Java Programming Basics
CSE 110: Introduction to Computer Science SUNY at Stony Brook
Outline of Topics
The Java Environment Java Grammar A First Program
Parts of a Java Program
Compiling and Executing Java Code Experimenting With Code
The Java Development Cycle
Standard edit-compile-execute cycle Compilation translates source code into a form that the computer can understand With Java, this is slightly more complicated than with other languages...
Two Faces of Java
The name Java actually refers to two things:
The programming language The Java Virtual Machine (JVM)
In most languages, a compiled program runs directly on the hardware (it speaks the CPUs language) Java programs execute on a simulated CPU (the JVM). The real CPU runs a program that simulates this CPU.
is compiled by
executes program on
Source Code
Desktop PC
The Java Compilation Process
is compiled by
executes program on
Source Code
Desktop PC
Java compiler (javac)
100111 101010 110011 000110
Source Code
Java Bytecode
Java Compilation (Part 1)
is compiled by
executes program on
Source Code
Desktop PC
100111 101010 110011 000110 Java Bytecode
executes on Java Virtual Machine (JVM)
which is simulated by Desktop PC
Java Compilation (Part 2)
Why Is It So Complicated?
With most languages, a program must be compiled separately for every type of CPU
A new type of CPU requires another compilation
Java programs are compiled to a fake CPU (the JVM)
After one compilation, a Java program can run on any CPU that can run the JVM Write once, run anywhere reduces programmer effort
Outline of Topics
The Java Environment Java Grammar A First Program
Parts of a Java Program
Compiling and Executing Java Code Experimenting With Code
Formal Languages
A computer language is a set of notation for giving instructions to a computer
Different languages may express the same concepts in different ways, just like human languages
Like any language, Java has rules of grammar
We need to follow these rules in order to produce wellformed Java programs
Parts of Speech
English has different parts of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. Java has something similar: variables, statements, modiers, expressions, etc. Just like with English, these parts of speech can only be combined in certain ways
Statements and Expressions
Statements are commands
They tell Java what action to perform
Expressions are values
They dont do anything on their own Expressions are manipulated by statements
Syntax and Semantics
Syntax refers to grammatical structure Semantics refers to meaning These are independent qualities; you can have one without the other (just as in English) Java programs need both to work effectively, but Java only checks syntax for you
Outline of Topics
The Java Environment Java Grammar A First Program
Parts of a Java Program
Compiling and Executing Java Code Experimenting With Code
My First Java Program
public class MyProgram {
public static void main (String [ ] args)
{
System.out.println(Hello, world!);
} }
Line-by-Line Breakdown
Every Java program
public class MyProgram {
} public static void main (String [ ] args) {
System.out.println(Hello, world!); }
consists of one or more classes
A class is a block of
Java code
Classes are indicated
by the reserved word class
public is a modier that
tells Java that the class can be seen/used all over contents of the class
Curly braces surround the
Line-by-Line Breakdown
A method is a block of
public class MyProgram {
} public static void main (String [ ] args) {
System.out.println(Hello, world!); }
Java statements
main() is a special method It tells the JVM how to
start the program
Every Java program
(not every class) must have a main() method same header (rst line)
main() always has the The body of a method is
surrounded by curly braces
Line-by-Line Breakdown
System.out.println() is
public class MyProgram {
} public static void main (String [ ] args) {
System.out.println(Hello, world!); }
another Java method
It tells the program to
print something to the console (screen) goes inside the parentheses
The information to print
Here, were printing a
string of characters
This is a method call
main() was a method
denition
Outline of Topics
The Java Environment Java Grammar A First Program
Parts of a Java Program
Compiling and Executing Java Code Experimenting With Code
Compiling Your Java Code
1. Write and save your source code using a text editor
The source code MUST be a plain text le The le should be named after the class it contains (e.g., a
class named Foo must live in a le named Foo.java) 2. Run the Java compiler (javac) to compile your source code le into a Java bytecode le: javac myFile.java This will produce a le named myFile.class
Executing Your Java Code
To execute your program, run the JVM with your compiled .class le:
java myFile
Note that the .class extension is OMITTED (The JVM lls that in automatically) You can only call java on a class le that contains a main() method
Outline of Topics
The Java Environment Java Grammar A First Program
Parts of a Java Program
Compiling and Executing Java Code Experimenting With Code
Learning by Tinkering
Most methods change their behavior based on the input that you give them System.out.println() will print whatever you tell it to
Character sequences MUST be enclosed in double quotes Numbers can be supplied as-is Use the plus sign (+) to combine (concatenate) expressions of different types
Notes on Printing Behavior
System.out.println() automatically adds a newline character at the end, to move to the next line System.out.print() (note the lack of ln in the name) does not do this it stays on the same line To go to the next line at any point in a print statement, insert the character sequence \n
\ indicates that the next character has special meaning \n = newline, \t = tab, \\ = a single \ character
Introduction to BlueJ
What is BlueJ?
BlueJ is a simple IDE (integrated development environment) designed for new programmers
An IDE combines a source code editor and the compiler
BlueJ is written in Java, and runs on all platforms You can download BlueJ for free from
http://www.bluej.org
Projects
A project is the set of les that make up a program Before you can do anything in BlueJ, you must create a new project (or open an existing one) BlueJ creates a new folder on disk with the same name as the project
A BlueJ project contains all of your .java and .class les, along with a few special BlueJ-specic les
The Main BlueJ Window
The project window has two main sections:
The top area shows all of the classes in your current project (arrows indicate relationships) The object workbench is at the bottom
Editing Source Code
To open a source code le for editing, double-click on the box for that class BlueJ includes a basic text editor BlueJ has auto-indent and syntax coloring
Executing Your Program
To execute your program, right-click on the class in the main window Select the main() method from the menu that appears Unlike most IDEs, BlueJ actually allows you to start execution from any method in your program
This lets you test a specic method without having to run your entire program
The Object Workbench
BlueJ allows you to work with your classes without actually running your entire program Right-click on a class and select New... to create a new instance of that class
Instances appear in the object workbench at the bottom
Right-click on an object to call its methods Double-click on an object to inspect its data
