What's all this about?

Dr Andy Evans

[Fullscreen]

What's the big idea?

  • You will become a programmer.
  • You will make Windows programs.
  • You will solve complex problems.

 

We shall, in short, become Über-Geeks, finely honed Code Warriors, the Elite of Scientists. Desired by the rich, admired by the poor.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

  • You will learn the patience of the Buddha.
  • You will learn that you are not a machine, you're a real live human boy/girl.

Java

  • This course will centre on learning the Java programming language.
  • This section will look at what Java is, and why we've chosen it for this course.

Java

  • What is Java?
  • Why Java for us?

What is Java?

  • A language you write in simple text files that lets you program a computer to do stuff. With it, you can do anything a computer can do.

int radius = 10;
int answer = 2*pi*radius;
System.out.println(answer);
  • Code written in text files.
  • The code has a specific syntax along with keywords that have specific meanings for the computer.
  • One or more files work together to make a program.

Terminology

  • Java Applications: Standalone programs that run on your desktop.
  • Java Applets: Programs that are run in your web browser. These are more secure - can't do certain things like writing to your hard disk.

Terminology

  • Javascript: Developed by Netscape for creating interactive web pages; not covered in this course [More info]
  • Java Beans: Bits of programs represented by jigsaw-like graphics you can stick together to make larger applications. Again, we won't cover these much.

Java

  • What is Java?
  • Why Java for us?

Why Java?

  • It's useful and easy to use.
  • It's the best language for the Internet.
  • It's Operating System (OS) independent.
  • It's a good programming language (maybe better than C++).
  • Because learning Java makes it simple to learn other languages.
  • Knowing it will help you work with other programmers.

Next

Understanding programming languages

 

First, have a go at the quiz below - hopefully it'll give you some confidence Java is easier to understand than you might have thought.