computer science newbie

[sixxvirus]

Hello all who read this,

I am in my 2nd year in computer science at my college, and this is the year we have changed over from C++ to Java. I am new to Java, BUT not to programming. I was wondering if anyone could help me get me going with this new language to help me with my computer science degree. I have worked my work through a few books and watched a hand full of series on youtube about programming with Java.

Thank you,
sixxvirus

[sunde887]

Check out the official tutorials: The Really Big Index

Also, effective Java is an exceptional book. Oh ya, welcome!

[sixxvirus]

Thank You sunde887,

I have worked alil through "the really big index" but its really big and takes along time to good through. Also I have read alil on the "White Papers" by James G. that I found on the Java/oracle site. I am not looking for a quick fix, I know learning a language is a take a very long time to do; and even more so doing REAL computer science work.

[sunde887]

Another free resource which may be good assuming you have experience already is "Thinking in Java"

Bruce Eckel's MindView, Inc: Free Electronic Book: Thinking in Java, 3rd Edition

It's pretty large however (~1500 pages).

Effective java is a more advanced book, but it's also fairly short (~400 pages), and covers some great topics. Learning java is mostly getting familiar with the massive library, the syntax is fairly simple, and of course the logic learned in one language will be similar in others.

I suggest you make some small projects which focus on a small section of library and start writing something the best you can.

For example, basic text editors, address books (both of which have a GUI--Swing), or pong (which uses some swing stuff and 2d animation), or brick breaker. Something which interests you. I'll be posting up a tutorial (although it's my first 'tutorial' so I'm not sure how well written it will turn out -- it will be a bit lengthy though) for writing a brick breaker game. This tutorial should introduce you to some of the basics of animation, and it will also contain a link to a Dream In Code tutorial on Pong, which inspired me.

[skaterboy987]

Here's some basic java things, considering all programming is relativity the same, just different syntax.
Print text to console:

System.out.println("Text Goes Here")

if statement:

if(i == 1){
//Stuff in here gets done
//Notice the two equals? When comparing things you need two equal signs
}

for statement:

for(int i=1; i<(5); i++)
{
//stuff in for statement goes here
System.out.println(i)
}

PS: capitalization matters!

Variable1

and

variable1

Are two different things!
Use // to make comments

[sixxvirus]

I know the basic syntax since I did work on c++ before moving on to Java, I can do most basic things in java but writing more advanced class using OOP and inheritance. As of now I am working on learning Linked List and basic data structures.
Do small project would be very nice to do for getting some coding time on the playing field, writing a basic text editor for terminal on my linux system, or even a web browser to get some GUI programming in as well.

BTW... On the subject of the link "Dream In Code", I once read a book a few years ago called "Deaming in code" about struggled with collaboration and the software development task of building the open source calendar application "Chandler". That book did get more thinking about the programming tasks of computer science and designed software project for the masses; open source of course to give back to online computer community and for the programmers of tomorrow.

I did not get into computer science to be the next Bill Gates and make a quick buck. I got into it to learn about data structure and talking to terminal, and thus the computer itself and learn about the secret of the CPU.

[sunde887]

But if as a side effect you became the next Bill Gates, it would certainly be nice.

[Fubarable]

I loved that book Dreaming in Code. You root for their success, but see the so many road-blocks that occur that you know quick success is inevitably not going to happen. It contained many practical lessons, not the least of which is the dangers of changing course mid-development. It also got me to dabble in Python.

[Junky]

Print text to console:

System.out.println("Text Goes Here")

<nitpick>
That line of code sends content to standard output. By default it happens to be the console but you can change it to anything you like.

[sixxvirus]

Hey one thought though since I have some of you attention on the subject of Java...

A while back when I was working with c++ and lower level function of the lang. I read a few blogs and reading about writing your own operation system. I did write a VERY basic boot loader and os that was written in 16-bit C with some assembly lang. with it, all it did was output the string "Hello World" to the screen. It was an interesting weekend project and got me thinking about writing my own OS.

ANYWAYS...

My question is:
"Is it possible at all to write an OS with Java, even through it does not have any lower lvl functions; yet does run on a VM that is software dependent. Or even a shell something that can run in a VM or something like that??"
Sorry if I did not word that right, like it says in the topic "comp sci NEWBIE"

[sixxvirus]

btw skaterboy987 you forgot the semi-colon at the end of the method.
System.out.println("Text goes here"); // <- end statement :-P

[JosAH]

the secret of the CPU.

That sounds mysterious and scary; I'd better switch off my laptop.

kind regards,

Jos

[ResidentBiscuit]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it or not, but Bucky is amazing for anything computer related. He has multiple Java tutorials on youtube and has his own website now. Even has a team of people at this point. Thenewboston is his youtube name, you can find his website from there. I've learned a ton from him. He's funny, knows how to get the point across, and is very relatable to.

[Cosmos]

if you want to clear your concepts of Java....try Head First....really good book....

[sixxvirus]

I have already gone through all of the videos on "The new boston" well before I made an account on here. The book I am working through is called "Data structures and algorithms in Java"; I cant count how many book I know that have the same title as that one. Anyways, my lately computer science idea was to make an internet/networking shell writing souly in Java. A shell that can be installed on any device then worked as a middle man between the system and the user, but not only for a single system but for any system the user can throw at it.

Back to Data structures.
I have worked my way up to the Heap structure type, and am thinking about learn alil LISP since that was the first high lvl lang to use the Heap and it very math and postfix based.

Happy Programming to all
-sixxvirus

[sunde887]

Welcome to the SICP Web Site may be helpful for lisp like languages.

[sixxvirus]

dam thats a really good book

[JosAH]

I have worked my way up to the Heap structure type, and am thinking about learn alil LISP since that was the first high lvl lang to use the Heap and it very math and postfix based.

Prefix; Lisp uses prefix notation; that's why you end up with all those nasty little parentheses; postfix notation doesn't need those parentheses but can't handle variable argument functions elegantly.

kind regards,

Jos