Early sections in the book discuss the differences between the versions of Java promoted by Sun and Microsoft. The author presents several simple console programs written in both Sun "core" Java classes and Microsoft Java using the Windows Foundation Classes (WFC). A comparative approach is used again for simple graphical user interface (GUI) applications written in both AWT and WFC. (The author also compares the event models used by Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT) and WFC, including the controversial Microsoft delegates keyword.)

The book then delves into the more advanced aspects of building WFC user interfaces, including ListView and TreeView controls, toolbars, and even simple drag-and-drop functionality. A chapter on graphics programming covers basic graphics output in WFC.

Further on, the author looks at multithreaded programming, ADO database programming, and building "local" and ActiveX controls using the Visual J++ tool. Standout sections include coverage of native Win32 calls--and even custom C++ DLLs--using J/Direct. The book closes with material on Java applets and programming dynamic HTML (DHMTL) via Java on the client and server, though the book only scratches the surface of this topic. An appendix provides an introduction to the syntax of the Java programming language for the Java novice.