Going back to do more certification.

I was going to go straight for the Sun Certified Java Systems Architect (or whatever it is). When I read the syllabus I realised that you may as well get the Business Components and Web Services certs on the way because you cover the ground anyway. So, now reading up on EJB’s and EJB/J2EE design patterns.

To get started there’s a very good J2EE tutorial on the sun website, I’ve been using this to get back into it quickly.

Also, if you download the 1.4 JDK (get everything) you’ll get an example J2EE server that this tutorial uses. You can get the tutorial and related code as well. I’ll let you find them yourself, dear reader. Just make sure you’ve got the bin directory of the J2EE server in your path so that their version of ant will work from the command line.

Register with the server side, if you do you can get free PDF’s of the first two books in my list below, plus a ruck of other things. Very good site. I still prefer paper though.

Recommending:

Mastering Enterprise Java Beans – Roman/Ambler/Jewell – Wiley

The classic work on this topic. Accessible style, check lists of “how to” get things done. Get the 3rd edition.

EJB Design Patterns – Marinescu – Wiley

Another classic. States the obvious a bit, but you need to give the obvious a name so you don’t have to keep describing it.

Core J2EE Patterns – Alur/Crupi/Malks – Prentice Hall

Very dry, academic style. Have to work at understanding convoluted english. But the overview sections pretty good.

Enterprise Java Beans – Monson-Haefel – O’Reilly

Useful with the Roman book because it has a different take on things and helps you get them in your head.

Java Enterprise in a Nutshell – Flanagan/Farley/Crawford/Magnusson – O’Reilly

My copy’s a bit out of date now but if you want some simple code examples for JDBC/JNDI/ etc. then it’s all there. My edition stops at EJB 1.1. I think there’s a new one.

Finally: Go here for a list of topics and a brief description of what they contain. Mikalai Zaikin has done a great service for the rest of us and should be thanked.