102.  Introduction to Java Programming

Rev. 5.0

 

Java is a popular and powerful language. Although comparatively simple in its language structure, there are a number of subtleties that can trip up less experienced programmers. It is based on C, and the terse nature of C may be unfamiliar to students with some previous experience programming in languages such as COBOL or Visual Basic who do not have experience with C or C++. And, of course, Java is object-oriented.

 

The five-day timeline of this course explicitly targets less experienced programmers, providing them with a thorough step-by-step introduction to Java programming. It lays a firm foundation for further study of Java. There are a large number of example programs and many labs. The course software also includes an optional overlay of workspace and project files to support use of the Eclipse IDE in the classroom.  (This requires that the instructor be experienced in use of Eclipse and able to walk students through basic tasks in the IDE.)

 

An important thrust of this course is to teach programming from an object-oriented perspective. It is often difficult for programmers trained originally in a procedural language to start “thinking in objects.” This course introduces object-oriented concepts very early, and Java is developed in a way that leverages its object orientation. Most of the course emphasizes simple classes without inheritance. The last chapter introduces inheritance and polymorphism, along with interfaces and collections.

 

This revision of the course targets the 5.0 version of the Java language and Core API.  (Java 5.0 is also known as Java 1.5, as this revision effects a transition to a new numbering scheme for the Java environment.)  It has been rebuilt thoroughly, not only to cover new 5.0 language features, but also to comb out old programming techniques in favor of new ones.  For training within the Java 1.4 environment, please see version 1.4.1 of this course.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 

·         Learn the basic principles of object-oriented programming

·         Learn the essentials of the Java programming language

·         Acquire the skills needed to design, code and debug computer programs in the Java language

 

Course Duration:  5 days

 

Prerequisites:  Good general problem solving skills. Some previous experience programming in a procedural language is essential.

 

1.      What is Java?

Object Orientation

Java Language

Java Virtual Machine

Java Libraries

World Wide Web and Java

Java Platforms

Java as a First Programming Language

 

2.      First Java Programs

Hello, World

Program Structure

Output in Java

Variables and Expressions

Calculations Using Java

 

3.      Introduction to Objects

Object Models

Classes and Objects

State and Behavior

Input in Java

InputWrapper Class

Packages

 

4.      Data Types and Operators

Strong Typing

Integer Data Types

Floating Point

Conversions Between Types

Arithmetic Operators

Doing Math in Java

Precedence

Errors in Integer Arithmetic

 

5.      Booleans and Enumerations

Boolean Variables

Logical and Relational Operators

If Tests

Compound Statements

Switch Statement

Enumerated Types

 

6.      Loops and Program Flow

While Loops

Quitting Infinite Loops

Curly Braces and Indenting

Sentinels and Counters

For Loops

Loops and If Tests Together

Nested If Statements

 

7.      Objects and Classes

Structured Data

Classes

References

Instantiating an Object

Assignment of Objects

Initialization

Garbage Collection

Methods

Public vs. Private

Encapsulation

Constructors

Formatted Output

 

8.      Characters and Strings

Char Data Type

Character Codes

ASCII and Unicode

String Class

String Input and Output

String Methods

 

9.      Modular Programming

Monolithic Programs

Static Variables and Methods

Functional Modularity

Object Modularity

Top-Down and Bottom-Up Development

Pass-By-Value and Pass-By-Reference

Nested Classes

 

10. Arrays

One Dimensional Arrays

Subscripts

Initializing Arrays

Arrays and the For-Each Loop

Copy and Assignment

Arrays of Objects

Multidimensional Arrays

Searching

 

11. Bit Operations

Bitwise Operators

Truth Tables

Hexadecimal Notation

Shifting and Masking

 

12. Exception Handling and More Flow Control

Exceptions

Errors in Integer Arithmetic

Floating Point Operaations

I/O Exceptions vs. Runtime Exceptions

Named Exceptions

Exception Methods

Break

Continue

Do

 

13. Advanced Java Features

Reusable Software Components

Abstraction

Inheritance

Inheritance Hierarchies

Polymorphism

Abstract Classes

Interfaces

Collections

Iterators

Auto-Boxing

 

Appendix A. Learning Resources

 

System Requirements

 

Hardware – minimal:                     Pentium 500MHz, 128 meg RAM, 500 meg HD.

Hardware – recommended:           Pentium 1.5gHz, 512 meg RAM, 1 gig HD.

 

Operating system:                          Tested on Windows XP Professional.  The course software should be viable on all Windows or Linux systems which support J2SE 5.0.

 

Software:                                       All free downloadable tools.