Threads are what allow a computer program to appear to be doing two or more things at the same time. They aren't really, but they do tasks so quickly that they appear to be. Any program written in Java has to make use of threads, but understanding how they work, and what to do when they don't work, is not simple stuff, even for experienced programmers. Java Threads is a thorough tutorial on using threads in Java. Covering everything from the basics of creating threads, through synchronization and conditions, handling deadlocks, thread lifecycles, and thread management, this is an essential book that supplements knowledge of basic functionality with in-depth, practical exploration of advanced issues.
Scott Oaks is a Java Technologist at Sun Microsystems, where he has worked since 1987. While at Sun, he has specialized in many disparate technologies, from the SunOS kernel to network programming and RPCs. Since 1995, he's focused primarily on Java and bringing Java technology to end-users. Scott also authored O'Reilly's Java Security, Java Threads and Jini in a Nutshell titles.
Henry Wong is an independent consultant, involved in various Java related projects. Henry previously worked as a computer engineer at Sun Microsystems from 1989 to 2003. Originally hired as a consultant to help customers with special device drivers, kernel modifications, and DOS interoperability products, Henry has also worked on Solaris ports, performance tuning projects, and multithreaded design and implementations for benchmarks and demos. Since early 1995, Henry has been involved in developing Java prototypes and supporting customers who are using Java.
Prior to working at Sun, Henry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from The Cooper Union in 1987. He joined a small software company in 1986 working on SCSI device drivers, image and audio data compression, and graphics tools used for a medical information system.
When not in front of a computer, Henry is an instrument rated private pilot, who also likes to dabble in archery, cooking, and traveling to different places with his wife, Nini.