<?xml version="1.0"?>

<chapter xml:id="introduction">

<title>Introduction</title>

<p>

This book assumes that you are already familiar with the <url href="http://www.python.org" visual="http://www.python.org">Python</url> programming language.

We will use Python as a starting point for our journey into <url href="http://java.sun.com" visual="http://java.sun.com">Java</url>.

We will begin by looking at a very simple Java program, just to see what the language looks like and how we get a program to run.

Next, we will look at the main constructs that are common to most programming languages:

</p>

<blockquote>

<p>

<ul>

<li>

<p>

Data Types

</p>

</li>

<li>

<p>

Loops

</p>

</li>

<li>

<p>

Reading user input

</p>

</li>

<li>

<p>

Conditionals

</p>

</li>

</ul>

</p>

</blockquote>

<p>

Once we have the basics of Java behind us we will move on to look at the features of Java that are both unique and powerful.

</p>

<blockquote>

<p>

<ul>

<li>

<p>

Classes

</p>

</li>

<li>

<p>

Interfaces

</p>

</li>

<li>

<p>

Collections

</p>

</li>

<li>

<p>

Graphical User Interface Programming

</p>

</li>

<li>

<p>

Generic Programming

</p>

</li>

</ul>

</p>

</blockquote>

<p>

Please note that this book is a work in progress.

I will continue to update and post new versions.

</p>

</chapter>