This book is for everyone who wants to learn the basics of the Java programming language without taking a formal course. This book also serves as a supplemental classroom text. For best results, you should start at the beginning of the book and go straight through.

If you are confident about your basic knowledge of programming, skip the first chapter but take the quiz at the end of the chapter to see if you are actually ready to jump into Java.

If you get 90 percent of the answers correct, you’re ready. If you get 75 to 89 percent correct, skim through Chapters 1 and 2. If you get less than 75 percent of the answers correct, then find a quiet place and begin reading Chapter 1. Doing sowill get you in shape to tackle the rest of the chapters on Java.

In order to learn Java, you must have some computer skills. If we were to tell you otherwise, we’d be cheating you. Don’t be intimidated. None of the computer knowledge you need goes beyond basic use of the operating system and howto enter text into an editor.

This book includes a practice quiz at the end of every chapter. These quizzes contain questions that are similar to the kinds of questions used in a Java course.You can and should refer to the chapters when taking the quizzes. When you think you’re ready, take a quiz, write down your answers, and then give your list of answers to a friend. Have your friend tell you your score, but not which questions you answered incorrectly. You’ll find the answers in the back of the book. Stay with one chapter until you pass the quiz.

There is also a final exam at the end of this book. The questions are practical and are drawn from all chapters in the book. Take the exam when you have finished all the chapters and have completed all the quizzes. A satisfactory score is at least 75 percent correct answers. Have a friend tell you your score without letting you know which questions you missed on the exam.