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Which books to buy first? (Read 1715 times)
Kaples
Which books to buy first?
Apr 30th, 2009, 2:13pm  
Hello, I've just gotten started with Processing, but I have very little background in actual programming. I'm decent at Max/MSP and Jitter but that is not really the same thing. SO for somebody getting started with Java, I've got my eye on the Reas and Fry book, as well as the Ira Greenberg one.

From the sample chapters I've looked at, It seems like the Reas and Fry one assumes that you know a bit about java first, while the Greenberg one seems to spend a good amount of time teaching you the basics (I can only tell this by the table of contents). Am I wrong in assuming this? On one hand I like the interviews and broader topics covered in the Reas and Fry book, on the other hand, I'd like a gentle ease into the java coding language, which I believe I will get from the Ira Greenberg book.
Which book should I buy first if I intend on getting both?

Thanks!
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warpcat
Re: Which books to buy first?
Reply #1 - Apr 30th, 2009, 3:30pm  
I own both the books, and like both of them.  In my opinion:
I think the Reas\Fry book is a gentler introduction to the subject, while Greenbergs takes things a little bit further, but is a bit looser in his example style.  I think it's hard to say which is better than the other, you can gain valuable info from both.  Of course there's Shiffman's book as well, which I don't own, but have looked at:  It seems to be an even "more beginner" book than Reas\Fry's (with more visual teaching examples), but not that that's a bad thing:  It's all about what you want to get out of it.  As an asside, I don't think any of them presume you know any thing about programming:  They all start you at the beginning and work up.  Lucky thing is, I don't think you can go wrong with any of them Wink  Have fun
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http://www.akeric.com
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Kaples
Re: Which books to buy first?
Reply #2 - May 1st, 2009, 3:00pm  
Ah, good response, you have eased my fears.
I ordered the Reas and Fry one, for now...

I'm excited to join in with all the discourse goin' on 'round here!
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progen77
Re: Which books to buy first?
Reply #3 - May 2nd, 2009, 11:56am  
I've got Shiffman's book and I think it's much better coz of the examples.  But to each his own i guess....
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jminator
Re: Which books to buy first?
Reply #4 - May 2nd, 2009, 11:48pm  
Learning Processing by Daniel Shiffman is something you need to start with, without a doubt.
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Take a look at PPhys2D, an easy to use physic library for Processing!

http://pphys2d.jmcouillard.com/
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Lush lucy
Re: Which books to buy first?
Reply #5 - May 4th, 2009, 3:35am  
I second jminators post, Shiffman's book is a good starting point for sure, especially if you're "a bit thick" like me! (i kid!)
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OrryDeSousa
Re: Which books to buy first?
Reply #6 - May 7th, 2009, 7:34am  
I recomment the last edited one, Processing : Programming handbook for... on the homepage.

I bought it, and it helps me for a lot of things, also little one
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Phattee
Re: Which books to buy first?
Reply #7 - May 13th, 2009, 6:33pm  
I was going to ask the same question! I'm almost done with the Reas/Fry book, and I have "Visualizing Data" by Ben Fry all lined up ready to go, but I'm wondering if this might be too big a leap? Is there another Processing book which might better follow the Reas/Fry book?
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