Beginning JSP Web Development

Learning JSP today requires not only a basic knowledge of Java, but also practical advice for using Tomcat, custom tag libraries, database programming, and other standards. This title distinguishes itself with chapter-by-chapter coverage of all you need to program with JSP. For those new to Java, introductory material on data types, flow control, and basic class design will help you learn essential Java. The authors also present practical advice and samples for installing and configuring Tomcat (an open source JSP/servlet engine), including advice on deployment options. Sections on database and JDBC programming, servlets, and session management supplement the basics of using JSP with embedded Java scriptlets.

Standout material on JSP custom tag libraries will justify the price of this book for many readers (including those with previous Java experience, but little JSP exposure). Several sections on designing and deploying custom tag libraries show you how to make use of this powerful new Sun standard. The text closes with leading-edge material on the new Struts Web application framework, including a worthwhile case study for an online travel database using this pre-packaged codebase as a starting point. Sun has endorsed Struts and other application frameworks as a "best practice" when building JSP-based applications, and the authors do a good job showing off this solution, including advice on configuration options.

With JSP evolving into an even more powerful and flexible Web solution using custom tag libraries and other standards, this book fits the bill with an up-to-the-minute and approachable tour of exactly what any developer needs to use JSP productively in real projects. --Richard Dragan