Learn Java

because, well, I’m learning Java. Might as well get 43T cred for it.

I’m gonna put this aside for the time being.

Maybe it’s the book I’m working on but I’m not really making progress on this one. I thought “Head First Java” would be a good book—I really don’t think it is very good, after all. I don’t think I’ve actually written even one Java program yet. Anyway, I’m much more involved in Scheme right now.

I’m currently reading Head First Java, which is a nice intro. However, I don’t think that when I finish it I’ll be able to say, “I know Java,” with a great deal of confidence. What is the best book for learning Java? I prefer books that have a high exercise to explanation ratio. That is, I want to spend more time solving problems than reading.

Thanks for your advice, folks. I want to learn Python and Ruby too but not till later. I figure I should do Java because I’m curious to read the Java book I bought a while back (Head First Java). It looks really different. Anyone have any experience with or thoughts on that book?

OK, so now comes this article from business week (via Slashdot) saying Java is out of fashion. Not that I really care. I just want to learn a language that will help me become a better programmer and enable me to do fun things. Is that Java? Is it Ruby? It it something else? In your opinion, what’s the best next programming language?

Not only that, I’m not sure I really want to learn Java. It just seems like a good next programming language. Maybe I should learn Ruby instead. However, I have a Java book that I have been procrastinating on opening since I became employed again.

Anyone have any advice re: Ruby vs. Java vs. some other unnamed programming language I don’t know yet (which would be all of them except Perl—OK, I know a little C, too)?