Introduction to software development in Java

Course provider:
The University of Manchester

Course contact:
John Sargeant (johns@cs.man.ac.uk)

Summary:
Aims
To ensure that students have a thorough grasp of the basics of object-oriented software development using Java 1.5. The emphasis is on fundamental principles and their application in practice. Language constructs and library classes are introduced as embodiments or examples of the principles and best practice is emphasised throughout.

Syllabus:

1. Object-oriented basics
What is software development?
What is Java?
Mental models – how we deal with the world
Software objects – mental models on a computer
Creating objects and sending messages
A complete simple class
Importance of documentation - javadoc
(Optional) Other ways of programming – and why OO is better!
2. Imperative programming
Nuts and bolts (scalar values and expressions)
Handling text (Strings and the magic +)
Saying things and doing things (declarations and statements)
Making choices (if and switch)
Repeated computation (while and for)
The simplest collection (arrays)
How fast does it go? (A first look at complexity)
Dividing up the job (procedural abstraction, parameter passing)
3. Classes, responsibilities and collaborations
Alternative implementations (encapsulation)
Alternative interfaces (overloading)
When are two objects the same (object references, equality vs. identity)
Assigning responsibilities to classes (which methods go where, unit testing)
Collaborating classes to solve problems (putting it all together, system testing)
What if there’s no object to send a message to (static things)
Larger-scale organisation (packages)
4. Inheritance
Mental models revisited – is-a-kind-of hierarchies
Abstract classes (representing common abstractions)
Extending classes (concrete sub-concepts)
The way objects understand messages (static checking, dynamic binding)
What have we inherited? (inheritance semantics)
When to use inheritance (is-a test, evils of implementation inheritance)
Interfaces (in the Java-specific sense)
5. Exception handling
What if unexpected things happen at runtime?
Basic constructs - try.. catch.. finally, exception propagation
Throwing exceptions and declaring them (throw and throws)
Standard exception types (Throwables, Errors, Runtime Exceptions, checked exceptions)
Contracts (informal notion)
6. Collections and algorithms
Overview: collection interfaces and implementations
Sample (1.5) classes (Lists and Maps)
Basic algorithms (e.g. sorting) and their complexity
Recursion and tree structures
7. Building simple GUIs
Platform independent graphics and GUIs: AWT and Swing
Building basic GUIs
What’s an applet – and what’s it good for?
Handling events
8. Stream and file I/O
Streams – System.out revealed
Text I/O
File handling
Options for storing data XML vs serialization vs. relational DB

Further details:

Technical requirements:

References:

Course provider:	The University of Manchester
Course contact:	John Sargeant (johns@cs.man.ac.uk)
Summary:	Aims To ensure that students have a thorough grasp of the basics of object-oriented software development using Java 1.5. The emphasis is on fundamental principles and their application in practice. Language constructs and library classes are introduced as embodiments or examples of the principles and best practice is emphasised throughout.
Syllabus:	1. Object-oriented basics What is software development? What is Java? Mental models – how we deal with the world Software objects – mental models on a computer Creating objects and sending messages A complete simple class Importance of documentation - javadoc (Optional) Other ways of programming – and why OO is better! 2. Imperative programming Nuts and bolts (scalar values and expressions) Handling text (Strings and the magic +) Saying things and doing things (declarations and statements) Making choices (if and switch) Repeated computation (while and for) The simplest collection (arrays) How fast does it go? (A first look at complexity) Dividing up the job (procedural abstraction, parameter passing) 3. Classes, responsibilities and collaborations Alternative implementations (encapsulation) Alternative interfaces (overloading) When are two objects the same (object references, equality vs. identity) Assigning responsibilities to classes (which methods go where, unit testing) Collaborating classes to solve problems (putting it all together, system testing) What if there’s no object to send a message to (static things) Larger-scale organisation (packages) 4. Inheritance Mental models revisited – is-a-kind-of hierarchies Abstract classes (representing common abstractions) Extending classes (concrete sub-concepts) The way objects understand messages (static checking, dynamic binding) What have we inherited? (inheritance semantics) When to use inheritance (is-a test, evils of implementation inheritance) Interfaces (in the Java-specific sense) 5. Exception handling What if unexpected things happen at runtime? Basic constructs - try.. catch.. finally, exception propagation Throwing exceptions and declaring them (throw and throws) Standard exception types (Throwables, Errors, Runtime Exceptions, checked exceptions) Contracts (informal notion) 6. Collections and algorithms Overview: collection interfaces and implementations Sample (1.5) classes (Lists and Maps) Basic algorithms (e.g. sorting) and their complexity Recursion and tree structures 7. Building simple GUIs Platform independent graphics and GUIs: AWT and Swing Building basic GUIs What’s an applet – and what’s it good for? Handling events 8. Stream and file I/O Streams – System.out revealed Text I/O File handling Options for storing data XML vs serialization vs. relational DB
Further details:
Technical requirements:
References:

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Updated 18 March 2011 by Heather Vincent