This book assumes that you have some experience with programming in Java. If not, Java is easy to learn if you have experience with other object oriented languages, such as C++. You may have used some desktop-oriented user interface toolkits for Java, such as AWT, Swing, or SWT. Or for C++, such as Qt. Such knowledge is useful for understanding the scope of the Toolkit, but not necessary. Regarding the web, it is good if you know basics of HTML and CSS, so that you can develop basic presentation themes for the application. Knowledge of Google Web Toolkit (GWT), JavaScript, and AJAX is needed only if you develop special custom UI components.

The IT Mill Toolkit Reference Manual is divided into two parts: Developer's Guide and API Reference.

The Developer's guide first gives an introduction to what IT Mill Toolkit is and how you use it to develop web applications. It then proceeds to architecture, particular components and features of the Toolkit, to special topics, and finally to special design patterns for the Toolkit.

API Reference gives the full documentation for particular classes and interfaces, and their methods. The API documentation is also available in JavaDoc format, as a HTML page with frames.