Introduction

The Java 1.1 Certification Training Guide is designed for Java programmers who want to take the Sun Certified Java Programmer (310-022) and Sun Certified Java Developer (310-024) examinations offered by Sun. These two exams are sequential: the Sun Certified Java Programmer exam tests your knowledge of Java language semantics and usage and is a prerequisite for taking the Sun Certified Java Developer exam, which tests your knowledge of developing Java solutions.

Who Should Read This Book

This book is designed to help prepare experienced Java programmers who are working towards Java Certification for the Sun Certified Java Programmer and the Sun Certified Java Developer exams.

This book is your one-stop shop. It contains everything you need to know to pass both Java certification exams. The CD-ROM that accompanies this book contains testing software (written in Java) with hundreds of exam questions. The software mimics the actual exam software so you can become comfortable with the testing environment before you have to take the actual exam.

You do not need to take a class in addition to buying this book to pass the exams. However, depending on your personal study habits, you might benefit from taking a class in addition to reading the book.

The amount of information that the Java Programmer and Java Developer exams cover is immense. Topics range from computer architecture to details about OOD to GUI event models. This book covers the specific areas of knowledge required to successfully complete the Java certification process. If you are coming from a non-programming or non-Java background, you might want to purchase an additional Java reference such as Special Edition Using Java 1.1, Third Edition from Que or Teach Yourself Java 1.1 in 21 Days from Sams.

If you have anything from minimal to extensive experience with Java, this book is optimal for you. At your level, the contents of this book will provide exactly the information needed to complete the Java Certification process, as well as hone and expand your existing Java knowledge.

How This Book Helps You

This book is designed to provide the information required to complete the certification process in the order and format most closely matching that of the actual certification examinations. For instance, the Certified Programmer exam must be completed before the Certified Developer exam can be initiated. Likewise, the first section of the book focuses on Certified Programmer content, and the second section covers Certified Developer content. You’ll also find helpful test hints, real-world examples, exercises, and testing software.

At points when you are reading through a chapter and say, “I know this stuff,” you can begin using the book to locate the exact areas on which you need to focus. Using the following process, the book’s content can be transformed from a linear, cover-to-cover content flow to a specific, non-linear presentation of content based on your specific needs.

1.  Assess your skills. The beginning of each chapter contains a few sample test questions. Try your hand at these questions, and keep track of the ones you miss and the ones you are not 100% sure about.

2.  Jump to specific points of interest. After the sample questions have been completed, use the reference information found in Appendix A, “Overview of the Certification Process,” to direct you to a specific area of interest. Once you feel comfortable, and feel confident that you have a mastery of that specific testing area, you can test your knowledge in the supplied practice tests in the “Practice Test” chapters, or electronically on the CD-ROM.

3.  Test your skills with a practice exam. After you have completed a specific area, test your general knowledge to guide your next course of study. The five “Practice Test” chapters and the CD-ROM-based test tool allow you to determine the precise areas of study on which you need to focus. After a specific point of study has been flagged, you will be guided to the chapter that will best aid your study, at which point you should loop back to Step 1.

The following items outline how to use this book:

•  Decide how to spend your time wisely. Pre-chapter quizzes at the beginning of each chapter test your knowledge of the objectives contained within that chapter. You can use these quizzes to gauge how much time you need to spend studying the objectives contained within each chapter. Answers to each pre-chapter quiz are found at the end of the chapter. It’s not enough to guess the right answer; make sure you would be able to justify your answer before deciding to skip any material in this book.

Objectives

•  Test Objectives. Throughout this Training Guide you will find an icon like the one shown in the margin. This icon points out every objective you need to know to pass the exam—pay particular attention to this information.

•  Extensive practice test options. Plenty of questions at the end of each chapter test your comprehension of the material. An answer list follows the questions so you can check your progress and decide what material you need to review in greater detail.

•  CD-ROM Test Engine. You’ll also get a chance to practice for the certification exams using the test engine on the CD-ROM. This engine was written in Java and mimics the testing environment you will encounter when you take the exam. The test engine generates new tests from a database of hundreds of questions each time you take it.

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Note:  For a complete description of the test engine, please see Appendix B, “Using the CD-ROM.”

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Understanding What the Sun Certified Java Programmer Exam (310-022) Covers

The Sun Certified Java Programmer Exam\plain\f3\fs21 (310-022) covers five main topic areas, arranged in accordance with test objectives. The following list provides a detailed outline of the material covered in the test:

1.  Sun-Provided Development Tool Knowledge and Runtime Environment

•  Knowledge of JDK shipped tools.

•  Working understanding of the JVM technology.

2.  Language Syntax Knowledge

•  Proper syntax usage.

•  Language-reserved words and declarations.

•  Programming efficiency.

3.  Language Mechanics

•  The four object accessibility modifiers: public, private, default, and protected.

•  Firm knowledge of language mechanics to ensure solid, scalable, and extensible implementations.

•  In-depth Java language mechanics lesson.

•  Specific Java mechanics of Java thread support.

4.  API Knowledge

•  Knowledge of Sun supplied utility classes.

•  Specific method knowledge of the base Object class.

•  Understanding of GUI development facilities.

5.  Specific Applet and Application Implementation Issues

•  Java application deployment can take two discrete routes, each with separate associated issues.

•  An applet’s home is inside a Web browser, which in turn dictates the applet’s operating environment. A Java application’s home is in the executing computer’s operating system.

•  Each deployment offers its own set of attributes, with neither being superior to the other. Rather, the deployments have their own qualities and abilities. The key is to know which one fits your need most precisely.

Understanding What the Sun Certified Java Developer Exam (310-022) Covers

Where the Certified Programmer exam focuses on Java programming, the Certified Developer exam focuses on the use of Java in software development. The following list provides a detailed outline of the material covered in the test:

1.  Network Programming

•  Working knowledge of TCP/IP socket usage

•  Understanding of UDP datagram support

•  Specific RMI deployment issues

2.  Object-Oriented Design

•  Knowledge of Java nuances that affect design patterns

•  Understanding of how to properly model a solution

3.  Java-Related Technologies

•  Knowledge of RMI

•  Knowledge of the Java enterprise facilities

•  Knowledge of JavaBeans

•  Knowledge of the Java Foundation Classes

4.  Java Deployment Issues

•  Understanding of various platform issues

•  Knowledge of applet- and application-specific deployment issues

Hardware and Software Needed

To use all the materials in this book, you will need a computer capable of running either HotJava or a Java-enabled Web browser such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer.

Tips for the Exam

Remember the following tips as you prepare for the Sun Certified Java exams:

•  Read all the Material. All the material in this Training Guide is relevant to the two Java exams. Reading and understanding all this material is the most important step to successfully passing the exams.

•  Take the pre-chapter quizzes. Use these quizzes to quickly assess where you need to spend the most time studying. Each chapter begins with a set of questions related to the test objectives found in that chapter. Answers to these quizzes can be found at the end of each chapter.

•  Complete all the questions in the “Review Questions” section at the end of each chapter. These sections function as mini-tests that help you determine how well you have mastered the test objectives in each chapter. You can roughly gauge how much progress you’ve made with this book by comparing the results of the pre-chapter quizzes with those of the Review Questions.

•  Use the Test Engine on the CD-ROM. Each time you use the test engine it will generate a new exam for you based on a database of hundreds of questions. Take several complete exams, examine your scores, and get comfortable with the testing environment.

New Riders Publishing

The staff of New Riders Publishing is committed to bringing you the very best in computer reference material. Each New Riders book is the result of months of work by authors and staff who research and refine the information within its covers.

As part of its commitment to you, the NRP reader, New Riders invites your input. Please let us know if you enjoy this book and find it useful, if you have trouble with the information and examples presented, or if you have a suggestion for the next edition.

Please note, though, that the New Riders staff cannot serve as a technical resource during your preparation for the Sun Certified Java exams.

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