There is no required textbook for this course. If you are intending to continue programming in Java beyond this course (e.g., CS, IMGD, or RBE majors), I strongly recommend Effective Java by Joshua Bloch. The readings for some lectures reference sections of this book for additional perspective; you will not be tested on material that appears solely in this book though.
You should not need a Java language manual for this class. If you find that you need a construct that we did not cover in class, ask about it on the discussion board. If you want more language details than we cover in lecture, you could consult the Learning the Java Language portion of the Java tutorial pages.
You may use either DrJava or Eclipse for this course. Eclipse has a much higher learning curve, but is used in upper-level lab CS courses (such as Software Engineering) and software-based jobs. If you are not going on to upper-level CS courses or if you prefer a gentler introduction to Java, we recommend DrJava. You are welcome to start in DrJava then switch to Eclipse mid-term. Lectures will use DrJava for demonstrations.
The DrJava documentation includes a useful QuickStart guide. Chapter 3 is enough to get you started once you have the software installed.
Separate instructions explain how to use the testing library with either programming environment.
We will be using clickers during lecture this term to assess how everyone is understanding certain concepts. Please sign out a clicker from ATC, either in their office on the first floor of Fuller Labs or from the Technology and Learning center to the right of the helpdesk in the library. We will do a trial run of clickers on the second day of class (Tuesday) and begin using them in earnest after that.