The text is designed as an "early objects" introduction to programming using the Java programming language. The student is introduced to object-oriented programming early in the book. The fundamentals of control structures, classes, and the OOP paradigm are thoroughly covered before moving on to graphics and more powerful applications of the Java language.

As with all the books in the Starting Out series, the hallmark of this text is its clear, friendly, and easy-to-understand writing. In addition, it is rich in example programs that are concise and practical.