Pro JPA 2: Mastering the Java™ Persistence API

by Mike Keith, Merrick Schincariol, Jeremy Keith

Pro JPA 2 introduces, explains, and demonstrates how to use the Java Persistence API (JPA). JPA provides Java developers with both the knowledge and insight needed to write Java applications that access relational databases through JPA.

Authors Mike Keith and Merrick Schincariol take a hands–on approach to teaching by giving examples to illustrate each concept of the API and showing how it is used in practice.

All of the examples use a common model from an overriding sample application, giving readers a context from which to start and helping them to understand the examples within an already familiar domain.

After completing the book, you will have a full understanding and be able to successfully code applications using JPA. The book also serves as a reference guide during initial and later JPA application experiences.

Hands-on examples for all the aspects of the JPA specification, based on the reference implementation of this specification

A special section on migration to JPA

Expert insight about various aspects of the API and when they are useful

Portability hints to provide increased awareness of the potential for non–portable JPA code



What you’ll learn

Get started with enterprise applications using JPA 2

Get up to speed with object–relational mapping and Entity Manager

Learn and use queries and the query language (JP QL)

Employ advanced object–relational mapping techniques

Use XML mapping files and learn other advanced techniques

Package and deploy your Java persistence applications

Test your Java persistence applications

Migrate your Java persistence applications



Who this book is for

The book generally targets enterprise and persistence developers who fall in one of three categories:

Those who are new to persistence; we will present some background information and introduce these readers to the basic persistence concepts to bring them up to speed.

Those who know and/or use existing ORM persistence products such as Hibernate or TopLink.

Those who have already used JPA and want to learn about newer features introduced by JPA 2, or have a good reference book to consult when they develop JPA applications.

In general, we assume that the reader is knowledgeable with Java, SQL, and JDBC, and has a little knowledge of J2EE.

Genres: Programming, Technical, Computer Science, Technology, Software, Nonfiction

530 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2009

Reviews

[Elinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to Java Peristence API. It covers a broad number of topics from the basics of JPA (entity managers and factories, entities, relationships, JPQL, ...) all the way through to more advanced topics like caching, entity graphs, and entity lifecycle events - along with some good tips and recommendations.

I found this to be a comprehensive guide and although I do get the heat the book is getting from being primarily EJB-oriented, it will remain in my library of excellent reference books - far nicer to read than the JPA specification itself.

[Eric Westfall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really an awesome resource if you really want to learn about JPA and many of the advanced topics around it. My biggest complaint is that it focuses way too much on EJB early on (and throughout in various places). I think part of that is related to the lineage of JPA as part of J2EE but I think the book could have still been effective without as much of that content. And it wouldn't have hurt them to talk a little bit about using JPA with something like the Spring Framework (I don't recall there being much if anything in the book on that).

Other than that, I would still recommend this to someone who wants to learn JPA 2 and have a desk-side reference. It's more enjoyable than reading the JPA specification :)

[Florian Wicher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very satisfied with the book. I am a novice to JPA and need it for my job. The third chapter tries to give an overview over how JPA fits into Java EE applications, which is interesting and accessible enough to read it if you have no idea about Java EE, but if you are developing with Spring, as I am, you might as well skip it I guess. Doesn't harm your understanding of the rest of the book. There are enough and thought-out examples to illustrate the concepts the book explores.

[Filus1025 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book about JPA avalible.

[Yazan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, I didn't need any other JPA resources after reading it.

[Vít Kotačka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on JPA 2 topic. Very well written, it goes in the depths and it's quite complex. Usable as reference as well. The only minus, there is nothing about integration or usage with the Spring Framework.

[Mike Salzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for what we need it for

[Luboš · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much EJB!

[Dmitry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most comprehensive book about JPA 2, a lot of details and approaches are covered, hope I've consumed 50%, definitely worth to be re-read later.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read book, written with full of useful examples. I wish I had read this book before.