Jython

By Robert Bill

Book Overview

This book will help Java developers to increase application development and deployment, thus optimizing their overall efficiency. A brief introduction is provided that shows the differences between... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0735711119
• ISBN13: 9780735711112
• Release Date: December 2001
• Publisher: Sams Publishing
• Length: 460 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Great book on Jython if you already know Java

This book is designed for those who know Java or are learning Java. The Java-specific meaning of terms such as classpath, garbage collection, and interface appear without explanation, but no more than rudimentary Java knowledge is required. Specifically, Java developers desiring accelerated development, embedded interpreters, and increased flexibility will most appreciate this book. Although Jython is a complete programming language, it is unique in its ability to complement Java development rather than appear as an alternative to Java. Chapter 1, "Jython Syntax, Statements, and Comments," introduces syntax and statements. Python's syntax is an essential part of what constitutes the coined word pythonic, an important descriptor of those details that make Python and Jython code clear, simple, and distinct. Python's use of indentation to delimit code blocks and newlines to delimit statements is new to most programmers, and Chapter 1 details the rules that apply to indentation, newlines, and statements. Additionally, Chapter 1 introduces the interactive interpreter, a Jython mode that immediately evaluates statements as you enter them. This chapter applies to Python in general with no references to material unique to Jython. Chapter 2, "Operators, Types, and Built-In Functions," covers Jython's data object, operators, and built-in functions. Data objects, or types, are especially interesting because of Jython's ability to use both Python and Java objects. The Python language specification defines Python's, and therefore Jython's types, but types are where Jython-specific details emerge. One such detail is the conversion between Jython and Java types. Chapter 2 also defines Jython's built-in functions, which are those functions that are available without any import statements and that account for a sizable portion of Jython's functionality. Jython's errors, exceptions, and warnings appear in Chapter 3, "Errors and Exceptions." Chapter 3 contains the definitions of Jython's built-in exceptions as well as a detailed look at the try/except and try/finally statements used to handle exceptions. Working with exceptions is of course important to Jython, but it is also an important step to working with Java classes and the exceptions they may raise. Java does not have functions, but they are an important part of Jython. Chapter 4, "User-Defined Functions and Variable Scoping," shows how to define and use Jython functions and how to use Jython's functional programming tools. Functions are callable objects not defined within a class, but functional programming has a less succinct definition. Functional programming revolves around finding the results of an expression. Jython supplies all the tools required to learn and use functional programming, and these tools appear in Chapter 2. Jython has modules, another unit that Java does not have, and Chapter 5, "Modules and Packages," describes Jython's modules. Jython also has packages, as does Java, but Jython

Great for making unit testing

It's a great book, I use Jython for the power of making unit testing, you save very much time on creating new objects. Moreover, when you override the methods equals and hashCode (which is a good practice) Jython makes easy to test for equality, the book is a great help to get into more details about the tool.

Jython for Java Programmers

Robert W. Bill did an excellent job in introducing Jython which is the combination of two programming languages. The merging of Java and Python. Although intended for programmers with sufficient background in Java programming, this book can be a great tool for learning another high-level language. This book includes topics on: seamless access to Java classes, efficiency,dynamic types, introspection and dynamic execution, first-class functions and functional programming, Java security, and code clarity.Jython for Java Programmers is like a book for beginners trying to lear a new programming language. Each chapter has sufficient samples of codes with a corresponding syntax for a particular example. At the end of each chapter, the author was able to clearly compare Jython to Java. Such comparisons include: statements, typecodes, types, and classes, errors and exceptions, synchronization, packages, GUI development, as well as instances and inheritance. The last two chapters provided topics on database programming and server-side web programming. The Jython programmer is given sample codes on how to make use MySQL, PostgreSQL, and JDBC in their Jython program. The book focused on Servlets and JSP in its last chapter. Although it is equally effective with all the Java technologies on developing web applications.Jython can be an added high-level language for Java programmers. But the book assumes its audience has previous Java knowledge. So that discussions on class, instance, encapsulation, polymorphism, and inheritance were briefly mentioned. Thus, cannot be sufficient as an introduction to programming. Jython-related Internet resources were listed in the Introduction section. An educational advantage of this book is that it supports functional programming as well as object-oriented programming.

I was very happy with this book.

I think this book clearly achieves what it sets out to do: Introduce Java programmers to Jython. The book gives a good introduction to the Python language, its history and various implementations. It covers all of the main areas that are important for any real-world programmer new to a language needs to know, for example threading. All of the important application-level topics are well covered: Embedding Jython in your Java systems, using Jython in web applications, developing Swing GUIs with Jython, etc, etc. There is a detailed section on the greatest strengths of Jython: How to inherit Java classes from Jython, how to inherit Jython classes fom Java, and how to make Jython classes look like Java classes (for jar/war files, etc). This book is clearly written by someone who has plenty of experience *using* python and jython, and plenty of experience *using* Java, and integrating the two. The style is clear, concise and easy to read, and always focussed on the main objective: helping Java programmers understand Jython. All in all a very competent book that will make an important addition to any Java programmers/designers bookshelf.Update - two months on.I can't sing the praises of this book enough. I've been doing some embedding with jython for the last month, and this book has had all the details I needed to do the job. While it was necessary to dip into the jython source, Robert's book gave me an excellent overview, and indicated if something was possible, and how to go about it. If I hadn't had this book, the job would have taken twice as long. An excellent investment.

Just what a Java programmer needs

...to get to know hi-level dynamic languages like Python. Being the first book on Jython, it fills a much-needed gap. The examples are illustrative, and extensive use of interpreter sessions made the book easy to test and follow for newbies, and quick to browse for experts as well. The author also talks about "functional programming" style while stays practical. Assuming Java knowledge, the book focuses on Jython's added-value and the advantages of seamless integration. It sure looks like the authur got lots of first-hand experience and in-depth knowledge. Even "expert" can learn a thing or two from this book. The only downside: sometimes the examples are a little example for example's sake, they serve the purpose well but not as fun as I'd like; And it would make it even better if the book talks testing frameworks and maybe give a J2EE testing sample code. But overall it's excellent - I'll give it 5 stars.