Java Programming Complete Guide

Click on individual book titles below to view their complete Table of Contents. 

Core Java Interview Questions You’ll Most Likely Be Asked

Java Essentials Volume 1: Programming Fundamentals

Java Essentials Volume 2: Object-Oriented Programming and Beyond

Lawrence G. Decamora III, Ph.D., is a certified Java expert (SCJP, OCPJP), educator, and industry professional with 20+ years of experience in academia and software development.

Michelle C. Decamora, MIT, is an IT educator with a passion for hands-on learning. She has taught at esteemed universities and is an IBM Certified DB2 Associate.

Vibrant Publishersis focused on presenting the best texts for learning about technology and business as well as books for test preparation. Categories include programming, operating systems and other texts focused on IT. In addition, a series of books helps professionals in their own disciplines learn the business skills needed in their professional growth.

Vibrant Publishershas a standardized test preparation series covering the GMAT, GRE and SAT, providing ample study and practice material in a simple and well organized format, helping students get closer to their dream universities.

The Self-Learning Management Series is designed to help students, new managers, career switchers, and entrepreneurs learn essential management lessons and covers every aspect of business, from HR to Finance to Marketing to Operations across any and every industry. Each book includes basic fundamentals, important concepts, and standard and well-known principles as well as practical ways of application of the subject matter.

I work closely with students especially for their placements. This book will really help students to prepare as well as practice interview questions. No doubt, this is going to be a real guide for the job aspirants. Indexing is good and easy to understand. Almost all probable mutations are included in the book. Difficulty level is from easy to difficult which is suitable for all kinds of Java related jobs.
-- Yogesh Jadhav, Training and Placement Officer, Sinhgad Institutes

Java Essentials Volume 2 is a well-crafted text that sets clear learning objectives for each chapter. It leads students through the material with clear, well-coded examples. I support the focus on design and engineering, not “programming.”
-- John McManus, Ph.D.Associate Professor of C

omputer ScienceRandolph-Macon College
Having interviewed, technically assessed, mentored, and worked alongside engineers at every level in both start-ups and larger organisations, I’ve seen how easy it is to drift away from core Java best practices over time. This book is a valuable reference to the fundamentals and a strong guide to staying current with the modern language features, benefiting developers at all stages of their careers.
-- Shay Brennan-KellyPrincipal Software Engineer

Finally, a Java book that respects my experience while challenging my complacency. The conversational flow keeps you engaged, the curveball exercises keep you honest, and the depth keeps you coming back. This is technical writing done right.
-- Dineshotham Kumar KSoftware EngineerCandescent Technologies

Really useful book and well written. Java is a hard language to learn, but everything was described in a detailed enough way!
-- Giulia RossiNetGalley Reviewer

What I liked the most about this book is that it has learning objectives and a short quiz in every chapter. The discussions and instructions are easy to follow.
-- Christopher D LadaoDean, College of Information and Computing SciencesUniversity of Santo Tomas

Lawrence Decamora has crafted an exceptionally well-structured introduction to Java programming that stands out in the crowded field of programming textbooks. As an educator myself, I'm impressed by the book's thoughtful progression from fundamental concepts to practical application.

What makes this book particularly valuable is its ""learning while practicing"" philosophy. Rather than overwhelming beginners with abstract theory, Lawrence guides readers through hands-on experiences that build confidence incrementally. The integration of JShell for interactive learning is brilliant and reflects modern pedagogical best practices.

The book's comprehensive coverage—from JDK installation across multiple operating systems to essential programming concepts like control structures, arrays, and string manipulation—provides students with a solid foundation. Each chapter's careful construction, complete with exercises, quizzes, and coding tasks, ensures that concepts are not merely memorized but truly understood.

Lawrence's emphasis on real-world programming practices, including debugging techniques and coding conventions, prepares students for actual development work rather than just academic exercises. The clear writing style and logical progression make complex concepts accessible to beginners while maintaining the depth necessary for serious learning.

This volume effectively sets the stage for more advanced topics to be covered in Volume 2, making it an excellent choice for educational institutions and self-directed learners alike.
-- David SmithCEO, Silicon Valley High School, Inc

As someone who has seen Lawrence’s teaching style up close, especially when we worked together on the on-demand Java course for LearningWhilePracticing, I’m not at all surprised by how clear, structured, and pedagogically strong this book is. That same clarity and hands-on mindset translate beautifully onto the page. The explanations are precise without being overwhelming, and the pacing feels just right. Concepts are introduced gradually, with each chapter building logically on the previous one. The inclusion of chapter summaries, quizzes, and coding tasks at the end of each section is a fantastic way to reinforce learning.

The structure is excellent. From installing the JDK all the way to understanding arrays, the content covers exactly what a beginner needs to gain confidence. It also goes beyond just “hello world” basics by including crucial real-world elements like debugging, JShell, the Scanner class, and string manipulation—all while staying accessible. The sections on Java control structures and primitive data types really stand out. They strike the perfect balance between theory and application, especially with how coding conventions and readability are emphasized. Also, the “learning while practicing” approach is more than a philosophy—it’s embedded in the book’s DNA.
-- Joe GhalbouniFounder, LearningWhilePracticing