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Source code

All the source code for this book is available as copyrighted freeware, distributed as a single package, by visiting the Web site http://www.BruceEckel.com. To make sure that you get the most current version, this is the official site for distribution of the code and the electronic version of the book. You can find mirrored versions of the electronic book and the code on other sites (some of these sites are found at http://www.BruceEckel.com), but you should check the official site to ensure that the mirrored version is actually the most recent edition. You may distribute the code in classroom and other educational situations.

The primary goal of the copyright is to ensure that the source of the code is properly cited, and to prevent you from republishing the code in print media without permission. (As long as the source is cited, using examples from the book in most media is generally not a problem.)

In each source code file you will find the following copyright notice:

//////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Copyright (c) Bruce Eckel, 1998
// Source code file from the book "Thinking in Java"
// All rights reserved EXCEPT as allowed by the
// following statements: You can freely use this file
// for your own work (personal or commercial),
// including modifications and distribution in
// executable form only. Permission is granted to use
// this file in classroom situations, including its
// use in presentation materials, as long as the book
// "Thinking in Java" is cited as the source. 
// Except in classroom situations, you cannot copy
// and distribute this code; instead, the sole
// distribution point is http://www.BruceEckel.com 
// (and official mirror sites) where it is
// freely available. You cannot remove this
// copyright and notice. You cannot distribute
// modified versions of the source code in this
// package. You cannot use this file in printed
// media without the express permission of the
// author. Bruce Eckel makes no representation about
// the suitability of this software for any purpose.
// It is provided "as is" without express or implied
// warranty of any kind, including any implied
// warranty of merchantability, fitness for a
// particular purpose or non-infringement. The entire
// risk as to the quality and performance of the
// software is with you. Bruce Eckel and the
// publisher shall not be liable for any damages
// suffered by you or any third party as a result of
// using or distributing software. In no event will
// Bruce Eckel or the publisher be liable for any
// lost revenue, profit, or data, or for direct,
// indirect, special, consequential, incidental, or
// punitive damages, however caused and regardless of
// the theory of liability, arising out of the use of
// or inability to use software, even if Bruce Eckel
// and the publisher have been advised of the
// possibility of such damages. Should the software
// prove defective, you assume the cost of all
// necessary servicing, repair, or correction. If you
// think you've found an error, please email all
// modified files with clearly commented changes to:
// Bruce@EckelObjects.com. (Please use the same
// address for non-code errors found in the book.)
/////////////////////////////////////////////////

You may use the code in your projects and in the classroom (including your presentation materials) as long as the copyright notice that appears in each source file is retained.

Coding standards

In the text of this book, identifiers (function, variable and class names) will be set in bold. Most keywords will also be set in bold, except for those keywords that are used so much that the bolding can become tedious, such as “class.”

I use a particular coding style for the examples in this book. This style seems to be supported by most Java development environments. It was developed over a number of years, and was inspired by Bjarne Stroustrup’s style in his original The C++ Programming Language (Addison-Wesley, 1991; 2 ^nd ed.). The subject of formatting style is good for hours of hot debate, so I’ll just say I’m not trying to dictate correct style via my examples; I have my own motivation for using the style that I do. Because Java is a free-form programming language, you can continue to use whatever style you’re comfortable with.

The programs in this book are files that are included by the word processor in the text, directly from compiled files. Thus, the code files printed in the book should all work without compiler errors. The errors that should cause compile-time error messages are commented out with the comment //! so they can be easily discovered and tested using automatic means. Errors discovered and reported to the author will appear first in the distributed source code and later in updates of the book (which will also appear on the Web site http://www.BruceEckel.com).

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