It’s the little important details that make your code more readable, maintainable, flexible, robust, and faster. Java by Comparison will teach you to recognize these details and train you to become a better developer.
If you are a senior or java developer expert and you also speak German, check out our employee benefits and respond to our latest job offers. At msg life Slovakia we have a very nice atmosphere and interesting projects.
