Recommend Linux + Java books, resources for .NET developer

Question

Hi,

I want to learn Java and Linux.

Java itself (as a language) is not a big deal for me as I know pretty well .NET and C# (so the paradigm is similar).

The biggest issue for me would probably be doing Java on Linux platform (I have never used Linux before). I think Ubuntu should be good for me (a friend of mine recommended it).

So I would like to get some books and/or some RSS feeds that would mix Linux/Java and help me to switch from Windows to Linux.

Those resources should probably:

• Teach me the basics of Linux (not only how to use mouse, but most important commands, shell scripts etc).
• Provide information about using the tooling (especially IDE, shortcuts, tricks etc). Note is that I don't need info about the basics of the language, OOP/D, TDD etc as I am already proficient in that but on the .NET/Windows platform.
• Describe Hosting and deployment of Java apps on Linux (and/or maybe Windows).
• and anything else you guys think I would need.

Thanks a lot in advance!
Dmitriy.

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UPDATE: To summarise the answers just want to put the recommended resources in one place:

Books:

• Linux for Programmers and Users
• Linux Programmer's Toolbox
• Java Power Tools
• Linux Administration, A Beginner's Guide

Links:

• Linux man pages

Tools:

• VirtualBox (free, at least for personal use, virtual machine from Sun)
• IntelliJ (supposed to be better than Eclipse and NetBeans)
• Learn Eclipse IDE quicker
• Build: Ant, Malvern
• Continuous Integration: Hudson, Contumnuum
• static code analysis - Checkstyle

Answer 1

I would suggest you to install your preferred distro and play with it. There is no other better substitute. If you want know basic commands, search "Linux Basic Commands", you will get plenty of links teaching you that. Regarding Java development, once you are in your IDE, there is very little difference. You will learn it along the way, I believe.

I am telling you my experience, by the way I switched to openSUSE. Now using openSUSE, and Kubuntu both and I am very much comfortable.

As you stated, in the comment, that you are used to of VS+ReSharper. I would like to recommend IntelliJ. Its from the same folks who built the ReSharper plugin. In fact they built IntelliJ first :). It has a reasonable license fee though.

Otherwise Netbeans is free and a great IDE. Wizards and plugins are awesome. Few folks are inclined towards Eclipse. But I didn't like that after using IntelliJ for 2 or more years. Its more of a personal preference or addiction, I suppose. Then I switched to Netbeans, and found it okay, not quite like IntelliJ but still great.

Answer 2

I've used "Linux Administration, A Beginner's Guide" a few years back when I did my transition from Windows to Linux (it had a new edition since then). I was using RedHat at the time but I don't think it was specific to RedHat.

Once you have that book I second the advise from the previous poster, that you install your preferred distro and play with it. That's what I did, but having this book as a guide really helped me.

Answer 3

Are You interested more in Java SE ore Java EE? What IDE do you prefer? What other tools will You use (for version control for example)?

Anyway Linux for Programmers and Users is quiet good book and The Linux Programmer's Toolbox is even better. Both about Linux and it's tools for programmers not about Java. But Java's part is similar on both Linux and Windows (IDEs are almost identical) so any book about Java (look for more advance book because you know .net) or tutorial about using IDE will be good.

For quicker Eclipse (if You choose it) learning i recommend this plugin: http://www.mousefeed.com/

//edit:

And for Java tools like:

• building system -Ant, Maven
• CI - Hudson, Continuum
• static code analysis - Checkstyle
• and more

I strongly recommend this book: http://www.amazon.com/Java-Power-Tools-Ferguson-Smart/dp/0596527934/

Answer 4

What Vinegar says - just install it and play ;). But if it's really all that new to you it might be a good idea to install linux in VirtualBox or vmware. This way you won't break anything on your computer if you'll make mistake during installation and you can always save 'clean' installed system as snapshot and easily come back to that 'clean' state by reverting to snapshot.

For reading... i just recommend man pages. You can access them from console or online, for example here. When you aren't sure how to use some command - read its man page.