REVIEW - The Elements of Java Style


Title:

The Elements of Java Style

Author:

Various

ISBN:

0521777682

Publisher:

Cambridge University Press ()

Pages:

128pp

Reviewer:

Francis Glassborow

Reviewed:

June 2000

Rating:

★☆☆☆☆


This is a very small format book (each page is about a third of the area of a page of A4 (Overload, new format C Vu). The main text takes 93 pages. That is followed by eight pages listing the 108 style guidelines that the main text covered in more detail, and then there is a glossary and index. Almost half the entries in the index refer to the glossary.

None of the above would matter if the guidelines sparkled. However just let me take one at random.

62 Explain local variable declarations with an end-line comment. Not exactly innovative stuff. Then two guidelines on, I find:

64 Label closing braces in highly nested control structures Well if you are going to nest them deeply, I suppose it makes sense to label them. However, I think a much better guideline would be 'Avoid nesting control structures.' Any experienced programmer will tell you that nesting control structures is a recipe for buggy code.

I think that is enough. Keep your money, if this book tells you anything you do not already know then you need it to invest in learning to program.


Book cover image courtesy of Open Library.





Your Privacy

By clicking "Accept Non-Essential Cookies" you agree ACCU can store non-essential cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Current Setting: Non-Essential Cookies REJECTED


By clicking "Include Third Party Content" you agree ACCU can forward your IP address to third-party sites (such as YouTube) to enhance the information presented on this site, and that third-party sites may store cookies on your device.

Current Setting: Third Party Content EXCLUDED



Settings can be changed at any time from the Cookie Policy page.