Java Programming Course Overview

Introduction

• Instructor: Danielov
• Overview of Java programming concepts and tools
• Programming compared to reading books and martial arts: learn by doing exercises

Course Content

1. Basic Java Concepts

   • Variables and data types
   • User input and output
   • Simple calculations

2. Control Structures

   • Conditions: if statements
   • Loops: for and while loops

3. NetBeans IDE

   • Debugging programs
   • Use of code templates

4. Basic Algorithms

   • Summation, counting, finding min/max, searching

5. Data Structures

   • One-dimensional and two-dimensional arrays

6. Functions and Structured Programming

   • Definition and invocation of functions

7. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

   • Classes and objects
   • Inheritance and polymorphism

8. Handling Dates and Times

   • Old vs. new methods introduced in Java 8

9. Sorting and Generics

   • Advantages of sorting
   • Type parameters in generics

10. Collections Framework

    • Lists, sets, and maps

11. Exception Handling

    • Try-catch blocks

12. File Handling with Streams

    • Understanding streams

13. Enumerations (Enums)

    • Use of enums for fixed sets of constants (e.g., days of the week)

14. Reusing Existing Code

    • Incorporating libraries and external code

Practical Exercises

• Importance of practical exercises to learn programming effectively
• Example project: Simple role-playing game based on "Fighting Fantasy"

Java's Popularity and Career Opportunities

• Java's place among top programming languages
• Platform-independent nature
• High demand for Java developers
• Career options: mobile apps (Android), desktop apps, enterprise applications

Java Platform Overview

• Java Virtual Machine (JVM)
• Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
• Java Development Kit (JDK)
• IDEs: NetBeans (used in course) and Eclipse

Practical Setup

• Installing NetBeans and JDK
• Creating and running a "Hello World" program
• Understanding Java packages and classes

Exercises and Concepts

1. Value Replacing Exercise

   • Swapping values between variables using a temporary variable

2. Temperature Conversion Exercise

   • Reading Celsius, converting to Fahrenheit, handling integer and double types

3. Boiling Exercise

   • Conditional statements to determine if water is boiling

4. Boiling and Freezing Exercise

   • Multi-branch conditional logic to determine water state (boiling, freezing, normal)
   • Logical operators: AND, OR, NOT

5. Fighting Exercise

   • Simulating a combat scenario using random numbers
   • Attributes: attack, defense, damage, life points
   • Using random number generation for decision making

Upcoming Topics

• Advanced control structures: switch statement, loops, nested loops
• Continuation of game development

These notes capture the key aspects of the Java Programming course introduction, including basic concepts, course content, practical exercises, and setup instructions, as well as framing Java's relevance and opportunities in the job market.