Imagine a world without eBay...unthinkable! How would you get that Farrah Fawcett poster, retired Beanie Baby, or first-edition pet rock? Handling over a gazillion (OK, we exaggerate--it's actually only 1 billion) page views each day, server-side Java makes eBay work.

Isn't it time you learned the latest (J2EE 1.4) versions of Servlets & JSPs? 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 Sun Certified Web Component Developer (SCWCD) 1.4 exam. If that's what you want to do, that is. Maybe you don't care about the exam, but need to use Servlets & 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).

No problem. Head First Servlets and JSP's brain-friendly approach drives the knowledge straight into your head (without sharp instruments). You'll interact with servlets and JSPs in ways that help you learn quickly and deeply. It may not be The Da Vinci Code, but quickly see why so many reviewers call it "a page turner". Most importantly, this book will help you use what you learn. It won't get you through the exam only to have you forget everything the next day.

Learn to write servlets and JSPs, what makes the Container tick (and what ticks it off), how to use the new JSP Expression Language (EL), what you should NOT write in a JSP, how to write deployment descriptors, secure applications, and even use some server-side design patterns. Can't talk about Struts at a cocktail party? That'll change. You won't just pass the exam, you will truly understand this stuff, and you'll be able to put it to work right away.

This new exam is tough--much tougher than the previous version of the SCWCD. The authors of Head First Servlets and JSP know: they created it. (Not that it EVER occurred to them that if they made the exam really hard you'd have to buy a study guide to pass it.) The least they could do is give you a stimulating, fun way to pass the thing. If you're one of the thousands who used Head First EJB to pass the SCWCD exam, you know what to expect!

Rating:

Rating:

Rating:

Good book ... with some major annoyances,  September 07 2005
Submitted by Steven Chanin   [Respond | View]

This is the second Head First book I've read (the first was on Java). Overall, I think the book is a good way to extend your knowledge into server/enterprise side Java, but I'm not nearly as happy with it as I was with the Java book.

My experience has been negatively impacted by two factors:

1) the mock exams repeatedly ask questions about content not covered in the book. This is extremely frustrating. If the authors want you to read a section of spec XYZ in addition to the book, they should tell you to do so (or better yet, cover the material themselves so you don't have to read that whole spec to get the pieces they skipped over).

2) Not enough hands on exercises. I'm taking tons of notes as I read the book, but I think my retension would be a lot higher over the long term if I did more hands on application. I'm going to go build some stuff on my own to apply the concepts from the book, but I expected a lot more sample problems as a part of the book than I'm getting.


Head First Sun Certified Web Component Developer Exam,  April 24 2005
Submitted by Tommy M. McGuire   [Respond | View]

There it is on page 94: "Important note: while the first three chapters covered background information, from this page forward in the book,virtually everything you're going to see is directly related to or explicitly part of the exam."

I would expect this sort of thing from most of the certification industry, but not from O'Reilly. Essentially, this book covers the certification exam; that it also provides an introduction to Servlets and JSP is largely incidental. O'Reilly is certainly one of the most consistent, best publishers of technical material, and this book is very good. However, it is a surprise that they would publish a certification exam study guide rather than a serious tutorial about the material. Even though I have learned a good bit about Servlets, I am left wondering what they have left out, simply because it is not on the exam.

If you are looking for a SCWCDE study guide, this is it. If you are looking for a fast, good introduction to Servlets, this may also be it. But in the future, I'll probably give the Head First series a pass, and I'll be a little more careful about reflexively picking up O'Reilly books.



Wonderful Book!,  April 14 2005
Submitted by Paul Bourdeaux   [Respond | View]

Outstanding Book! Whether you are new to Servlets & JSP or a seasoned veteran who wants to learn how to do things the right way, this book is perfect!

I tend to buy every book I can find when I am researching new technology (I'm a geek, I know!), and I am never, ever disappointed by any book in the HF series. Most of my books get filed in the ilbrary for later reference... but the HF books have a place on my desk!


THANK YOU! OR WHAT?,  March 28 2005
Submitted by ABBS   [Respond | View]

Oh Boy
Do you learn something or what? This book really worked me up. I wasn't expecting that I would have a VERY sound introduction to Servlet and JSP technology let alone STRUTS. DO NOT be FOOLED. This book is the perfect introduction for the Servlet & JSP technologies. I even have an understanding of how the Jakarta STRUTS framework fits into the J2EE.
If you are looking for a sound introduction to the web component architecture of the J2EE platform then look no further than this book. Do nott believe all those people saying taht this is not a good refernce book. It wasn't supposed to be.
Know Servlets 2.4 and JSP 2.0 with as much little effort as possible and get a LIFE. GO BUY THIS BOOK.


Good for beginers like ME !,  February 22 2005
Submitted by Sabya   [Respond | View]

I am mainframe guy having some knowledge of java and started learning J2EE.
I saw this book when i was really bored of reading old style serious books and manuals, so tried a new one and i MUST say its a very good book for me to start, BUT i may need one more book on JSp and Servlet after i finish reading this book(I like the Servlet and JSP cookbook), everything is fine with this book but what i need is more real life code and examples that this lacks.


Where is the code for each and every program,  December 24 2004
Submitted by Vishal   [Respond | View]

I am reading the book and new to jsp and servlets. The book is really good . It could be further improved by giving softcopy of the book with a CD rom and some exams for SCWCD.
also code for each and every program in the book should be given.

Thanks
Vishal


Thanks... Head First,  December 21 2004
Submitted by Rajesh Maheshwari   [Respond | View]

Hello i m Rajesh Maheshwari from India
I really appreciate this works.
I have learned so much good fundamentals in servlets & JSP.
It is good for those who knows java and wants to work with servlets & JSP
And the way they given are quite good with pictures.



Needs more coding activities,  October 22 2004
Submitted by Anonymous Reader   [Respond | View]




Needs more coding activities,  October 21 2004
Submitted by Anonymous Reader   [Respond | View]

I should emphasise that the book is worth buying and I understand that it's exam focussed. The activities are interesting, it's just that there comes a point where retention is improved by placing fingers on keys, not by reading about it again, regardless of what form it's in.


Needs more coding activities,  October 21 2004
Submitted by John   [Respond | View]

Like the book, BUT, after about Chapter 5, the authors seem to drop any attempt to have you actively code, which is strange given that previous chapters had you actively building code around the subject matter.

It doesn't take long to get a bit fed up with the "sharpen your pencil" and coffee cram activties, particularly when the level of complexity increases as it invariably does with anything java related.

There's nothing like writing and running code to reinforce the issue being addressed, particularly if the examples can be linked together or built on as you go. It really needs it.




Fun book!,  October 11 2004
Submitted by Aurken   [Respond | View]

This book is probably the most entertaining prep book for a Sun certification that I have ever read. It is fun and very detailed on all the objectives that are covered on the SCWCD exam. I would recommend this book to everyone that wants to pass the 1.4 certification.


Basic Building Block to know Struts,  October 02 2004
Submitted by Anonymous Reader   [Respond | View]

Hello Kathy. Gosh, you guys really did your homeworks. I m impressed. Yeah, I had quite a few good laughs too. By the way, that actor in the still on page 57 is one of Quentin Tarantino all time favourite actors. Quentin would probably get a copy too if he knew.


Basic Building Block to know Struts,  October 01 2004
Submitted by Anonymous Reader   [Respond | View]

Howdy! Thanks for the review--the stills that we use in the book are from source footage which is in the public domain. There *are* some components of the movie which still have registered copyrights, but that does not include the footage from which our stills are produced.

All images used in our books are either custom photography we've done ourselves, or licensed from vendors of buy-out images which are either stock footage and photography or images from the public domain, not protected from copyright.

We have to laugh when we see some of the characters in our book appear in other places...one of our favorite female characters showed up in an ad for an online dating service :)
=====


Basic Building Block to know Struts,  September 30 2004
Submitted by JavaNme   [Respond | View]

Good stuff. I read n understand. I started using Strut for my project but my foundation on Servlet and JSP weren't up to par. Although, I read a few good references, this book makes and gives good supplements. It helps to fill in missing pictures and complete pictures for you. It is the second Head Start book I bought. I have yet to buy Head Start EJB, still comtemplating.

However, I do find one major fault. The publisher had used movie scene from a classic Chinese movie made in the 70s. I believed the rights to this movie is still owned by a Chinese movie mogul. You guys probably violated some copyrights laws here in Asia. Do I see a lawsuit coming? Probably. But I am not sure if movie studio folks in HongKong read or use Java.


Just Grab it,  September 28 2004
Submitted by Anshu Mishra   [Respond | View]

Here is your key to success in web development if you are going to use Servlets/JSP's. Last year I had done a project which involved it. It required me a lot of hard work, googling, etc, to accomplish the job. But after reading this book, I feel, now one just don't need to have any other resource if he wants to start from the scratch. Just Grab it

I am waiting now for Head First Design Pattern..............


Head First Servlets rocks !,  September 07 2004
Submitted by Jef Cumps (Belgium)   [Respond | View]

I've had the chance to be one of the advance reviewers for this book, and in my opinion this book rocks!

If you want to prepare for SCWCD, or just want to learn what you need to know about Servlets and JSP's, this book is what you want. It covers everything you need to know, and the HF learning principles keep you focused and they make sure you remember everything you've read.

Make sure you don't have anything important scheduled when you buy this book... you won't be able to put it aside until you've reached the last page!

Have fun !



good,  September 06 2004
Submitted by Afroz   [Respond | View]

No doubt.

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