Manage books, members and issue or return records.
Difficulty: Intermediate · Technology: Java, JDBC, MySQL
Features to build
- Book and member CRUD
- Issue and return flow
- Fine calculation
- Database persistence
Step-by-step build plan
- Design classes for Book, Member and Loan
- Create the database tables
- Build add, issue and return flows
- Calculate fines for late returns
- Add a simple report of overdue books
The part most people find hard
Preventing a book from being issued twice.
How to test it
Try issuing an unavailable book and check the error.
Suggested extensions
Add user accounts, better error handling, automated tests and a README with screenshots. Each extension is a new talking point in interviews.
How to describe it on your resume
Implemented a Java library management system with JDBC and MySQL.
Portfolio tip
Deploy it, link both the live version and the code, and write two paragraphs about what you learned and what you would improve.