Java 1.1 Unleashed

- Appendix D -
Online Java Resources

by Rick Darnell

This appendix lists online resources for the Java programming language, Java-enabled browsers, and other related technologies and projects.

CAUTION: Remember that any URL listed here is subject to change. Java resources are likely to appear or disappear from the World Wide Web just like any other Web page.

Java's Home: JavaSoft

Java's popularity encouraged Sun to create a site devoted specifically to Java and related products and topics at http://www.javasoft.com/ (see Figure D.1). In addition to news on the development of Java and access to the Java Development Kit, it also includes links to the HotJava browser, JavaBeans, JavaOS, and third-party vendors for JDBC development.

FIGURE D.1.

The official Java Website is a good place to start when looking for information about the latest developments and revisions to Java.

Java Clearing Houses and Information Repositories

A host of sites devoted to Java have sprouted up all over the Web; several others include Java as a major topic or subtopic. Although these sites are not affiliated with Sun Microsystems, they are still very valuable sources of information.

Gamelan: One of the first and still one of the best, the Gamelan site includes well-ordered links to applets and applications, plus a storehouse of information on Java's development (see Figure D.2). It also includes information and links to JavaScript sites.

http://www.gamelan.com/

FIGURE D.2.

Gamelan is probably the most comprehensive collection of links to Java information, applets, and applications on the World Wide Web.

Java Applet Rating Service: Better known as JARS, this site offers independent reviews and ratings of both commercial and shareware Java applets. It rates its picks by the applets' percentage standings against other applets (top 1 percent, top 5 percent, and so on). It includes indexes by category of applets, with links to sample pages.

http://www.jars.com/

Java Developer: The Java Developer is a public service FAQ site devoted to Java programming and related issues (see Figure D.3). It offers online resources, employment postings, and a large tutorial section called How do I...?.

http://www.digitalfocus.com/faq/

WWW Virtual Library: Links to events, reference information, programming resources, and a variety of applets and applications are found on this site.

http://www.acm.org/~ops/java.html

The Java User Resource Network: Also known as Java URN, this site has listings of programming and system consultants and developers (see Figure D.4). It also includes links to other Java sites and applets.

http://www.nebulex.com/URN

FIGURE D.3.

Digital Focus provides answers to many Java programming questions.

FIGURE D.4.

The Java URN has links to programmers and system consultants when you don't feel like doing it yourself or when you need professional assistance.

Tucows: Although it is not limited to Java, the Tucows site includes links to a variety of Java authoring tools, including offerings from big players such as Symantec and Sun. It also includes shareware Java development tools such as JavaPad and Jamba.

http://www.tucows.com/

JavaWorld: This online magazine has been at the front of the pack with news about many of the important developments for Java. In addition to news and views, each issue includes hands-on features and tutorials. Back issues are available for browsing.

http://www.javaworld.com/

JavaScript Information

JavaScript is one of the harder Web technologies to keep track of. It was originally developed by Netscape for Navigator, although a similar implementation is now in place for Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Official sites are virtually nonexistent, other than a handful of white papers and the JavaScript online manual at Netscape (http://home.netscape.com/). The lack of official information has encouraged several hardy souls to develop sites devoted to JavaScript and its use.

JavaScript Index: The JavaScript Index is a reliable and well-established collection of JavaScript experiments and demonstrations, plus links to an ever-growing list of home pages that showcase a variety of scripting tricks. The site also includes a JavaScript Library, which includes collections of source code from the Web.

http://www.c2.org/~andreww/javascript/

Voodoo JavaScript Tutorial: This is one of the first tutorials published for JavaScript, and it is still a good place for beginners to start. The tutorial is presented in a set of easy steps covering the basics of JavaScript and manipulating frames. It includes examples built into the tutorial pages, along with descriptive text and code samples.

http://rummelplatz.uni-manneheim.de/~skoch/js/script.htm

comp.lang.javascript: A great deal of information passes through the JavaScript newsgroup. Even if you don't post questions, you can still learn a great deal by following the traffic. Several of the established JavaScript gurus also monitor and post to this group.
news://secnews.netscape.com/netscape.navigator: Although the server is marked as secure, this newsgroup is still open to the general public. Its traffic is monitored by Netscape engineers and representatives, although they're not always quick to respond. JavaScript topics are found here, although they tend to be in the minority.

Java Tools

The entries in this section include software vendors and links to other developers who have worked to make developing Java applets and applications much easier than it was in the days of working with a text editor and the Java class compiler. Sun also has its own offerings. See the reference for www.javasoft.com, earlier in this appendix.

Symantec: Symantec has worked hard at staying in the lead with the development of Java authoring tools and add-ons to extend Java's capabilities. Current offerings include Java Café, Visual Café, Café Pro, dbAnywhere, and a just-in-time compiler.

http://www.symantec.com/product/index_devtools.html

Microsoft: Microsoft leaves no stone unturned when it comes to making sure that they have a competitive product in every major market; the world of Java is not immune. Microsoft's offerings include the company's own version of a free Java Software Development Kit, Visual J++ for developing Java applications, the Java virtual machine, and a just-in-time compiler for Internet Explorer.

http://www.microsoft.com/workshop/java

WebWare Online: WebWare is a software wholesale club for purchasing Java products--including software development tools and class libraries.

http://www.webwareonline.com/

Many other applications are designed to speed development of applets and applications, including IBM's AppletAuthor, Aimtech's Jamba, and Natural Intelligence's Roaster.

Java in the Newsgroups

comp.lang.java (comp.lang.java.misc): The Java newsgroups found under computer languages (comp.lang) host a variety of topics, including Java programming in general, and more specific aspects such as comp.lang.java.api for the application programming interface.
Digital Espresso: If you don't feel like browsing through the volumes of postings in the newsgroups, check out this Web site for a summary of the traffic in the Java newsgroups and mailing lists. It was formerly known as--and is sometimes still referred to as--J*** Notes.

http://www.io.org/~mentor/DigitalEspresso.html

Other Related Programming Information

Sams Publishing Books Online: Sams Publishing makes a variety of their titles available online in an HTML format--including several in their Java series: Peter Norton's Guide to Java Programming, Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days, The Java Developer's Guide, and Developing Professional Java Applets. All links to online books are on the same page, so look for the Java subheading.

http://www.mcp.com/sams/books_online.html

Programming Active Objects in Java: This discussion by Doug Lea covers object-oriented design issues as they relate to Java and Java applications.

http://g.oswego.edu/dl/pats/aopintro.html

Object-Oriented Information Sources Index: A searchable index to a variety of object-oriented information sources, including research groups, archives, companies, books, and bibliographies.

http://cuiwww.unige.ch/OSG/OOinfo/

Object-Oriented Design Online Reference Guide: A guide to online information sources about object-oriented design created by the lead database engineer for infrastructure at CompuServe.

http://www.clark.net/pub/howie/OO/oo_home.html

Java Online Bibliography: Although not all-inclusive, this online index includes key articles and press releases about Java and related technology issues.

http://www.december.com/works/java/bib.html

Yahoo!: The folks at Yahoo! have devoted several sections to Java, including a specific area for the HotJava browser.

http://www.yahoo.com/Computers_ and_Internet/Languages/Java/http://www.yahoo.com/Business_ and_Economy/Companies/Computers/Software/Java/http://www.yahoo.com/Computers_ and_Internet/Internet/World_Wide_Web/Browsers/ HotJava/