Monday, September 14, 2009

Review of "LWUIT 1.1 for Java ME Developers" by Packt Publishing [part 02 - initial feelings]

Hi,


Last week I posted about the context of my review, I want to use the book "LWUIT 1.1 for Java ME Developers" on a real project in which I start of using LWUIT without know it at all, and see if the book helps me in achieving my goal(s). While doing so I'll be posting my findings as a series of posts resulting in the complete review.

Well my first impression of the book once I opened the box it came in was: "Hmmm, one of those computer books". Which it is of course, so no judging there. Although I find the yellow flower on the cover thought provoking. Why did they choose a yellow flower? If you know the answer, let me know. I haven't gone into the book to find out why.

First of all, the book is on LWUIT 1.1, I'll be using LWUIT 1.2. I want to post about the differences sometime soon, but this is relevant information for you as a reader. Where I think the book is outdated, I'll let you know.

The Table of Contents is straight to the point, it is complete and there is only one. I don't like books where they have a TOC that only covers the high-level chapters and then one that covers all chapters, sections, paragraphs and what not. Waste of paper and my time. Here they've used fonts and styles to make clear what the main sections are and what the subsections are. After reading through the TOC I got the feeling that I'm dealing with a Reference Guide instead of a book to learn LWUIT.

The Preface is doing what it is supposed to do, provide you with all kinds of information not related to the topic of the book, but still you need it while 'using' the book. And here it becomes apparent that I'm dealing with a reference guide. Not a book for the real fresh fish in the LWUIT pond. No problem, I've got Google in my toolbox.
It is also stated that I need the Sprint Wireless Toolkit, which is derived from I believe the Sun WTK, and customized and all by Sprint. Since I'm using the JavaME SDK 3.0 for my LWUIT development or NetBeans 68 (dev builds currently) I might run into somethings here. But maybe not. Since Sprint is an US based mobile provider, I assume that those who're looking to deploy in the US are familiar with the SDK, the rest of the world is probably more WTK (or JavaME SDK) oriented or looking into SDK's by the phone manufacturers/

I've decided not to install the Sprint Wireless Toolkit and will let you know what you can expect when you also follow that route.

So here's how I proceed: I'll find a decent tutorial to get the hang of LWUIT and get it to run in NB and the JavaME SDK by Sun. Then I'll design my screens and will then get back to the book to implement them. Meanwhile I will be reading the book and adjust my plan if I think that makes more sense.

Iwan

5 comments:

fhuayta said...

hi
please a neet that book so much, do you send me please, please,please? do you send that to mi email.
my email: denizquevedo@gmail.com

fhuayta said...

hi
please a neet that book so much, do you send me please, please,please? do you send that to mi email.
my email: denizquevedo@gmail.com

I m still waiting

Unknown said...

Hi Deniz,

If you need the book, please contact Packt Publishers and order it. They have a hardcopy (which you can get for less from Amazon) or a softcopy which you can get immediately if I understand correctly.

I only wrote a review using a copy they provided.

Iwan

Kipp said...

Hi,
I also want to use LWUIT on a production project. As you read along the book, please consider posting the differences between v 1.1 and 1.2.

Kipp said...

hi
How far have you gone with the reading? i'd like to know the major difference between LWUIT v1.1 and 1.2. I also know v1.3 exists. update me on twitter www.twitter.com/1kipp