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- That’s Java programming, not scripting. I can do simple stuff pretty easy in Qbasic, Vbasic, COBOL and C++. The classes I’m in now are pretty basic, but I’m not having any problem passing. - People (and even books) commonly say that learning Java is easier than learning C, but most books I have read or seen, I can’t get jack shit out of them. - (I bought Vis J++, and note that it comes with a poster of the WFC and an extra booklet. VBasic and VC++ don’t come with any printed material particular to them) - Most Java books dive right in with examples that seem to use as many objects and properties as possible. After looking for almost two hours at a local bookstore this evening, out of perhaps 100 titles, , I found one (1) book that provided small and simple examples, and that explained what every part of each example meant.
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- Douglas Downing, Java Programming - ISBN# 0-7641-0752-6
I found that most books that say “Java” mean Javascript, and I know there ain’t a lot of difference between an applet and an application, but none except the one above seemed real clear on why you’d use one or the other. And I can find dozens of books with cool stuff to type in for a web page, but few books that really explain how everything does what it does. - Has anyone else tried to do this on their own, and what was your experience? If this is all really easy, I must be doing it wrong. - MC
I didn’t find Java hard, personally, but I think that’s because it was about the nine-bazillionth programming language I’d learned. (No, I’m not particularly ambitious, I’ve just been at this a looong time. I went to school with Grace Hopper.)
But Java did require a new mindset because it was 100% object-oriented. With C++ you could pretend you wanted to use O-O but you didn’t have to if it was inconvenient. Not so with Java. Everything’s an object. Plus there is a huge collection of standard libraries, which can be intimidating. So I don’t think your experience is unusual.
For a practical answer to your question (was there a question?) I would highly recommend the Java Tutorial on Sun’s Java website (www.javasoft.com). I always keep a local copy on my hard drive because I refer to it so often. (Even though I am a highly-paid professional Java programmer. Don’t tell my boss. He thinks I really know this stuff.) There are lots of simple examples and good examples of more advanced stuff too.
(Highly biased comment follows here 
Part of your problem may be that you’re using J++, which is not, of course, Java but a variant invented by the Great Satan in Redmond. Delete it. Get the real thing direct from Sun for free. You’ll be glad you did.
“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”
“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?”
“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully.
“It’s the same thing,” he said.
Stupid smilies!
You’re not stupid; some people just have a little trouble with object oriented concepts. It doesn’t help that there are so many badly written books out there. I did learn Java on my own, but then I’ve been programming since 1979.
I would recommend “Thinking in Java” by Bruce Eckel (http://www.eckelobjects.com/javabook.html). It’s very well written, and you can download a PDF of the book free! Of course, you can also buy it in a “real” bookstore…
Java itself isn’t difficult, but if you are trying to learn Java, Object-Oriented Programming, and Microsoft Foundation Class programming all at the same time it’s a handful. I suggest stepping back from J++, and just writing some simple Java apps like “Hello World” and simple graphics programs.
BTW, it’s extremely hard to learn programming without actually programming. I know a few people who have bought the books and sit and read them, then give up because they can’t get it. Follow along with the examples, write the actual code, test it, make some small changes to see what effect they have, etc. You’ll learn much faster that way. (Perhaps you’re doing this now, but lots of people don’t).
If you want a good introduction to some good OO programming concepts in java which are not covered in most books, check out some college intro programming webpages.
I can personally recommend this one, I read it last night: http://www.cs.rice.edu/~cork/newBook/
The thing I found hardest to get used to when I started in on Java was the object-oriented programming. I personally find this tricky, being more used to adult-oriented programming.
I’m taking a CS class that uses Java this semester, and I’m finally getting the hang of it. It took a lot of banging my head against the screen, though, and there are still a lot of things I don’t quite get. Keep at it, if you’re like me you’ll just be walking down the street one day, thinking about something else, when suddenly it will all make sense.
Heck is where you go when you don’t believe in Gosh.
I learned Java a couple years ago. It was the first real programming language I learned. Maybe that made it easier I don’t know. But all I had done before was a little basic and HTML.
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