Java essential notes

James Tam
Java Basics Notes
Introduction To Java Programming
You will learn about the process of
creating Java programs and constructs
for input, output, branching, looping, as
well some of the history behind Java’s
development.

James Tam
Java Vs. Java Script
Java (this is what you need to know for this course)
-A complete programming language developed by Sun
-Can be used to develop either web based or stand-alone software
-Many pre-created code libraries available
-For more complex and powerful programs
Java Script (not covered in this course)
-A small language that’s mostly used for web-based applications (run
through a web browser like Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome)
-Good for programming simple special effects for your web page e.g., roll-
overs
-e.g.,
http://pages.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~tamj/2005/231P/assignments/assignment4/index.ht

James Tam
Java: History
•Computers of the past

James Tam
Java: History (2)
•The invention of the microprocessor revolutionized
computers
Intel microprocessor
Commodore Pet microcomputer

James Tam
Java: History (3)
•It was believed that the logical next step for microprocessors
was to have them run intelligent consumer electronics

James Tam
Java History (4)
•Sun Microsystems funded an internal research project “Green”
to investigate this opportunity.
- Result: A programming language called “Oak”
Blatant advertisement: James Gosling was a
graduate of the U of C Computer Science
program.
Wav file from “The Simpsons” © Fox, Image from the website of Sun Microsystems

James Tam
Java History (5)
- Problem: There was already a programming language called Oak.
- The “Green” team met at a local coffee shop to come up with
another name...
•Java!

James Tam
Java: History (6)
•The concept of intelligent devices didn’t catch
on.
•Project Green and work on the Java language
was nearly canceled.

James Tam
Java: History (7)
•The popularity of the Internet resulted in Sun’s re-focusing of
Java on computers.
•Prior to the advent of Java, web pages allowed you to download
only text and images.
Your computer at home
running a web browser
User clicks on a link
Images and text get
downloaded
Server containing a
web page

James Tam
Your computer at home
running a web browser
Server containing
a web page
Java: History (8)
•Java enabled web browsers allowed for the downloading of
programs (Applets).
•Java is still used in this context today:
-Facebook (older version)
-Hotmail (older version)
User clicks on a link
Java Applet downloaded
Java version of the Game of Life: http://www.bitstorm.org/gameoflife/
Online checkers: http://www.darkfish.com/checkers/index.html

James Tam
Java: Write Once, Run Anywhere
•Consequence of Java’s history:
platform-independence
Mac user running Safari
Windows user running Internet Explorer
Web page stored on Unix server
Click on link to Applet
Byte code is downloaded
Virtual machine translates byte code to
native Mac code and the Applet is run
Byte code
(part of web
page)

James Tam
Java: Write Once, Run Anywhere
•Consequence of Java’s history:
platform-independent
Mac user running Safari
Windows user running Internet Explorer
Web page stored on Unix server
Click on link to Applet
Byte code is downloaded
Virtual machine translates byte code to
native Windows code and the Applet is run

James Tam
Java: Write Once, Run Anywhere (2)
•But Java can also create standard (non-web based) programs
Dungeon Master (Java version)
http://homepage.mac.com/aberfield/dmj/
Examples of mobile Java games: http://www.mobilegamesarena.net
Kung Fu Panda 2: THQ

James Tam
Java: Write Once, Run Anywhere (3)
•Java has been used by large and reputable companies to create
serious stand-alone applications.
•Example:
-Eclipse1
: started as a programming environment created by IBM for
developing Java programs. The program Eclipse was itself written in Java.
1 For more information: http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/

James Tam
Compiled Programs With Different
Operating Systems
Windows
compiler
Executable (Windows)
UNIX
compiler
Executable (UNIX)
Mac OS
compiler
Executable (Mac)
Computer
program

James Tam
A High Level View Of Translating/Executing Java
Programs
Java compiler
(javac)
Java program
Filename.java
Java
bytecode
(generic
binary)
Filename.class
Stage 1: Compilation

James Tam
A High Level View Of Translating/Executing Java
Programs (2)
Java interpreter
(java)
Java
bytecode
(generic
binary)
Filename.class
Machine language
instruction (UNIX)
Machine language
instruction (Windows)
Machine language
instruction (Apple)
Stage 2: Interpreting and executing the byte code

James Tam
Which Java?
•Java 6+ JDK (Java Development Kit), Standard Edition
includes:
- JDK (Java development kit) – for developing Java software (creating
Java programs.
- JRE (Java Runtime environment) – only good for running pre-created
Java programs.
•Java Plug-in – a special version of the JRE designed to run through web
browsers.
http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp

James Tam
Location Of Online Examples For This Section
•Course website:
-www.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~tamj/219/examples/intro
•UNIX directory:
-/home/219/examples/intro

James Tam
Smallest Compilable And Executable Java Program
The name of the online example is: Smallest.java (Important note:
file name matches the word after the keyword ‘class’)
public class Smallest
{
public static void main (String[] args)
{
}
}

James Tam
Creating, Compiling And Running Java Programs
On The Computer Science Network
javac
Java compiler
Java byte code
filename.class
(UNIX file)To compile the program at the
command line type "javac
filename.java"
To run the interpreter, at
the command line type
"java filename"
jav
a
Java Interpreter
Type it in with the text editor of your choice
filename.java
(Unix file)
Java program

James Tam
Compiling The Smallest Java Program
public class Smallest
{
{
}
}
Smallest.java
javac
(Java byte code)
10000100000001000
00100100000001001
: :
Smallest.class
Type “javac
Smallest.java”

James Tam
Running The Smallest Java Program
(Java byte code)
10000100000001000
00100100000001001
: :
Smallest.class
java
Type “java Smallest” (Platform/Operating specific binary
10100111000001000
00100111001111001
: :

James Tam
Running The Java Compiler At Home
•After installing Java you will need to indicate to the operating
system where the java compiler has been installed (‘setting the
path’).
•For details of how to set your path variable for your particular
operating system try the Sun or Java website.
•Example of how to set the path in Windows:
-http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/install-windows.html (see step 5)

James Tam
Documentation / Comments
Multi-line documentation
/* Start of documentation
*/ End of documentation
Documentation for a single line
//Everything until the end of the line is a comment

James Tam
Review: What Should You Document
•Program (or that portion of the program) author
•What does the program as a while do e.g., tax program.
•What are the specific features of the program e.g., it calculates
personal or small business tax.
•What are it’s limitations e.g., it only follows Canadian tax laws
and cannot be used in the US. In Canada it doesn’t calculate
taxes for organizations with yearly gross earnings over $1
billion.
•What is the version of the program
-If you don’t use numbers for the different versions of your program then
consider using dates (tie versions with program features).

James Tam
Important Note
•Each Java instruction must be followed by a semi-colon!
General format
Instruction1;
Instruction2;
Instruction3;
: :
Examples
int num = 0;
System.out.println(num);
: :

James Tam
Java Output
•Format:
System.out.print(<string or variable name one> + <string or variable name
two>..);
OR
System.out.println(<string or variable name one> + <string or variable
name two>..);
•Examples (online program called “OutputExample1.java”)
public class OutputExample1
{
public static void main (String [] args)
{
int num = 123; // More on this shortly
System.out.println("Good-night gracie!");
System.out.print(num);
System.out.println("num="+num);
}
}

James Tam
Output : Some Escape Sequences For Formatting
Escape sequence Description
t Horizontal tab
r Carriage return
n New line
” Double quote
Backslash

James Tam
Example Formatting Codes
•Name of the online example: FormattingExample.java
public class FormattingExample
{
{
System.out.print("loltzn");
System.out.println("hellorworld");
System.out.println(""Geek" talk slash () com");
}
}

James Tam
Variables
•Unlike Python variables must be declared before they can be
used.
•Variable declaration:
-Creates a variable in memory.
-Specify the name of the variable as well as the type of information that it
will store.
-E.g. int num;
-Although requiring variables to be explicitly declared appears to be an
unnecessary chore it can actually be useful for minimizing insidious logic
errors.
•Using variables
-Only after a variable has been declared can it be used.
-E.g., num = 12;

James Tam
Declaring Variables: Syntax
•Format:
<type of information> <name of variable>;
•Example:
char myFirstInitial;
•Variables can be initialized (set to a starting value) as they’re
declared:
char myFirstInitial = ‘j’;
int age = 30;

James Tam
Some Built-In Types Of Variables In Java
Type Description
byte 8 bit signed integer
short 16 but signed integer
int 32 bit signed integer
long 64 bit signed integer
float 32 bit signed real number
double 64 bit signed real number
char 16 bit Unicode character (ASCII and
beyond)
boolean 1 bit true or false value
String A sequence of characters between double
quotes ("")

James Tam
Location Of Variable Declarations
public class <name of class>
{
{
// Local variable declarations occur here
<< Program statements >>
: :
}
}

James Tam
Style Hint: Initializing Variables
•Always initialize your variables prior to using them!
-Do this whether it is syntactically required or not.
•Example how not to approach:
public class OutputExample1
{
{
int num;
}
}
OutputExample1.java:7: error: variable
num might not have been initialized
^

James Tam
Java Constants
Reminder: constants are like variables in that they have a name
and store a certain type of information but unlike variables they
CANNOT change. (Unlike Python this is syntactically
enforced…hurrah!).
Format:
final <constant type> <CONSTANT NAME> = <value>;
Example:
final int SIZE = 100;

James Tam
Location Of Constant Declarations
public class <name of class>
{
{
// Local constant declarations occur here (more later)
// Local variable declarations
< Program statements >>
: :
}
}

James Tam
Why Use Constants?
1. They make your program easier to read and understand
populationChange = (0.1758 – 0.1257) * currentPopulation;
Vs.
final float BIRTH_RATE = 17.58;
final float MORTALITY_RATE = 0.1257;
int currentPopulation = 1000000;
populationChange = (BIRTH_RATE - MORTALITY_RATE) *
currentPopulation;

James Tam
Why Use Constants? (2)
2. It can make your program easier to maintain (update with
changes).
- If the constant is referred to several times throughout the program,
changing the value of the constant once will change it throughout the
program.

James Tam
float populationChange = 0;
float currentPopulation = 1000000;
populationChange = (BIRTH_RATE - MORTALITY_RATE) * currentPopulation;
if (populationChange > 0)
System.out.println("Increase“)
System.out.println("Birth rate:“+ BIRTH_RATE + " Mortality rate:“ +
MORTALITY_RATE, " + Population change:“ + populationChange);
else if (populationChange < 0)
System.out.println("Decrease“);
System.out.println("Birth rate:“+BIRTH_RATE, “+Mortality rate:“+ MORTALITY_RATE
+"Population change:“+populationChange);
else
System.out.print("No change“);
System.out.print("Birth rate:“+BIRTH_RATE, “+Mortality rate:“+ MORTALITY_RATE+
"Population change:“+populationChange);

James Tam
float populationChange = 0;
float currentPopulation = 1000000;
populationChange = (BIRTH_RATE - MORTALITY_RATE) * currentPopulation;
if (populationChange > 0)
System.out.println("Increase“)
System.out.println("Birth rate:“+ BIRTH_RATE + " Mortality rate:“ +
MORTALITY_RATE, " + Population change:“ + populationChange);
else if (populationChange < 0)
System.out.println("Decrease“);
System.out.println("Birth rate:“+BIRTH_RATE, “+Mortality rate:“+ MORTALITY_RATE
+"Population change:“+populationChange);
else
System.out.print("No change“);
System.out.print("Birth rate:“+BIRTH_RATE, “+Mortality rate:“+ MORTALITY_RATE+
"Population change:“+populationChange);
One change in the
initialization of the
constant changes all
references to that
constant.

James Tam
Variable Naming Conventions In Java
• Compiler requirements
- Can’t be a keyword nor can the names of the special constants: true,
false or null be used
- Can be any combination of letters, numbers, underscore or dollar sign
(first character must be a letter or underscore)
• Common stylistic conventions
- The name should describe the purpose of the variable
- Avoid using the dollar sign
- With single word variable names, all characters are lower case
•e.g., double grades;
- Multiple words are separated by capitalizing the first letter of each word
except for the first word
•e.g., String firstName = “James”;

James Tam
Java Keywords
abstract boolean break byte case catch char
class const continue default do double else
extends final finally float for goto if
implements import instanceof int interface long native
new package private protected public return short
static super switch synchronized this throw throws
transient try void volatile while

James Tam
Common Java Operators / Operator Precedence
Precedence
level
Operator Description Associativity
1 expression++
expression--
Post-increment
Post-decrement
Right to left
2 ++expression
--expression
+
-
!
~
(type)
Pre-increment
Pre-decrement
Unary plus
Unary minus
Logical negation
Bitwise complement
Cast
Right to left

James Tam
Precedence
level
3 *
/
%
Multiplication
Division
Remainder/modulus
Left to right
4 +
-
Addition or String
concatenation
Subtraction
Left to right
5 <<
>>
Left bitwise shift
Right bitwise shift
Left to right

James Tam
Precedence
level
6 <
<=
>
>=
Less than
Less than, equal to
Greater than
Greater than, equal to
Left to right
7 = =
!=
Equal to
Not equal to
Left to right
8 & Bitwise AND Left to right
9 ^ Bitwise exclusive OR Left to right

James Tam
Precedence
level
10 | Bitwise OR Left to right
11 && Logical AND Left to right
12 || Logical OR Left to right

James Tam
Precedence
level
13 =
+=
-=
*=
/=
%=
&=
^=
|=
<<=
>>=
Assignment
Add, assignment
Subtract, assignment
Multiply, assignment
Division, assignment
Remainder, assignment
Bitwise AND, assignment
Bitwise XOR, assignment
Bitwise OR, assignment
Left shift, assignment
Right shift, assignment
Right to left

James Tam
Post/Pre Operators
The name of the online example is: Order1.java
public class Order1
{
{
int num = 5;
num++;
++num;
System.out.println(++num);
System.out.println(num++);
}
}

James Tam
Post/Pre Operators (2)
The name of the online example is: Order2.java
public class Order2
{
{
int num1;
int num2;
num1 = 5;
num2 = ++num1 * num1++;
System.out.println("num1=" + num1);
System.out.println("num2=" + num2);
}
}

James Tam
Unary Operator/Order/Associativity
The name of the online example: Unary_Order3.java
public class Unary_Order3.java
{
{
int num = 5;
float fl;
num = num * -num;
}
}

James Tam
Accessing Pre-Created Java Libraries
•It’s accomplished by placing an ‘import’ of the appropriate
library at the top of your program.
•Syntax:
import <Full library name>;
•Example:
import java.util.Scanner;

James Tam
Getting Text Input
•You can use the pre-written methods (functions) in the Scanner
class.
•General structure:
main (String [] args)
{
Scanner <name of scanner> = new Scanner (System.in);
<variable> = <name of scanner> .<method> ();
}
Creating a
scanner object
(something
that can scan
user input)
Using the capability of
the scanner object
(actually getting user
input)

James Tam
Getting Text Input (2)
The name of the online example: MyInput.java
public class MyInput
{
{
String str1;
int num1;
Scanner in = new Scanner (System.in);
System.out.print ("Type in an integer: ");
num1 = in.nextInt ();
System.out.print ("Type in a line: ");
in.nextLine ();
str1 = in.nextLine ();
System.out.println ("num1:" +num1 +"t str1:" + str1);
}
}

James Tam
Useful Methods Of Class Scanner1
•nextInt ()
•nextLong ()
•nextFloat ()
•nextDouble ()
•nextLine ();
1 Online documentation: http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/api/

James Tam
Reading A Single Character
•Text menu driven programs may require this capability.
•Example:
GAME OPTIONS
(a)dd a new player
(l)oad a saved game
(s)ave game
(q)uit game
•There’s different ways of handling this problem but one
approach is to extract the first character from the string.
•Partial example:
String s = "boo“;
System.out.println(s.charAt(0));

James Tam
Reading A Single Character
•Name of the (more complete example): MyInputChar.java
public class MyInputChar
{
{
final int FIRST = 0;
String selection;
System.out.println("GAME OPTIONS");
System.out.println("(a)dd a new player");
System.out.println("(l)oad a saved game");
System.out.println("(s)ave game");
System.out.println("(q)uit game");
System.out.print("Enter your selection: ");

James Tam
Reading A Single Character (2)
selection = in.nextLine ();
System.out.println ("Selection: " + selection.charAt(FIRST));
}
}

James Tam
Decision Making In Java
•Java decision making constructs
-if
-if, else
-if, else-if
-switch

James Tam
Decision Making: Logical Operators
Logical Operation Python Java
AND and &&
OR or ||
NOT not, ! !

James Tam
Decision Making: If
Format:
if (Boolean Expression)
Body
Example:
if (x != y)
System.out.println("X and Y are not equal");
if ((x > 0) && (y > 0))
{
System.out.println("X and Y are positive");
}
•Indenting the body of
the branch is an
important stylistic
requirement of Java
but unlike Python it is
not enforced by the
syntax of the
language.
•What distinguishes the
body is either:
1.A semi colon (single
statement branch)
2.Braces (a body that
consists of multiple
statements)

James Tam
Decision Making: If, Else
Format:
if (Boolean expression)
Body of if
else
Body of else
Example:
if (x < 0)
System.out.println("X is negative");
else
System.out.println("X is non-negative");

James Tam
Example Program: If-Else
•Name of the online example: BranchingExample1.java
public class BranchingExample1
{
{
Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
final int WINNING_NUMBER = 131313;
int playerNumber = -1;
System.out.print("Enter ticket number: ");
playerNumber = in.nextInt();
if (playerNumber == WINNING_NUMBER)
System.out.println("You're a winner!");
else
System.out.println("Try again.");
}
}

James Tam
If, Else-If
Format:
if (Boolean expression)
Body of if
else if (Boolean expression)
Body of first else-if
: : :
else if (Boolean expression)
Body of last else-if
else
Body of else

James Tam
If, Else-If (2)
Name of the online example: BranchingExample.java
public class BranchingExample2
{
{
int gpa = -1;
System.out.print("Enter letter grade: ");
gpa = in.nextInt();

James Tam
If, Else-If (3)
if (gpa == 4)
System.out.println("A");
else if (gpa == 3)
System.out.println("B");
else if (gpa == 2)
System.out.println("C");
else if (gpa == 1)
System.out.println("D");
else if (gpa == 0)
System.out.println("F");
else
System.out.println("Invalid letter grade");
}
}

James Tam
Branching: Common Mistakes
•Recall that for single bodies: what lies between the closing
bracket of the Boolean expression and the next semi-colon is the
body.
instruction;
if (Boolean Expression) instruction;
instruction1;
Instruction2;
body body
body

James Tam
Branching: Now What Happens???
if (Boolean Expression):
instruction1;
instruction2;

James Tam
Alternative To Multiple Else-If’s: Switch
Format (character-based switch):
switch (character variable name)
{
case '<character value>':
Body
break;
case '<character value>':
Body
break;
:
default:
Body
}
1Thetypeof variableinthe bracketscanbeabyte,char,short,intor long
Important! The break is
mandatory to separate
Boolean expressions
(must be used in all but
the last)

James Tam
Alternative To Multiple Else-If’s: Switch (2)
Format (integer based switch):
switch (integer variable name)
{
case <integer value>:
Body
break;
case <integer value>:
Body
break;
:
default:
Body
}
1Thetypeof variableinthe bracketscanbeabyte,char,short,intor long

James Tam
Switch: When To Use/When Not To Use
•Benefit (when to use):
-It may produce simpler code than using an if-elseif (e.g., if there are
multiple compound conditions)

James Tam
Switch: When To Use/When Not To Use (2)
•Name of the online example: SwitchExample.java
public class SwitchExample
{
{
String line;
char letter;
int gpa;
System.out.print("Enter letter grade: ");

James Tam
line = in.nextLine ();
letter = line.charAt(FIRST);
switch (letter)
{
case 'A':
case 'a':
gpa = 4;
break;
case 'B':
case 'b':
gpa = 3;
break;
case 'C':
case 'c':
gpa = 2;
break;

James Tam
case 'D':
case 'd':
gpa = 1;
break;
case 'F':
case 'f':
gpa = 0;
break;
default:
gpa = -1;
}
System.out.println("Letter grade: " + letter);
System.out.println("Grade point: " + gpa);
}
}

James Tam
•When a switch can’t be used:
-For data types other than characters or integers
-Boolean expressions that aren’t mutually exclusive:
•As shown a switch can replace an ‘if-elseif’ construct
•A switch cannot replace a series of ‘if’ branches).
-Example when not to use a switch:
if (x > 0)
System.out.print(“X coordinate right of the origin”);
If (y > 0)
System.out.print(“Y coordinate above the origin”);
-Example of when not to use a switch:
String name = in.readLine()
switch (name)
{
}

James Tam
Switch Example: Modified
•What happens if all the ‘break’ instructions have been removed?

James Tam
Loops
Python loops
•Pre-test loops: for, while
Java Pre-test loops
•For
•While
Java Post-test loop
•Do-while

James Tam
While Loops
Format:
while (Boolean expression)
Body
Example:
int i = 1;
while (i <= 4)
{
// Call function
createNewPlayer();
i = i + 1;
}

James Tam
For Loops
Format:
for (initialization; Boolean expression; update control)
Body
Example:
for (i = 1; i <= 4; i++)
{
// Call function
createNewPlayer();
i = i + 1;
}

James Tam
Post-Test Loop: Do-While
•Recall: Post-test loops evaluate the Boolean expression after the
body of the loop has executed.
•This means that post test loops will execute one or more times.
•Pre-test loops generally execute zero or more times.

James Tam
Do-While Loops
Format:
do
Body
while (Boolean expression);
Example:
char ch = 'A';
do
{
System.out.println(ch);
ch++;
}
while (ch <= 'K');

James Tam
Contrasting Pre Vs. Post Test Loops
•Although slightly more work to implement the while loop is the
most powerful type of loop.
•Program capabilities that are implemented with either a ‘for’ or
‘do-while’ loop can be implemented with a while loop.
•Implementing a post test loop requires that the loop control be
primed correctly (set to a value such that the Boolean
expression will evaluate to true the first it’s checked).

James Tam
Example: Post-Test Implementation
•Name of the online example: PostTestExample.java
public class PostTestExample
{
{
char answer;
String temp;
do
{
System.out.println("JT's note: Pretend that we play our game");
System.out.print("Play again? Enter 'q' to quit: ");
temp = in.nextLine();
answer = temp.charAt(FIRST);
} while ((answer != 'q') && (answer != 'Q'));
}
}

James Tam
Example: Pre-Test Implementation
•Name of the online example: PreTestExample.java
public class PreTestExample
{
{
char answer = ' ';
String temp;
while ((answer != 'q') && (answer != 'Q'))
{
}
}
}

James Tam
Now What Happens???
public class PreTestExample
{
{
char answer = ' ';
String temp;
while ((answer != 'q') && (answer != 'Q'))
}
}

James Tam
Many Pre-Created Classes Have Been Created
•Rule of thumb: Before writing new program code to implement
the features of your program you should check to see if a class
has already been written with the features that you need.
•The Java API is Sun Microsystems's collection of pre-built Java
classes:
-http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/api/

James Tam
After This Section You Should Now Know
•How Java was developed and the impact of it's roots on the
language
•The basic structure required in creating a simple Java program
as well as how to compile and run programs
•How to document a Java program
•How to perform text based input and output in Java
•The declaration of constants and variables
•What are the common Java operators and how they work
•The structure and syntax of decision making and looping
constructs

Java essential notes

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Java essential notes