Data Structures & Other Objects Using Java

by Michael Main and Michael G. Main

Book Overview

Data Structures and Other Objects Using Java is a gradual, "just-in-time" introduction to Data Structures for a CS2 course. Each chapter provides a review of the key aspects of object-oriented... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0201357445
• ISBN13: 9780201357448
• Release Date: October 1998
• Publisher: Addison Wesley Longman
• Length: 768 Pages
• Weight: 2.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 7.4" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Don't playa hate. Participate.

Even after taking a mid-level CS course where this book was the required text, this book still sits on my bookshelf at work for reference. Why? Well, certainly it is not the most comprehensive book of data structures in existence, nor is it written with a scholarly tone. But, that's the point! Michael Main's writing has the air of accessibility that many other CS texts fail to promote. In reading it, you'll feel like a guy that is passionate about this confusing subject is right there helping you out. I think many reviewers are transferring their frustration about this particular topic to this book. It is not meant to be an authoritative tome about all the nuances of computer science, nor is it even meant to teach you how to program at all. It is meant to convey a deep understanding of what many common data structures are and how they work. In this respect, it is an absolutely wonderful book.

I have one too many java books in my stock

I read a lot of confusing books by java experts that sometimes forget to go back to the simple basics when teaching simple minded readers. However, this book is for continuing readers of java who had some, but not expert training, experience in writing programs. What I liked most of this book is how he gives pointers on what to look out for while programming, and provides alternate solutions that would be better off in the long run than what general programmers tend to come up with. I also liked how he distinguished between specification and implementation to improve group/team environments (especially for large programs). His specifications before each class gave me a very intuitive idea of what is being asked rather than being confused with all that code. Once I got the general idea, I was able to under the code more. By following the convention that I described about the way he helps the readers, data structures became very clear to understand, especially when it comes to implementing such structures in Java. Its better to read this book slowly one chapter at a time than to jump into the middle, if you want to get a thorough established view of what is going on.

Very Good Book

So far this is the most clearly written and easily understood Computer Science text book that I have come across and used in a class. With most of the attention paid toward ADT's, our class not only learned them, but also the Java programming language on top of it! I highly recommend this book. Little if any bugs too!

Excellent textbook, clearly written and few errors

I am using this for a data structures course and as I read through it (I am in Chapter 9 now) I am more and more impressed with it. So far I've found only one glaring Java syntax error (p. 246), which is pretty good considering today's shoddy proofreading. The students like it too. Good job!

Does Hash tables well

I only needed to use the Hash table section. It was complete and the examples were easy to follow. The author explained hash tables in general, then he implimented one in java from scatch, and then it showed how to use the java api hash table classes. Very good job by MR. Main! I also read the hash table section in Core Java 1.1 volume I, but that book did not really explain hash tables very well.