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The book starts, inside the front cover, with a 21-day work plan. Each chapter contains a day's work (typically covering a topic and implementing example programs) which is followed by a summary and question and answer session. It is in three sections each of which is covered in a week, section one introduces the language syntax, section 2 applets and graphical techniques and section 3 advanced topics such as interfaces and packages, exceptions, I/O streams, networking, JavaBeans, RMI and Swing. Section 2 discussion of the AWT concentrates on Applets and uses the JDK 1.0 event model (assuming that many browsers do not support the JDK 1.1 event model). The JDK 1.1 event model is covered in the discussion on Swing (a set of GUI components layered on top of the basic graphics and windowing facilities of the AWT to give a platform independent look-and-feel).

I do not consider this to be suitable for complete beginners or as a student textbook (where a much more rigorous approach to programming would be required) and there are much better books for readers who have some experience of C++ (see previous issues of C Vu). It would be suitable for readers with some programming experience working by themselves or as a supplementary student text. Although the first section of the book is almost identical to the second edition the latter sections are much better organised. Advanced topics are covered briefly (e.g. networking in 24 pages and Swing in 42 pages) and a second level book would be required as soon as the reader wanted to do anything serious.