Starting out...

[Nove]

I'd like to mess around a bit in Java...So where do I start? I'm going to need to get the program for one, I don't know where to go for that. Then, can you suggest any tutorials? Thanks.

[Dillinger4]

Download the lastest jdk version http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/download.jsp

This is suns main java page http://java.sun.com/index.jsp

Tutoral http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/index.html

If you have any problems with the set up post back and either i or somone else will give you a hand.

[System_Error]

I think books are the best way to start out rather than tutorials. Although later on I think the tutorials beocome very helpful.

[vbNeo]

I'd also recommend using the eclipse editor instead of NetBeans... www.eclipse.org.

I was fortunate enough to find a Danish online version of a book(http://javabog.dk) - but I'd say there's a pretty good chance you can find a suitable tutorial online. Java is very easy once you get the hang of OOP.

[Dillinger4]

Books are good but the problem with them is they become out dated as changes are made to the lanuguage. Just look at the size of the first edition of Java in a Nutshell by O'reilly compared to the latest edition which covers the jdk1.5. My shelves are overflowing with 1st edition books. If you are starting out and want to learn the core language and plan on reading the same book for a year or more(A Programmers Guide to Java Certification by Kahalid A. Mughal 1st edd) like i did then i think its ok to purachase the book. Bruce Eckel has some amazing books also www.bruceeckel.com Like thinking in Java. O'reilly has a great Java page http://www.onjava.com/ with a link on it to http://safari.oreilly.com/ which i think has revolutionized the way technical material is accessed. I have the smallest subscription which costs me about $9.50 per month which gives me access to thousands of technical books.