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Data Structures and Algorithms in Java Review by Konstantin Laufer
One of the better Java-based CS2 textbooks out there
I used this book in a CS2 course I taught in the spring 2009 semester. Overall, I think it is one of the better Java-based CS2 textbooks out there.
Strengths:
+ conceptual and technical content are of high quality
+ relatively concise for an undergraduate text
+ good balance between using Java collections and implementing one's own
+ good introduction to algorithms and complexity
+ correct use of generics
Weaknesses:
- inheritance is a distraction at this level; focus should be on implementing interfaces
- missed opportunity to introduce some basic design patterns; examples: discusses Iterator but doesn't explain what problem it solves, what forces it reconciles; doesn't talk about Strategy in conjunction with ordering or sorting
- no enums
- examples not minimal enough for my taste
- plain print quality
In conclusion, it's a tossup between this text and Duane Bailey's free one. I'm not sure when I get to teach CS2 again, but might give Bailey's a try so I can compare the two in action.