vi
An Introduction to Network Programming with Java
type 'wrapper' classes to convert String input into numeric values (a major
improvement on the traditional method for obtaining input).
• Associated with the above, replacement of the BufferedReader+FileReader
combination with Scanner+File and that of the PrintWriter+FileWriter
combination with PrintWriter+File for serial disc file I/O.
• Replacement of the cumbersome addWindowListener(new
WindowAdapter... method for closing down GUI applications with
setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE). (This had been available
since J2SE 1.3, but had deliberately not been included in the original text
due to the earlier method being the one still used by most people at that
time.)
• The formatting of numeric output (particularly decimal output) via method
printf.
• The inclusion of generics in the declaration of Vectors, with the associated
'auto-boxing' and 'auto-unboxing' of elements.
• Introduction of the 'enhanced for' loop where appropriate.
Updating of Support Software
• Replacement of the JSWDK Web server with Apache Tomcat.
• Replacement of the JavaBean Development Kit (BDK) with the Bean
Builder for the testing of JavaBeans.
• Removal of the section on the now defunct HTMLConverter utility and
updating of the example browsers to Internet Explorer 6 and Firefox 1.5.
New Material
• Coverage of non-blocking I/O (introduced in J2SE 1.4), but retaining
coverage of the more traditional blocking I/O.
• The use of JDBC with the DataSource interface (also introduced in J2SE
1.4), but maintaining coverage of the more traditional DriverManager class
approach. The associated examples are no longer confined to the use of MS
Access, but have been extended to include MySQL. The significant
advantages to large-scale, commercial databases of using DataSource in
preference to DriverManager are made clear to the reader.
• As part of good practice, the above DataSource technique makes use of a
DAO (Data Access Object) to encapsulate access to the database, so that
data manipulation code is separated from business logic.
On the CD-ROM accompanying this text may be found the executable file for
installing J2SE 5.0 onto MS Windows platforms (available via free download from
the Sun site, of course). In addition to this, the CD contains all example code and
several media files (the latter for use with material in the final two chapters). Model
solutions for end-of-chapter exercises are accessible by lecturers and other
authorised individuals from the companion Web site (accessible via
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jan.graba/javanet.html). Finally, there is a document
entitled Java Environment Installation that provides downloading and installation
