Java Concepts

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  Introduction to Java, first program “Hello World” and print statements
  
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  Compilers and Java Runtime Environment programs
  
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  Introduction to Applets vs. Stand-alone Java programs
  
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  Objects and Object-oriented programming (on-going)
  
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  Boolean algebra, binary and Hexadecimal numbers. Also 2’s compliment for negative numbers.
  
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  AND, OR and XOR gates and how they are used to build circuits such as in 32-bit addition to demonstrate the CPU’s functions.
  
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  Machine and Assembly code as a prelude to Java. Demonstrate assembly code programming with basic ADD, MOV, CMP functions, registers and memory access.
  
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  Differentiate Java’s byte-code from C++. Java’s multi-platform capability versus C++ on a specific CPU.
  

Present the transitions and evolution from machine code, to assembly code, the first high-level programming languages to object-oriented programming and finally multi-platform programming with Java.

Describe the functions of the compiler and the run-time.

Introduce Boolean algebra and related binary math.

Quick Start on programming.

Introduce essentials of writing, compiling and running Java.

Allowing students the opportunity and instant gratification to post their own Java applets, if they have their own outside web space.

Distiniguish the various data types (int, short, long, double, float, Boolean, string and byte) by their bit-length, max and min values.

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  Fundamental Data Types
  
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  Arithmetic in Java, including modula
  
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  Math statements such as increment (i++) and decrement (i--)
  
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  Conversions / round-offs between floating point, double precision and integers
  
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  Decisions: if-then-else statements
  
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  Differences between ‘=’ and ‘==’ and other comparison statements
  

Introduce the fundamental components of programs.

Learn the string object and its relation to character arrays.

Use math equations and strings to demonstrate applications of the if-then-else statement

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  Iterations: for-loop, while-loop, do-loop
  
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  Arrays, the array object and length property
  
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  Introduction of the Date and/or Calendar object
  
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  Enumerated lists
  
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  Double arrays
  
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  Introduction of the Java Library classes (Appendix C in the Horstmann book)
  

Demonstrate the power of programming through iterations and lists in arrays.

Learn extended applications of arrays in double arrays and enumerated lists.

Use Date and/or Calendar object(s) for new applications and demonstrations of arrays of days of week and months.

Introduce Class concepts, it’s inheritance of other objects, and reinforce Object concept as a set of properties, methods and events
Reading:

Java Concepts, chapters 7 & 8
Programs:

GridWorld, Part 1

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  Introduction to functions
  
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  Introduction and Implementing Classes: public and private types, and constructors.
  
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  Programming graphics
  

Describe functions as a prelude to classes.

Introduce classes, the compliment to object-oriented programming.

Use graphics to visually demonstrate the concept of classes.

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  Graphical User Interfaces (GUI)
  
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  Event Handling
  
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  1^st term projects
  

Introduce the related topics of GUI, Java Swing, and Event Handling.

With a background in graphical user interfaces, graphics and sufficient programming, give students an opportunity to challenge themselves with their own projects.
Reading:

Java Concepts, chapters 12 & 14
Programs:

Student’s own selected projects, with Instructor’s prior approval. Assignment can include a calculator, graphing device, body-weight-height index, calorie calculator, etc.

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  Testing and Debugging
  
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  Designing Classes
  
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  Extend existing classes by building upon Java Library classes (Appendix C in the Horstmann book) as an example.
  
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  1^st term projects continued.
  

Combine and distinguish related topics: compiler errors versus run-time errors.

Continue discussion of classes through creation of their own classes.

Continue student projects as a major component of their mid-term grade.

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  Advanced Classes: Interfaces and Polymorphism
  
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  Class Inheritance
  

Begin new semester with advanced topics and professional features of classes. Includes related topics of Interfaces, Polymorphism and Inheritance.

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  Exception Handling
  
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  Reading/Writing Files and Input/Output Streams
  

Address issues of unexpected or erroneous user input that can be associated with reading and writing files.

Also handle exception conditions such as divide-by-zero, users typing in letters where numeric values are required (and vice versa).
Reading:

Java Concepts, chapters 15 & 16
Programs:

GridWorld, Part 4

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  Object-Oriented Design
  
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  Java on Cell Phones (Java Micro Edition or J2ME) moved to unit 11
  
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  Recursion
  
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  Images within Java
  
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  New team project
  
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  Discuss social and ethical issues related to Computer Science, such as reverse engineering of software, open-source coding and owner’s rights, the role of industry consortiums in the specification development process and respecting use-licenses versus actual product ownership.
  

Re-emphasize Object-oriented programming and design.

Introduce data structures like binary trees and recursion applications.

Begin students on team projects applying software engineering strategies such as the book’s waterfall method, or Fred Brook’s ‘Mythical Man-Month’ model.

Provide students insights into the professional development environment and what is good business practice versus unethical behavior and potential violation of the law.
Reading:

Java Concepts, chapters 17 & 18
Programs:

Team projects on cell phone project or Java Applet

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  Applications and Issues: Sorting and Searching
  
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  Data Structures: linked lists, FILO (first-in, last-out; such as a stack of golf balls in a single-opening tube), FIFO (first-in, first-out; such as a line at the checkout stand), and Circular Data structures (such as a conveyor belt).
  
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  Analyze the performance of sort and search algorithms using Big-Oh notation which quickly identifies the basic ratio of two sort algorithms (past a certain threshold).
  
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  Adding and removing items from single linked list and double linked lists.
  
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  Demonstrations and Exercises with Lists, Iterator, LinkedList, ListIterator.
  
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  Apply Lists data types to Stacks and Queues
  

Introduce common programming applications for data searches.

Begin programming of data structures.

Provide students with tools to determine the most efficient sorting and searching algorithms.

Application of Stacks and Queues, and the data types that support their construction (Lists) and their traversal for searches, inserts, updates and item deletion using Iterator.
Reading:

Java Concepts, chapters 19 & 20
Programs:

GridWorld, Part 5

Team projects on cell phone project or Java Applet continued

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  Advanced Data Structures: binary trees and hash tables.
  
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  Using the ‘Set’ data type to create a collection of items.
  
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  Specific Set types including Maps and Hash tables, including the organization of Hash tables.
  
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  Demonstrations and exercises of Binary Trees, how to traverse a tree, tree maps, and advantages over linear searches.
  
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  Analysis of Heap sorts, their traversal and maintenance (fixing) to stay balanced.
  
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  Other Java programming topics possibly including Java on Cell Phones (Java Micro Edition or J2ME)
  
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  2nd term projects
  

Complete the book’s discussion of Java.

Use Recursion to parse Binary Trees.

Demonstrate and describe various data structures and algorithms used for fast searches and sorting including Hash tables, binary trees and heap sorts.

Introduce J2ME using Cell phones. Expose students to a new development environment. Examine a potential future career.

Students to continue Team projects.

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  Team projects completed and demonstrated.
  
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  2nd term students projects (continued)
  
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  Finish any remaining topics.
  
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  Introduce Java and XML (optional)
  
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  Java with other media: video and audio
  

Students to finish a Team project for the experience of actual real-world software development.