Knowledge of Object-oriented design principles and various OOP design patterns is a must for any experienced Java developer. It helps them to create robust code that can withstand test of time in production. As I have said earlier on 10 OOP and SOLID design principles, coding without knowing these principles is like trying to learn a language without knowing the alphabet. If you don't know alphabets, you will struggle with understanding the words and using them. Now the question is how can a Java developer learn these design principles and patterns? Which books and courses one should take to learn and master this essential skill for experienced Java developers? This is what I am going to answer in this post. I will share some of the best books and courses to learn Design patterns for Java and JEE developers.
There are several books were written on Object-oriented design principles, Design patterns, and coding best practices, but only a few of them provide what they claim. There are also two different things here, design principles and design patterns, one is basic and the other is a best practice built on that basis.
A programmer should first learn Object-oriented principles and then learn design patterns to see how those principles are used to solve day to day problems. Most of the design patterns are based upon these principles. For example, the Strategy design pattern is based upon the open-closed design principle of SOLID.
Keeping this in mind, I have collected a list of 5 books to learn Object-oriented basics and design patterns in Java. These books are ordered from beginners to advanced perspective. I have also included a couple of books on J2EE or Java EE design patterns that are little different than core Java design patterns but equally important for a Java developer, particularly Java web developers who create web applications.
Apart from these 5 books, you can also look at Effective Java 3rd Edition by Joshua Bloch and Head First object-oriented analysis and design for getting some good idea about object-oriented design principles and how it has used in Java. Effective Java is the must-read for any Java programmer, as it explained a lot of practical design advice used in Java library itself.
Further Learning
Design Pattern in Java (Java 8)
Web Application & Software Architecture 101
Java Design Patterns - The Complete Masterclass
If you find my recommendation worth reading and looking for some excellent book to master programming and Java-related technology, you will find the following list amazing as well:
Thanks for reading this article so far. If you like the object-oriented design pattern books useful then please share with your friends and colleagues. If you have any issues or feedback then please drop a note.
P.S. - If you are looking for some online courses to learn Design Patterns and their modern implementation in Java then I also suggest you go through this list of best Java design pattern courses for experienced Java programmers.
There are several books were written on Object-oriented design principles, Design patterns, and coding best practices, but only a few of them provide what they claim. There are also two different things here, design principles and design patterns, one is basic and the other is a best practice built on that basis.
A programmer should first learn Object-oriented principles and then learn design patterns to see how those principles are used to solve day to day problems. Most of the design patterns are based upon these principles. For example, the Strategy design pattern is based upon the open-closed design principle of SOLID.
Keeping this in mind, I have collected a list of 5 books to learn Object-oriented basics and design patterns in Java. These books are ordered from beginners to advanced perspective. I have also included a couple of books on J2EE or Java EE design patterns that are little different than core Java design patterns but equally important for a Java developer, particularly Java web developers who create web applications.
Top 5 Books to Learn Java Design Patterns
Here is my list of good books to learn object-oriented and Java design patterns. Design patterns are tried and tested as a way to solve a problem in a context.
These patterns are discovered while solving similar problems multiple times over the year and they address some of the most common tasks in object-oriented application development like creating an object, structuring code, dynamic behavior based on context and object, etc.
The following five books are a great resource to learn Java design patterns, which is equally applicable to any other object-oriented programming language. If you know any other book on design patterns, which is worth reading, then please share it with us.
These patterns are discovered while solving similar problems multiple times over the year and they address some of the most common tasks in object-oriented application development like creating an object, structuring code, dynamic behavior based on context and object, etc.
The following five books are a great resource to learn Java design patterns, which is equally applicable to any other object-oriented programming language. If you know any other book on design patterns, which is worth reading, then please share it with us.
This was the first book, I read on head first series and design pattern as well, prior to that, I have no idea when to use abstract class or interface or Why composition is better than Inheritance. I usually code each feature and requirement as they come and end of doing more changes, more testing and introducing more bugs in the first few years of software development.
Thanks to my appetite for learning and reading, I discovered Head First design pattern and after reading its first chapter, I was thrilled. Now I can say that was basics but it's easier to get to know about advance stuff than basics, and there, these books score.
It's a must-read a book on Object-oriented design patterns for any Java developer, including experienced and senior developers. I would even suggest starting a learning design pattern from this book. It not only explains concepts in a clear way, but also gives lots of diagrams, exercises, quizzes, and real-life examples to make you think and learn. There is also a new version of this book is available now.
I am a big fan of Head First books, be it Head First Java, Head First Object-Oriented Analysis or Design or this book. Head First design patterns are a great example of active learning and anyone who wants' to know about Object-oriented basics like Inheritance, Encapsulation, Polymorphism, and Abstraction must read this book.
The three chapters on the Decorator design pattern and Observer design pattern is also a great piece of work. In short, this is the best book on Java design patterns to date. If you want, you can also combine this book with the Java Design Pattern course by Dmitri Nesteruk on Udemy. This is an excellent course to learn about the modern implementation of classic OOP Design patterns.
Thanks to my appetite for learning and reading, I discovered Head First design pattern and after reading its first chapter, I was thrilled. Now I can say that was basics but it's easier to get to know about advance stuff than basics, and there, these books score.
It's a must-read a book on Object-oriented design patterns for any Java developer, including experienced and senior developers. I would even suggest starting a learning design pattern from this book. It not only explains concepts in a clear way, but also gives lots of diagrams, exercises, quizzes, and real-life examples to make you think and learn. There is also a new version of this book is available now.
I am a big fan of Head First books, be it Head First Java, Head First Object-Oriented Analysis or Design or this book. Head First design patterns are a great example of active learning and anyone who wants' to know about Object-oriented basics like Inheritance, Encapsulation, Polymorphism, and Abstraction must read this book.
The three chapters on the Decorator design pattern and Observer design pattern is also a great piece of work. In short, this is the best book on Java design patterns to date. If you want, you can also combine this book with the Java Design Pattern course by Dmitri Nesteruk on Udemy. This is an excellent course to learn about the modern implementation of classic OOP Design patterns.
This book is THE classic Gang of Four (GOF) design pattern book, which became a source and motivation for many object-oriented design pattern books written and published so far. Any list of must-read books on design patterns in Java is incomplete, without including this book.
After almost 20 years, this book is still relevant in Object-oriented and Java design patterns. This book has a case study chapter on designing Document Editor and then explains various design patterns e.g. Creational patterns, Structural, and Behavioral patterns.
IMHO, this is one of the best books in design pattern and a must-read for any Java developer, along with Java Concurrency in Practice and Effective Java. You can buy this book from Amazon, it’s available as both hardcover, paperback edition and as a multimedia CD.
I also suggest you combine this book with the Design Pattern Library course on Pluralsight for some hands-on learning. This course provides an example for each of these patterns and also explains how, when, and where you can use them in a modern context.
After almost 20 years, this book is still relevant in Object-oriented and Java design patterns. This book has a case study chapter on designing Document Editor and then explains various design patterns e.g. Creational patterns, Structural, and Behavioral patterns.
IMHO, this is one of the best books in design pattern and a must-read for any Java developer, along with Java Concurrency in Practice and Effective Java. You can buy this book from Amazon, it’s available as both hardcover, paperback edition and as a multimedia CD.
I also suggest you combine this book with the Design Pattern Library course on Pluralsight for some hands-on learning. This course provides an example for each of these patterns and also explains how, when, and where you can use them in a modern context.
3. Design Patterns Explained: A New Perspective on Object-Oriented Design
Like multi-threading and concurrency, design patterns are also not easy to understand. What is the most difficult part is understanding enough to identify real-world scenarios, where you can apply these object-oriented design patterns.
That's why sometimes it's better to use multiple books to learn design patterns in Java, it's worth doing it. The main reason for that is the different styles of writing and explaining stuff. Some programmer finds a particular author more readable than others, I guess the only exception is Joshua Bloch which really connects to most of Java developer.
Design Patterns Explained: A New Perspective on Object-Oriented Design is that alternate way of learning Object-oriented design patterns. Though it also explains the same set of OOPS principles, UML and design patterns like decorator pattern, factory pattern or observer design pattern, the way it explains may be easier to understand for many beginners. Examples given this design pattern books are also good and nontrivial.
That's why sometimes it's better to use multiple books to learn design patterns in Java, it's worth doing it. The main reason for that is the different styles of writing and explaining stuff. Some programmer finds a particular author more readable than others, I guess the only exception is Joshua Bloch which really connects to most of Java developer.
Design Patterns Explained: A New Perspective on Object-Oriented Design is that alternate way of learning Object-oriented design patterns. Though it also explains the same set of OOPS principles, UML and design patterns like decorator pattern, factory pattern or observer design pattern, the way it explains may be easier to understand for many beginners. Examples given this design pattern books are also good and nontrivial.
If you want, you can also combine this book with the Coursera's Software Design and Architecture Specialization which not only is great resource for Software architecture but also have a Design Pattern course by Kenny Wong to teach design patterns in depth.
4. Software Architecture Design Patterns in Java
This is another good book on Object-oriented and Java design patterns, it not only covers basic Object-oriented principles like Class, Object, Inheritance, Polymorphism, Abstraction, and Encapsulation but also covers details which are quite practical but not obvious e.g. private methods, getter and setters, Immutable objects, interface, and monitor.
This book also provides extensive and comprehensive coverage of a whole lot of design patterns e.g. Creational patterns, Collection patterns, Structural patterns, Behavioral patterns, and Concurrency patterns. It's coverage on the Factory design pattern and Singleton pattern is really interesting to read.
Another thing, which I like in this book is practice questions and UML diagrams, which not only help to understand the topic well but also ensures that you practice the application part, which is most important to learn any design pattern.
Finally, they have a case study of designing software solutions for a web hosting company, which gives you a real chance of identifying and applying design patterns in a real-world scenario.
In short, Software Architecture Design Patterns in Java has almost everything you need to know about Java design patterns, and if you need a bit of interactiveness, Educative's Web Application & Software Architecture 101 is also a great resource to learn about Software architecture in depth.
This book also provides extensive and comprehensive coverage of a whole lot of design patterns e.g. Creational patterns, Collection patterns, Structural patterns, Behavioral patterns, and Concurrency patterns. It's coverage on the Factory design pattern and Singleton pattern is really interesting to read.
Another thing, which I like in this book is practice questions and UML diagrams, which not only help to understand the topic well but also ensures that you practice the application part, which is most important to learn any design pattern.
Finally, they have a case study of designing software solutions for a web hosting company, which gives you a real chance of identifying and applying design patterns in a real-world scenario.
In short, Software Architecture Design Patterns in Java has almost everything you need to know about Java design patterns, and if you need a bit of interactiveness, Educative's Web Application & Software Architecture 101 is also a great resource to learn about Software architecture in depth.
5. Core J2EE Patterns: Best Practices and Design Strategies
The J2EE platform is the most popular way of using Java programming language, and since it mainly focuses on web and enterprise solutions, it has its own set of problems and requirements. Core J2EE patterns explain some of the most useful design patterns from the J2EE world like Intercepting Filters, Front Controller, Model View Controller or MVC pattern, Data Access Object or DAO pattern, View Helper or View Resolver pattern, Service Locator patterns, etc.
This book divides the design pattern based upon their functional area e.g. Presentation tier design patterns, business tier design pattern, etc. This is a must-read book for any Java J2EE developer, who is responsible for coding web application and enterprise application.
Though a modern-day framework like Spring, ensures you follow these J2EE design patterns at the framework level e.g. MVC is enforced by Spring MVC, similarly, it also uses Front Controller in a form of DispatcherServlet and ViewResolver.
Spring framework, also let you use Dependency Injection and IOC at the container level. Having said that, whether you use Spring MVC, Struts or any other web framework, knowledge of these J2EE patterns will help you to understand legacy code as well as to create a solution that is easier to maintain.
This book is recommended by our readers. As he said "the book you need to read for Java EE patterns is "Real World Java EE Patterns" by Adam Bien. He'll explain to you why you shouldn't be writing your own DAO layer anymore.
That is a legacy pattern from J2EE that was only needed to cope with the poor J2EE architecture and should be avoided in Java EE". I have read a couple of chapters of this book and I must say he was right, this is the most up-to-date book on the topic of Java EE Patterns and one of the must-read the book for Java EE developers.
This book divides the design pattern based upon their functional area e.g. Presentation tier design patterns, business tier design pattern, etc. This is a must-read book for any Java J2EE developer, who is responsible for coding web application and enterprise application.
Though a modern-day framework like Spring, ensures you follow these J2EE design patterns at the framework level e.g. MVC is enforced by Spring MVC, similarly, it also uses Front Controller in a form of DispatcherServlet and ViewResolver.
Spring framework, also let you use Dependency Injection and IOC at the container level. Having said that, whether you use Spring MVC, Struts or any other web framework, knowledge of these J2EE patterns will help you to understand legacy code as well as to create a solution that is easier to maintain.
This book is recommended by our readers. As he said "the book you need to read for Java EE patterns is "Real World Java EE Patterns" by Adam Bien. He'll explain to you why you shouldn't be writing your own DAO layer anymore.
That is a legacy pattern from J2EE that was only needed to cope with the poor J2EE architecture and should be avoided in Java EE". I have read a couple of chapters of this book and I must say he was right, this is the most up-to-date book on the topic of Java EE Patterns and one of the must-read the book for Java EE developers.
Apart from these 5 books, you can also look at Effective Java 3rd Edition by Joshua Bloch and Head First object-oriented analysis and design for getting some good idea about object-oriented design principles and how it has used in Java. Effective Java is the must-read for any Java programmer, as it explained a lot of practical design advice used in Java library itself.
Further Learning
Design Pattern in Java (Java 8)
Web Application & Software Architecture 101
Java Design Patterns - The Complete Masterclass
If you find my recommendation worth reading and looking for some excellent book to master programming and Java-related technology, you will find the following list amazing as well:
- 9 Books Every Java Developer Should Read (see here)
- Top 5 Books to Learn Spring Framework and Spring MVC (checklist)
- 6 Books to Master Programming and Coding skill (see here)
- Best book to Learn JUnit testing and Test Driven Development (read here)
- 2 Books to Prepare Oracle Java Certification (see here)
- 5 Java Performance Books - Must read, Best of Lot (read here)
- 3 Books to Learn Java 8, Must read (see here)
- Top 5 Hibernate Books for Java Developers (read here)
- Which Programming Book to Buy if Given 100$ to Spend? (My list)
- 5 FREE Books to Learn Scala Programming (see here)
- Top 5 jQuery Books for Beginner Web Developer (check here)
- 4 Books to Prepare Google Job Interview (see here)
- 10 FREE Java Programming Books for Beginners (read here)
- 10 Free Java Courses for experienced developers (courses)
Thanks for reading this article so far. If you like the object-oriented design pattern books useful then please share with your friends and colleagues. If you have any issues or feedback then please drop a note.
P.S. - If you are looking for some online courses to learn Design Patterns and their modern implementation in Java then I also suggest you go through this list of best Java design pattern courses for experienced Java programmers.
Hi Javin, Any book, which covers concurrency design pattern like Producer Consumer with single producer, multiple producer, Work Steal pattern etc?
ReplyDeleteNo need of all these books also...
ReplyDeletejust go with Gang of Four (GOF) design pattern book,
You reveal your ignorance when you include the outdated J2EE patterns book. J2EE was a bad architecture. Do you really want to defend the EJB 2 specification as architecturally sound?
ReplyDeleteThe book you need to read for Java EE patterns is "Real World Java EE Patterns" by Adam Bien. He'll explain to you why you shouldn't be writing your own DAO layer any more. That is a legacy pattern from J2EE that was only needed to cope with the poor J2EE architecture and should be avoided in Java EE.