07
Thu, Nov
10 New Articles

A Summer Reading List for Web Programmers

Web Languages
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

What books do you recommend? This is a question frequently asked at my Java seminars. I have a list of favorites, but I often don’t answer the question well because of memory limitations. Now, however, in front of me sits a stack of my favorite books and I’m finally going to answer that question in full. So reserve a little space in your carry-on luggage, because this summer, you’re going to do a little reading.

It’s been said that the only way to learn is through analogies. We can’t learn something new unless we can relate it to something we already understand—like legacy OS/400 programming. Besides, our new Web applications need to integrate with our existing OS/400 applications. That’s why the first section of my list includes those that are published by Midrange Computing:

• Mastering HTML
• e-RPG: Building Web Applications with RPG
• E-deployment: The Fastest Path to the Web
• Java for RPG Programmers
• Java Application Strategies for iSeries and AS/400—Second Edition
• iSeries and AS/400 SQL at Work

I own five books on HTML, and Mastering HTML is the only one I’ve read cover- to-cover. Why? The other books go into too much detail on stuff I don’t need to know. Note that my 14-year-old twins both taught themselves HTML and JavaScript from this book. The next two books cover methodologies for extending your applications to the Web that leverage your legacy programs and programmers. The first half of e-RPG has an excellent introduction to HTTP, HTML, and JavaScript before it moves into using RPG to dynamically build Web pages. E-deployment uses Java as Web middleware that communicates with your legacy RPG application through data queues. The next two books cover Java using analogies. Java for RPG Programmers gives complete coverage of the Java language by comparing it to RPG IV. My book, Java Application Strategies, complements the previous book, as it goes into application design and, with this second edition, has a section on Web architectures. iSeries and AS/400 SQL at Work covers SQL completely, including how to debug and performance tune your SQL applications.



My next list of books is from other publishers:

• Inside Servlets: Server-Side Programming for the Java Platform
• Web Development with Java Server Pages
• Practical Java Programming Language Guide: The Addison-Wesley Professional Computing Series
• Enterprise Javabeans: Developing Component-Based Distributed Applications
• Design Patterns

Book Highlights

My own copies of these five books are in tatters. You see, when I read a technical book I have a highlighter on one ear and a pencil on the other. I highlight sentences that explain important concepts and I also pencil in thoughts and new understandings. Later, I go back and re-read the highlighted sections and revise my penciled thoughts. Grab your own highlighter and pencil and begin reading Inside Servlets. You’ll find it an easy read, even though it has a relatively complete coverage of Sun’s Servlet API. Inside Servlets, like e- RPG, has an excellent introduction to HTTP and HTML.

I have two copies of Web Development with Java Server Pages. One is a PDF soft- copy that cost me $14 when I downloaded it from www.manning.com. But I found the soft copy to be so valuable that I ordered a hard copy.

Hard-core Reading

The last three books on my list are for those of you who are already comfortable with Java but want to move on to more advanced development. Practical Java Programming Language Guide covers best programming practices for Java that will improve your application’s performance and maintainability.

If you are developing an all-Java application, then you need to consider Enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs). (For more on EJB, read my Web article, “EJB for Everyone,” at www.midrangecomputing.com/ mc/article.cfm?titleid=b1537&md=200010.) While there is a small learning curve with EJB, one of its great strengths is that it is a standard architecture that you’ll use over and over again. After surmounting that first short, but steep, EJB learning curve, you can breathe easy because the curve flattens out. Tom Valesky’s Enterprise Javabeans is the best introduction to EJBs that I’ve read.

The last book on my list is Design Patterns. Definitely buy that book last, if you buy it at all. I’m hesitant to recommend it, because it is decidedly complex. Read it only if you want to be an object-oriented programming expert. If you read Design Patterns you will perhaps understand only some of it. But, if you use it regularly as a reference, you will be a step ahead of those Java developers that don’t have a well-thumbed copy of Design Patterns on their bookshelf.

Apologize to your spouse and get a hold of a few of these books. Then use the idle moments of your summer vacation to read them. Go ahead and get sand in those books; get ice cream on their pages; mark them up with highlighter, pencil, pen, or crayon. Whatever—the point is that you and your legacy applications need to become Web-enabled, and my list of books is a great place to start.



Don Denoncourt

Don Denoncourt is a freelance consultant. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


MC Press books written by Don Denoncourt available now on the MC Press Bookstore.

Java Application Strategies for iSeries and AS/400 Java Application Strategies for iSeries and AS/400
Explore the realities of using Java to develop real-world OS/400 applications.
List Price $89.00

Now On Sale

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: