Java Programming Course Overview

Introduction

• Instructor: Mosh
• Course designed for beginners to learn Java programming.
• Start with installation of tools, basics of Java, and building algorithms.
• Tips and shortcuts from Mosh's years of experience.
• Aim: Solid foundation in Java and readiness for advanced features.
• Mosh's background: Software engineer with 20 years of experience, taught over 3 million people.

Course Tools and Setup

• Java Development Kit (JDK):

  • Search for JDK download on Oracle's website.
  • Download based on your platform (Linux, MacOS, Windows).
  • Installation steps: Accept license, download, install (password needed), move to trash post-installation.

• Code Editor:

  • Popular editors: NetBeans, Eclipse, IntelliJ.
  • Course uses IntelliJ (Community edition is free).
  • Install by downloading and moving to Applications folder.

Anatomy of a Java Program

• Functions: Building blocks of Java programs.

  • Functions perform specific tasks e.g. sending emails, converting units.
  • Structure: Return type, function name, parameters, and the code block.
  • Main function: Entry point of any Java program.

• Classes: Container for functions.

  • Every program should have at least one class containing the main function.
  • Class structure: Access modifier, class keyword, class name, code block.

Writing Your First Java Program

• Project Setup in IntelliJ:

  • Create a new Java project with a command-line application template.
  • Set project SDK to the downloaded JDK version.
  • Define base package following domain name convention.

• Code Structure:

  • Package statement specifying package of the class.
  • Main class with a main method (static, public, void).
  • Code to print "Hello World" using System.out.println.

Java Code Execution

• Steps involved: Compilation and Execution.
• Compilation converts Java code to bytecode using Java compiler.
• Execution uses Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to convert bytecode to native OS code.

Java Editions

• Java Standard Edition (SE): Core platform for all Java developers.
• Java Enterprise Edition (EE): For large-scale, distributed systems.
• Java Micro Edition (ME): For mobile devices.
• Java Card: Used in smart cards.

Java Program Structure

• Variables and Constants:

  • Variables store data temporarily in memory.
  • Primitive types (int, byte, short, long, float, double, char, boolean).
  • Reference types for complex objects (classes, strings).

• Arithmetic Expressions: Use standard operators (+, -, *, /, %).

• Type Conversion and Casting:

  • Implicit and explicit conversions depending on data type compatibility.
  • Wrapper classes for converting strings to numbers e.g. Integer.parseInt.

• Math Class: Provides methods for mathematical operations (round, ceil, floor, etc.).*

User Interaction

• Input: Using Scanner class to read user input from the terminal.
• String Handling: Methods for manipulation (concat, length, indexOf, replace).

Data Structures

• Arrays:

  • Used to store lists of items.
  • Fixed size, initialized with new keyword or curly braces.

• Multi-dimensional Arrays:

  • Store data in tabular form (matrix, cube).

Control Flow

• Conditional Statements:

  • If-else for decisions based on conditions.
  • Switch statement for multiple cases.

• Loops:

  • For, while, do-while for repeating code blocks.
  • For-each loop for iterating over arrays and collections.
  • Break and continue to control loop execution.

Project: Mortgage Calculator

• Implemented using variables, loops, and conditional statements.
• Challenges:
  • Handle user input with data validation.
  • Use loops to repeatedly ask for valid inputs.

Clean Code

• Emphasis on writing readable, maintainable code.
• Techniques:
  • Avoid magic numbers and use constants.
  • Break complex code into smaller functions for clarity.

Conclusion

• Mastering Java fundamentals and basic concepts.
• Encouragement to continue to advanced Java features and courses.
• Highlight the importance of continuous learning and improvement in software development.

Additional Resources

• Mosh's complete Java series for advanced topics and professional development.