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.