JavaScript Application Cookbook written by Jerry Bradenbaugh, Richard Koman

Seasoned Java coders will find that the JavaScript Application Cookbook was compiled just for them. Written in the same vein as the old-style programmer "toolbox" titles, "JavaScript Application Cookbook" sheds the usual tutorial presentation and simply introduces a series of JavaScript applications you can use on your own sites. The cookbook begins with recipes such as a client-side search engine application that facilitates complex database searching to maximize local processing.

Javascript Bible, 3rd Edition written by Danny Goodman, Brendan Eich

Danny Goodman has repeatedly proven himself an excellent teacher of programming languages, and this latest edition of "JavaScript Bible" reinforces his reputation. If you're familiar with HTML and want to endow your pages with the kind of animation and interactivity that JavaScript can provide, this book is the best you can buy. Goodman covers the JavaScript 1.2 language comprehensively and focuses on developing documents that fully exploit the capabilities of Netscape Navigator 4.x.

Object Oriented Perl written by Damian Conway, Randal L. Schwartz

Most programmers know that Perl is a great language for "ad hoc solutions that are quick, cryptic, and unstructured. But Perl can also be a great language for developing large and complex applications" argues expert author Damian Conway. His new book, "Object Oriented Perl," is simply a tour de force guide to Perl development using objects. Filled with tips for design and better performance, this book is all you need to harness the new object-oriented capabilities of today's Perl.

Simply Scheme : Introducing Computer Science written by Brian Harvey, Matthew Wright

For anyone learning the Scheme programming language, the second edition of "Simply Scheme: Introducing Computer Science" provides a very digestible textbook-style introductory tutorial to this powerful and elegant language. In the words of the authors, "Simply Scheme" is designed to be a prequel to another book, "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs." This latter title has been a staple of introductory computer science courses for years, but it assumes a certain background.

Running Linux written by Matt Welsh, Matthias Kalle Dalheimer, Lar Kaufman, Matthew Welsh

Earlier editions of O'Reilly's Running Linux served as central guides on installing, configuring, and using the OS. The third edition of this guide covers the kernel through version 2.2.1 and will prove especially useful to those with high technical aptitudes and a well-tested willingness to experiment with their computing environments.

The explanation of how to rebuild the kernel--a particularly daunting task for many--deserves special praise, as do the sections on configuring network links and servers. Users will find that the informative, prose-heavy style packs maximum information into this book's pages. For example, the purpose of a Linux element is described and then the reader is shown various ways of using it, complete with explicit statements of what you type and what you get in response. Back this book up with a good command reference (Linux in a Nutshell is solid), and you'll be well on your way to Linux mastery.

Extreme Programming Explained: Embrace Change written by Kent Beck

Kent Beck's eXtreme Programming eXplained provides an intriguing high-level overview of the author's Extreme Programming (XP) software development methodology. Written for IS managers, project leaders, or programmers, this guide provides a glimpse at the principles behind XP and its potential advantages for small- to mid-size software development teams.

Enterprise Application Integration written by David S. Linthicum

Getting very different computer systems from multiple vendors--whether on desktops, servers, or mainframes--to share data and processing power is one goal of Enterprise Application Integration (EAI). David Linthicum's Enterprise Application Integration tours the technologies needed to master EAI. For any IS manager or system architect who needs to see what EAI offers, this title will definitely fit the bill.

The text offers a wide-ranging perspective on the challenges facing EAI, as well as the strategies and technologies that can help it succeed. The author makes a compelling case for getting various "stovepipe" systems (like inventory and financial applications) to share information and processing power. (While data warehousing combines databases, EAI goes further and integrates everything--data, methods, and objects.) This text details strategies for effective EAI using a variety of middleware products (like message servers, CORBA, and COM).

Professionl Linux Programming written by Neil Matthew and Richard Stones, Brad Clements, Christopher Browne et al.

Using open-source software, you can write robust applications without spending a dime on licensing fees. While Linux is great for developing applications, getting familiar with the various freely available tools and APIs can be daunting. "Professional Linux Programming" can help with an excellent tour of everything that you need to create data-aware Web applications on Linux in C. Filled with practical details and hands-on tips, this book will help you to take your existing C/C++ skills into the exciting new realm of open-source software and Linux.

Understanding SQL and Java Together written by Jim Melton, Andrew Eisenberg, and Rick Cattell

"While there are many books on the SQL language and countless more on Java, and even a few books on using SQL from Java programs through ... the JDBC API, we are unaware of any that broadly address the combination of the two," write the joint authors of "Understanding SQL and Java Together." This title is the best available when it comes to covering all the ways in which SQL and Java can work together. Besides full treatment of JDBC (both versions 1.0 and 2.0), it covers all of today's SQLJ standards, as well as Sun's Java Blend for "persisting" Java objects into databases automatically. Read this book to get more productive with databases by using the latest Java standards.

The Java Programming Language, Third Edition written by Ken Arnold, James Gosling, David Holmes

Written by several of Java's inventors, "The Java Programming Language, Third Edition" is an indispensable guide to basic and advanced features in today's hippest programming language. Aimed at the intermediate or advanced developer, this book delivers a cornucopia of information on how to do more with Java.

Java 2 Bible written by Aaron Walsh, Justin Couch, Daniel H. Steinberg

Revised to include the latest Sun standards, the "Java 2 Bible" is perfect for those who are approaching Java for the first time. This book is dedicated to explaining what Java is, while teaching you how to use it, too. While there are any number of good introductions to Java, this one earns points for its approachable and lively style; it doesn't get bogged down in every detail, but instead offers a digestible and appealing tour of core Java, plus the basics of database, network, and UI programming. Java is clearly a technology that's here to stay, and this book can get you on board quickly.

Professional Java Server Programming, J2EE Edition written by Subrahmanyam Allamaraju, Andrew Longshaw, Daniel O'Connor et al

"The evolution of Java from a means of developing applets for running in browsers to a programming model capable of driving today's enterprise applications has been remarkable," observe the team authors of "Professional Java Server Programming, J2EE Edition," from Wrox Press. They're right. Sun's Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) bundles over a dozen APIs and standards that'll let you build the next generation of enterprise-class applications. Concentrating on newer standards like JavaServer Pages, Enterprise JavaBeans, and XML, this massive text (packed with over 1,400 pages of information) gives plenty of nuts-and-bolts advice that you'll need to be successful with Java on the enterprise.

Professional Java XML Programming with servlets and JSP written by Alexander Nakhimovsky, Tom Myers

Aimed at developers with some previous Java experience, Professional Java XML Programming with Servlets and JSP shows how to combine two of today's hottest technologies to create highly customizable, data-driven Web applications. Besides a leading-edge tour of several important Java APIs, this book also contains an effective, in-depth tutorial for really understanding XML.

This main objective is to introduce a complete "application frameworks" for Java that uses servlets, JSPs, JDBC (for databases), and XML for customizing Web pages without changing source code. (This strategy lets anyone familiar with XML, SQL, and/or JSPs design new Web pages.) The "soft" or "generic" approach advocated here goes well beyond the basics and will help you rethink how Web applications work. The authors present the basics of each API as they build their solution. There are a variety of easy-to-understand sample servlets here--from a simple phone number database to an e-commerce shopping cart, and a servlet that incorporates JavaMail to send e-mail.

Enterprise JavaBeans written by Richard Monson-Haefel

As many Java developers and IS managers already know, Sun's powerful Enterprise JavaBean (EJB) technology offers an attractive option for developing server-side components. A suitable read for both managers and Java programmers, Enterprise JavaBeans provides a surprisingly clear and engaging introduction to designing and programming with EJBs.

The tour of the EJB component model presented here centers on several beans created and tested for a travel reservation system in a fictitious cruise ship company. The samples are just right in scale, large enough to test out key concepts in design and deployment, but small enough to be comprehensible, even to those who are not Java experts. The author pays close attention to the real-world issues of deployment with EJBs (as well as the differences among the vendor application servers that run them).

Java in a Nutshell : A Desktop Quick Reference written by David Flanagan

The 3rd edition of the well-known reference, Java in a Nutshell, covers the essential APIs of Java 1.2, including networking, security, input and output, and basic language and utility classes. Due to the size of the Java 1.2 API, graphics and graphical user interface classes are now examined in a volume called Java Foundation Classes in a Nutshell, and server-side and enterprise programming are detailed in Java Enterprise in a Nutshell.

Though primarily a reference, the book starts off with a thorough, fast-paced introduction to Java, exploring all the key topics, including syntax, object-oriented programming, security, beans, and tools. These discussions are brief and very information-dense, and if you are buying this book to learn the language, you will probably be overwhelmed by the speed of this initiation.

Concurrent Programming in Java , Second Edition: Design Principles and Patterns written by Doug Lea, Douglas Lea

Concurrent Programming in Java, 2nd Edition surveys a wide field of research in parallelism and concurrency and shows how to do more with multithreading in Java with dozens of patterns and design tips. Written for the advanced Java developer, this book offers a comprehensive tour of leading-edge thinking about parallel coding processes.

Within the dozens of techniques and tips offered here, this book accomplishes at least two goals. First, it shows how concurrency is implemented by default within Java, with material on how built-in features (like the synchronized keyword and its memory model) can be expected to perform when dealing with multiple threads. Naturally, Java threads themselves are also covered, including priorities, scheduling, and the like.

Beginning Java 2 written by Ivor Horton

"Beginning Java 2" is one of the two best introductory Java 2 books available. (The other is Peter van der Linden's "Just Java 2.") Assuming nothing more than curiosity and tenacity, this book explains how to create programs with the Java programming language. And not just simple, academic programs either--the applets and applications that Ivor Horton describes in later chapters take advantage of the latest features of Java 2.

Just Java 2 written by Peter van der Linden

So, you're starting from zero in an effort to learn the Java programming language. What book will help you most? "Just Java 2" should be on your desktop. It's one of a select group of introductory Java books that honestly earns its cover price. Shying away from complicated aspects of the language that are seldom used in most practical situations, Peter van der Linden focuses his considerable teaching skills on the parts of the language you really need to understand to be a good Java programmer.

Core Java 2 , Volume 1: Fundamentals written by Cay S. Horstmann, Gary Cornell

If you need to get something done in Java, "Core Java 1.2, Volume 1: Fundamentals" is one of the best books you can turn to for assistance. It's devoid of shaky, academic examples and packed with robust demonstrations that illustrate hundreds of powerful concepts. This book begins with an explanation of the Java programming and execution environments in general terms and then provides specific examples of how to put key parts of the core packages to work.

Java Servlet Programming written by Jason Hunter, William Crawford, Paula Ferguson

"Java Servlet Programming" is a superb introduction to Java servlets and their various communications mechanisms. It includes deep and comprehensive coverage of the Java Servlet API, and also of HTTP, non-HTTP socket communications, Remote Method Invocation (RMI), and more. Throughout, the authors present excellent illustrative code and go to much effort to explain why things work the way they do.

Core Java 2, Volume 2: Advanced Features written by Cay S. Horstmann, Gary Cornell

Picking up where the authors' first volume on Java left off, Core Java 2, Volume 2 covers the more advanced features of the Java 2 platform that can add polish and power to your Java programs. The authors' accessible--yet thorough--coverage of essential Java APIs help make this book an attractive choice for any working Java developer.

The JFC Swing Tutorial: A Guide to Constructing GUIs written by Kathy Walrath, Mary Campione

"The online form of The Java Tutorial has covered the Swing components since their first public early access release.... Readers often requested a print version of the online material. This book is that version," write the authors of "The JFC Swing Tutorial." This convenient printed version of tried-and-true lessons in JFC/Swing user interface development will let you use these powerfulclasses productively in your own projects. With dozens of short, comprehensible tutorials (and over 300 pages of sample code in an appendix), this title is a great place to start for mastering today's Swing.

Java 2 Performance and Idiom Guide written by Craig Larman, Rhett Guthrie

Now that the Java programming language is a few years old, experts are finding out what works and what doesn't with performance. The authors of the new "Java 2 Performance and Idiom Guide" have set out "to accelerate [the] mastery of some useful but slightly non-obvious idioms that experienced Java programmers apply.... In short, 'Fast Java Fast.'" They offer dozens of tips for improved Java performance, as well as ways to improve code readability and reuse. This is a book that all serious Java developers will want to improve their coding style.

Simply Scheme : Introducing Computer Science written by Brian Harvey, Matthew Wright

For anyone learning the Scheme programming language, the second edition of "Simply Scheme: Introducing Computer Science" provides a very digestible textbook-style introductory tutorial to this powerful and elegant language. In the words of the authors, "Simply Scheme" is designed to be a prequel to another book, "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs." This latter title has been a staple of introductory computer science courses for years, but it assumes a certain background.

Java for Engineers and Scientists written by Stephen J. Chapman

There certainly is no shortage of introductory texts on Java, but Stephen J. Chapman's "Java for Engineers and Scientists" provides an example-based guide to Java that draws on problems from math, science, and engineering. "From the very beginning, this book teaches Java in a style suitable for use on large projects," the author says. Remarkably clear and surprisingly accessible, this book may well be one of the very best choices for learning Java, provided you have just a little background in math or science.

Javascript Bible, 3rd Edition written by Danny Goodman, Brendan Eich

Danny Goodman has repeatedly proven himself an excellent teacher of programming languages, and this latest edition of "JavaScript Bible" reinforces his reputation. If you're familiar with HTML and want to endow your pages with the kind of animation and interactivity that JavaScript can provide, this book is the best you can buy. Goodman covers the JavaScript 1.2 language comprehensively and focuses on developing documents that fully exploit the capabilities of Netscape Navigator 4.x.

JavaScript Application Cookbook written by Jerry Bradenbaugh, Richard Koman

Seasoned Java coders will find that the JavaScript Application Cookbook was compiled just for them. Written in the same vein as the old-style programmer "toolbox" titles, "JavaScript Application Cookbook" sheds the usual tutorial presentation and simply introduces a series of JavaScript applications you can use on your own sites. The cookbook begins with recipes such as a client-side search engine application that facilitates complex database searching to maximize local processing.

Javascript : The Definitive Guide written by David Flanagan

In typical O'Reilly & Associates fashion, "JavaScript: The Definitive Guide" documents every nuance of the JavaScript 1.1 language specification. It may appear dry on the surface (many pages have the spare style of Unix online documentation), but this is the book you'll pull off your shelf when you want to know which method returns the primitive value of an object.

Red Hat Linux (v 5.2) Unleashed written by David Pitts, Bill Ball, David Horvath

The darling of the open-source movement, Linux offers up a tinkerer's dream: the ability to configure, manipulate, and (potentially) improve absolutely everything about the operating system. "Red Hat Linux Unleashed" recognizes the central desire of Linux adopters--control over just about everything (including the source code). The book contains plenty of step-by-step instructions to accompany the Red Hat installation CD-ROM.

The Cathedral and the Bazaar: Musings on Linux and Open Source by an Accidental Revolutionary written by Eric S. Raymond

Eric Raymond, hacker extraordinaire, writer, and one of the founders of the Open Source Initiative, returns to print with the publication of "The Cathedral and the Bazaar," a collection of essays extolling the programming strengths and business advantages of collectively created, peer-reviewed software.

Red Hat Linux 6 Unleashed written by David Pitts, Bill Ball

"Red Hat Linux 6 Unleashed" ships with its eponymous operating system on CD-ROM. Based on that fact alone, you're ahead of the game in terms of cost when you buy this book. Way ahead, in fact, considering that this book contains some of the best printed documentation of the Red Hat distribution around. The team of authors covers installation, configuration, networking (including Internet connectivity and the Domain Name Service), system administration, and applications.

Maximum Linux Security : A Hacker's Guide to Protecting Your Linux Server and Workstation

Linux machines serve scores of purposes on networks, but their very integration with networked environments means they're constantly exposed to attack. "Maximum Linux Security: A Hacker's Guide to Protecting Your Linux Server and Network" provides a comprehensive picture of Linux's strengths and weaknesses when it comes to protecting your systems from bad guys. The author offers explicit advice (e.g., replace sendmail with Qmail) and general recommendations (e.g., be on the lookout for unused services and disable them). In case you're wondering which Anonymous this is, it's the same person who wrote the very highly regarded "Maximum Security."