JSP Quick-Start Guide for Linux

Where to from here?

If you've worked in PHP or another scripting language before, then the simple example above may have left you a little underwhelmed. "That's it?" you may ask. "I went to all that trouble just to do something I could have done in 30 seconds with PHP?" Of course not! As a simple example, the above does not make use of any of the more powerful features of JSP, most of which require a fairly thorough understanding of the Java programming language to use.

Thus, your first step should be to learn Java if you haven't already. There are plenty of good books out there (check the Related Articles below for a review of my favourite), but if you're in a hurry or on a budget, my article Getting Started with Java and its successors should get you going.

Once you're up to speed on Java (and I don't mean to trivialize that -- it will take some work), you can turn your attention to Java Servlets, and then JavaServer Pages. My article, Java Servlets, should get you going with the former; as for the latter, a 8-part tutorial series, The JSP Files, is now available on SitePoint.com to teach you all you need to know. Enjoy!

Good luck! If you hit any snags along the way, the SitePoint.com Forum members are here to help! And if all else fails, you can always contact me through the email link at the top of this article.