JavaRanch and the Big Moose Saloon

JavaRanch and its Big Moose Saloon is a great place to go for anybody interested in Java. If you have a Java problem, go there. If you want to pass a Sun (Oracle) certification like SCJP, SCWCD, SCBCD..., go there. There are also forums for Groovy, Scala, Javascript...

Some of the top reasons why you should be a member :

1. It's a very friendly place. No insults. No "you don't even know that ??" kind of mockery. When you sign there, the first thing you are told is to "Be Nice". It's the number one JavaRanch policy. It's a nice place.
2. The place is kept clean by a bunch of bartenders and sheriffs (ranchy names for moderators), whose first rule is also to "Be Nice". There's no exception to the rule. We are all here to help each other.
3. You'll find people answering your problems relatively quickly. I rarely see questions left unanswered.
4. Answers are usually checked by moderators, leading into constructive arguments or more elaborate answers.
5. You'll find great materials and advices to pass the Sun certifications. Advices given by other members who actually passed the exam.
6. You'll meet book authors, some of them being regual members.
7. One of the original goal of the forum was to help people. So insteading of giving away code snippets for coding problems, we tend to lead people toward the answer, to make them think by themselves. This may take some time, but it's really worth it.
8. The ranch listens to you, and you can help it change. If you have any request concerning the forums, people will listen to you, and debate whether or not your ideas could be applied.
9. You'll have a chance to win free books ! A book promotion is conducted almost every week, where book or software authors spend a week answering members' questions about their product. Don't miss it.

I love being there, helping others solving their problems. I learned a lot thanks to the ranch. Not only about Java, but also about dealing with problems. It's also a great motivation to be there, being surrounded by software experts. It's sometimes challenging to "Be Nice". I think things would easily get out of hands in other forums. But not at JavaRanch. You'll be in good hands.

So, what are you waiting for ? Join this great community.