Books

Learn Java the Easy Way (2017)

Learn Java the Easy Way (2017)

Java is the world’s most popular programming language, but it’s known for having a steep learning curve. Learn Java the Easy Way takes the chore out of learning Java with hands-on projects that will get you building real, functioning apps right away.

You’ll start by familiarizing yourself with JShell, Java’s interactive command line shell that allows programmers to run single lines of code and get immediate feedback. Then, you’ll create a guessing game, a secret message encoder, and a multitouch bubble-drawing app for both desktop and mobile devices using Eclipse, an industry-standard IDE, and Android Studio, the development environment for making Android apps.

As you build these apps, you’ll learn how to:

• Perform calculations, manipulate text strings, and generate random colors
• Use conditions, loops, and methods to make your programs responsive and concise
• Create functions to reuse code and save time
• Build graphical user interface (GUI) elements, including buttons, menus, pop-ups, and sliders
• Take advantage of Eclipse and Android Studio features to debug your code and find, fix, and prevent common mistakes

If you’ve been thinking about learning Java, Learn Java the Easy Way will bring you up to speed in no time.

Teach Your Kids to Code (2015)

Teach Your Kids to Code (2015) – by Bryson Payne –  buy on Amazon

Teach Your Kids to Code: A parent-friendly guide to programming (2015) is available NOW from No Starch Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and book retailers everywhere! You can also join over 7,000 students in the online course, “Teach Your Kids to Code” at Udemy.com.

Packed with fun examples, colorful graphics, and easy-to-read instructions, Teach Your Kids to Code is the book parents and kids will enjoy together, as they build one of the top job skills of the 21st century!

Thank you to everyone who’s already ordered Teach Your Kids to Code, pushing us into the top 10 programming books for children on Amazon!

I started writing Teach Your Kids to Code  when my sons were 2 and 4 years old. They would sit on my lap in front of the computer, I’d write a few lines of code, run the program, let them change numbers to draw new shapes, and they’d give me suggestions for making the apps cooler. I collected their best ideas and pitched them to No Starch Press as a book for parents and kids to learn programming together. The book is dedicated to my two favorite coders, Alex and Max, but something tells me they might be co-authors on the next one…

I hope you’ll have as much fun with Teach Your Kids to Code as I have with my boys, and I’d love to hear your feedback – drop me a note, or, even better, post a review to Amazon : )! The programming language is Python, a free, easy-to-learn language used at Google, IBM, and in schools and colleges everywhere, and the book guides you step-by-step with full-color illustrations to help you get started. If you can use a text editor or write a document in Word, you can code in Python – or just let your kids show you how…

Happy coding!
– Dr. Bryson Payne, Author and Professor of Computer Science

Praise for Teach Your Kids to Code:

“A straightforward, crystal-clear guide to programming in Python…Sophisticated concepts and serious programming make for an easy, enjoyable game for families.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“It’s so straightforward that you could easily hand this book to a child in upper elementary school or beyond and have them teach themselves. A win in my book when it comes to summer activities.”
—Mel Ford, BlogHer

“My grade 8 students won’t give the book back! They love it!”
—Brian Aspinall, K-8 Teacher, Coach, Blogger, TEDx Speaker

“The graphics are impressive, the games are fun, and the explanations are clear and encouraging.”
—Sandra Henry-Stocker, IT World

“An excellent guide to learn Python.”
—Tim Slavin, Kids, Code, and Computer Science Magazine

“The text is clear, the graphics are engaging, and the apps are awesome. This is the programming guide for parents and kids to enjoy together.”
—Aaron Walker, Cybersecurity Expert, NASA

“The energy and excitement Bryson brings to teaching is captured perfectly in Teach Your Kids to Code, with colorful, captivating games and graphics that help develop real-world skills.”
—Bindy Auvermann, Executive Director, Next Generation Youth Development, Inc.

“Provides the building blocks of a great future in the rapidly changing world of technology.”
—JoAnne Taylor, former Vice President, Global Telecommunications, IBM​

“The concepts in Teach Your Kids to Code can help any young person enhance their college prospects and expand their career opportunities, and Dr. Payne presents these skills through fun, challenging games and apps.”
—Dr. Raj Sunderraman, Department Chair of Computer Science, Georgia State University

“Every child on the planet should have this book, and so should every parent.”
—James E. Daniel, Jr., Founder, App Studios, LLC

“An innovative, motivating guide . . . Builds skills that can last a lifetime.”
—Dr. Steven Burrell, Vice President for Information Technology & CIO, Georgia Southern University

“The kind of book I wish I’d had as a kid.”
—Scott Hand, Software Engineer, CareerBuilder

“Dr. Bryson Payne is a computer scientist and professor of the highest caliber, and with Teach Your Kids to Code, he brings the power of computers within easy reach for readers young and old.”
—Dr. Antonio Sanz Montemayor, Informatics Professor, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain

“A brilliant combination of engaging, imaginative apps and valuable, lifelong skills.”
—Ted Cunningham, author of The Power of Home

“Teach Your Kids to Code and the logical thinking it introduces will help build the next generation of technology leaders.”
—N. Dean Meyer, author and executive coach

“This book can jump-start your child’s success in a high-tech world.”
—Ken Coleman, leadership author and former radio host of The Ken Coleman Show

“Dr. Payne set us on the path that led us to our dream jobs! With Teach Your Kids to Code, he’s providing parents and teachers everywhere the chance to do the same for the next generation of creative problem-solvers.”
—Shah and Susan Rahman, Riot Games

“Bryson helps people improve their lives with technology. His book does the same.”
—Ash Mady, Technical Manager, RedHat, Inc.

“Enjoyable and accessible to parents and children alike.”
—Steve McLeod, Deputy CIO, University of North Georgia

“Dr. Payne used robots, games, and fun programs to motivate me in college, and Teach Your Kids to Code extends that same passion for coding cool apps beyond the walls of the campus.”
—Bobby Brown, Lead Developer, GetUWired