Instant Java Servlets review

Previously, we've looked at books by Greg Buczek in the Osborne 'Instant' series of books, under the Application Development umbrella imprint. Now it's the turn of Phil Hanna, who moves away from ASP and into the realm of Java. Actually, let me qualify that: it delves into the realm of JSP 1 and the Servlets 2.1 spec, so if you're developing using JSP 1.1 or Servlets 2.2 you'll be sadly disappointed.

If, on the other hand, you're coming to the subject of Java Servlets as a development novice, then it will serve purpose as a basic introduction to the genre, and its 'how to' tutorial structure will certainly be a refreshing change from most technical references. The dated dilemma may not be too problematic in the real world, as the majority of servlet engines are still running on older specs. It's only a matter of time before this book becomes obsolete, however, and the money spent on it a fading memory.

Assuming that you're happy with the versions covered here, what do you actually get for your money? The key topics covered include servlet-generated HTML, cookie and session management, threading, and XML. JSP and JavaBeans are also covered, which almost goes without saying. There's a useful section on the subject of debugging servlets, which covers everything from understanding the Classpath to using the Java Debugger.

There's also another handy section on servlet life-cycle issues that should be required reading for anyone thinking of working in this area. The use of a problem such as 'how can I find out what values an HTML form is sending to a servlet?' to frame each of the tutorial sections is a great tactic, and makes the book a very useful quick dip reference guide. Because each of these problems is then expanded upon in depth and a sample servlet used to give the reader the full picture, there's little room for misunderstanding or error on the part of the reader.

The accompanying CD contains all the source code from the book - this should help in saving you a bit more time. Another aide which should prove equally as handy along with figure-to-program cross referencing.

Author: Davey Winder