Working as an effective professional Java developer requires you to know Java APIs, tools, and techniques to solve a wide variety of Java problems. Building upon Ivor Horton's Beginning Java 2, this resource shows you how to use the core features of the latest JDK as well as powerful open source tools such as Ant, JUnit, and Hibernate. It will arm you with a well-rounded understanding of the professional Java development landscape.The expert author team begins by uncovering the sophisticated Java language features, the methodology for developing solutions, and steps for exploiting patterns. They then provide you with a collection of real-world examples that will become an essential part of your developer's toolkit. With this approach, you'll gain the skills to build advanced solutions by utilizing the more complex and nuanced parts of Java JDK 6.What you will learn from this bookHow to use tools to make your work easier and more productiveMethods to develop effective user interfaces with Java Foundation Classes (JFC)Steps to build web applications using the Model 1 and Model 2 architecturesWays to interact with the databases and XML using JDBC and JAXBTechniques for developing enterprise applications using EJB 3.0 and web servicesHow to package and deploy Java applicationsWho this book is forThis book is for Java developers who are looking for an all-purpose resource, are ready for more advanced Java solutions and language features, and need assistance when tackling new Java problems that may be outside their technological experience.Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.