So I'm new to java

[sleeplessdragn]

But not to programming. I'm currently in my first quarter of college in a Computer Engineering major, enrolled in an intro to Java course. It's all been pretty easy so far, but I was wondering what I should be wary of in the future. Are there any specific aspects of Java that differ from the core logic of other languages? I was really into BASIC prior to college, so programming logic isn't something new to me. I'm excited about this class because it's my first class that I've ever been in for computer programming.

[this_n00b_rocks]

Re: So I'm new to java

Java is pretty dang close to Visual Basic (and I believe C) logic-wise. I've toyed around with BASIC, but I didn't like it. I know that with BASIC, you can't drag and drop buttons, like you can with VB, and you can't with Java either. Other than that, Java's pretty easy.

[Mystik3345]

Re: So I'm new to java

if you understand object-oriented concepts, java is extremely easy

[Squeek]

Re: So I'm new to java

Just hope your class avoids:

Trees
Threads
Heaps
Linked Lists

And a bunch of other crappy, pointless, and retarded concepts.

In fact, just hope you don't have to take three semesters of a single language. It sucks. My first two semesters of Java were a breeze (even though I bugged Kefit more than I should have). My last one was terrible. As a result of the school's terrible CS program arrangement, I took 112 first semester, 211 second, skipped a year to take ECE 303 (digital design and circuitry), then took 310 in my fourth semester.

In that six months between semesters, Java changed. They switched from 1.4.2 to 1.5. The school adapted for it with the first semester and assumed that every class after that, 1.5 was general knowledge.

I, who knew nothing of 1.5, was totally left behind and screwed out of a shot at a CS degree. Of course, that wasn't the only reason. After all, I passed CS310 with a C. Then again, the Professor and I were practically buddies. I had her as a teacher for so many CS classes that it was almost sickening.

No. The reason CS sucks is this little programming language known as Assembly Language. If at all possible, AVOID THIS LANGUAGE AT ALL COSTS.

Oh and Calculus sucked, and it was the first of six maths I had to take. Fun.

[Aric]

Re: So I'm new to java

if you understand object-oriented concepts, java is extremely easy

Agreed but it gets a bit harder during GUI programming

[spyke252]

Re: So I'm new to java

if you understand object-oriented concepts, java is extremely easy

Uh huh. Hmmmmm. Have you done Hashing yet?
How bout heaps?

[RandomPscho]

Re: So I'm new to java

At least java doesn't have to deal with pointers and it has garbage collecting, and is a true OO language.

Shouldn't be too hard to learn, there are just a lot of standard commands.

[JKPolk]

Re: So I'm new to java

If you need help with Java, please, FEEL FREE to ask. I've been doing Java now for three years and feel that I know it more than well enough to tutor people through classes. Actually just this year I had a small study group of 3 people in their first year of Java, they're all en route to getting an A in the course.
Also, ignore Squeek.
Trees, heaps, hashes, linked lists, threading, they're all easy to do. The hardest part for each is concept.

[Squeek]

Re: So I'm new to java

Trees, heaps, hashes, linked lists, threading, they're all easy to do. The hardest part for each is concept.

Which is all you'll be tested on, of course.

Oh, and writing code on paper rather than on a computer. Because that's practical.

[JKPolk]

Re: So I'm new to java

Oh, and writing code on paper rather than on a computer. Because that's practical.

Knowing structures without having an environment insert the code for you is practical, I think.

[tsugomaru]

Re: So I'm new to java

Or getting to know the language.

Don't be the typical moron who uses things without knowing what they do or how they function.

Bah, I sound harsh, but the point is, a lot of the things I've seen in programming is never useless.

~Tsugomaru

[Squeek]

Re: So I'm new to java

It's the same deal with math.

When you're programming, you're on a computer. I'd wager to say if you're working for a company paying you to program, the computer has Internet access.

The Java API exists for a reason. Programming on paper is one of the most impractical things ever right next to doing mathematics without a calculator.

[tsugomaru]

Re: So I'm new to java

I just reckon that the teachers have yet to adapt to the world of today where accessing information is easier than ever before.

But who knows, I'm not a college professor, I don't know how they work.

~Tsugomaru

[sleeplessdragn]

Re: So I'm new to java

I just finished the class, as we are on quarter system here. I did fairly well, and it was fairly easy, though I admit that the fact that they never taught about flow charts kind of worried me. It is an intro to programming class, or so I thought at least.

[RandomPscho]

Re: So I'm new to java

Oh, and writing code on paper rather than on a computer. Because that's practical.

I HATE handwriting code!!!

I admit that the fact that they never taught about flow charts kind of worried me. It is an intro to programming class, or so I thought at least.

Farther than my school went in c++ for the intro cause. I didn't learn a single thing this year

We started with number systems, basic output, then the basic variable types (bool, int, double, char), then input, then arrays and loops, then strings, and finally functions. That covers the entire course. Everything is console applications that accomplish nothing useful. No standard libraries are used in my school. apmatrix, apvector, apstring, iostream.h [no iostream the standard from 98]. we used time.h and stdlib.h only for random numbers. Basic basic stuff we learn.