This could be the best $15.00 that you spend provided that you have SOME experience developing web based applications and preferably some familiarity with Struts framework. The beginners will find some inconsistencies somewhat difficult to overcome in the text. For me, the best part has been the exercises that the author has provided free of charge on his web site. Download these along with the workbook, install and run these examples. You will find your Struts learning experience suddenly jump to fast forward.
Great job and keep it up.

This explains what exactly you need to understand for writing full flegded Struts applications, in simple and logical fashion

This is a "must have" for Struts programmers, whether they're novice or expert. Clean, concise examples that really work!!!

So, this one is difficult to describe. First 3 chapters are basics, 1 is boring story about MVC model I and II. Chapter 2 is better, describes struts config, but nothing that you already don't know. Third chapter is hello world. All together for beginners.

Now Chapter 4 is a revelation, gives several very important hints, from security issues (page protection), what goes into action, handling duplicate submissions, and so on. Chapter 5 is also very good but deals with form validation (multiple pages, etc.). These chapters are not for beginners, and that is the reason why some people don't like this book. For the complete tutorial and learning book you should not use this one, although chapters 1-3 are in that way. This part of book acts like a cookbook, and has some great hints and ideas. Programming Jakarta Struts and Professional Jakarta Struts are more for people who need to learn it from beginning.

Finally chapter 6 deals with tag libraries, in a shallow approach, not good. Interesting is Chapter 7, dealing with Tiles, also very short, but tells you the most important things. However you need to purchase some other Tiles book if the Tiles are something you need to know in depth.

I would rate this book with 4 - with the accent that this is a "cookbook" not a tutoring book.

I believe that first 3 chapters should be shorter, perhaps just sheets and hints. More space should given to even more advices like in chapters 4 and 5. Tiles are imporant, but are discussed in way as chapters 1-3 but much condensed, thus better, but too short, many things were skipped. I would like to see a new edition of this book with more hints and more work on it and taking completely a direction of a cookbook not a tutorial.

Anyway, a good book, providing useful information which I couldn't find anywhere else.

I have had a difficult time reading this book because the English and grammar are so poor. It is absolutely distracting!

It appears the author knows the material but unfortunately does a poor job presenting it. It is an unfortunate piece of work. Perhaps there could be a second edition of this book that would correct all the language problems.

For my money, it would have saved me time had I bought a book twice the size. At least I could have gone through it without becoming disgusted and distracted by the grammar. Thank goodness I only paid $9.96 used; otherwise I would really be disappointed!

I am the author and publisher of this book.

This is an informational entry to let everybody know that the PDF version of this book is available free from the Publisher ObjectSource LLC - http://www.objectsource.com

While you are there, also grab goodies such as companion workbook for the Struts Survival Guide.

And now go to www.objectsource.com to download all the book and samples for free!

Thanks guys!

I haven't finished the book yet, but I've been impressed that it's a very good introduction book for a starter for struts. You get a basic & general understanding of the framework structure very quick. This book also give "tips" for error-prone spots in coding.
Unfortunately it doesn't give itself tips for editing---- too many typos, sometimes I even got confused which one is typo and which is not!

I read the O'Reilly book first, so I barely even noticed the grammatical errors in this book. This book is straight to the point and tells you exactly what you need to do to get up and running. On top of that, you learn some best practices right off the bat so you end up with a pretty decent framework. The O'Reilly book has you flipping all over the place trying to figure out when Struts starts and stops. Nothing like flipping to Chapter 11 so you can understand the example in Chapter 3. If you're looking for something that gives you the down and dirty to hit the road running, read this book.

I just don't know what I would've done had I not purchased this book. This book is probably the only one in the market that explains how to do List based form.