1	Crash Course in Java Based on notes from D. Hollinger Based in part on notes from J.J. Johns also: Java in a Nutshell Java Network Programming and Distributed Computing
2	What is Java? A programming language. As defined by Gosling, Joy, and Steele in the Java Language Specification A platform A virtual machine (JVM) definition. Runtime environments in diverse hardware. A class library Standard APIs for GUI, data storage, processing, I/O, and networking.
3	Why Java? Network Programming in Java is very different than in C/C++ much more language support error handling no pointers! (garbage collection) threads are part of the language. some support for common application level protocols (HTTP). dynamic class loading and secure sandbox execution for remote code. source code and bytecode-level portability.
4	Java notes for C++ programmers Everything is an object. Every object inherits from java.lang.Object No code outside of class definition! No global variables. Single inheritance an additional kind of inheritance: interfaces All classes are defined in .java files one top level public class per file
5	More for C++ folks Syntax is similar (control structures are very similar). Primitive data types similar bool is not an int. To print to stdout: System.out.println();
6	First Program public class HelloWorld { public static void main(String args[]) { System.out.println("Hello World"); } }
7	Compiling and Running
8	Java bytecode and interpreter bytecode is an intermediate representation of the program (class). The Java interpreter starts up a new “Virtual Machine”. The VM starts executing the users class by running it’s main() method.
9	PATH and CLASSPATH The java_home/bin directory is in your $PATH If you are using any classes outside the java or javax package, their locations are included in your $CLASSPATH
10	The Language Data types Operators Control Structures Classes and Objects Packages
11	Java Data Types Primitive Data Types: boolean true or false char unicode! (16 bits) byte signed 8 bit integer short signed 16 bit integer int signed 32 bit integer long signed 64 bit integer float,double IEEE 754 floating point
12	Other Data Types Reference types (composite) classes arrays strings are supported by a built-in class named String string literals are supported by the language (as a special case).
13	Type Conversions conversion between integer types and floating point types. this includes char No automatic conversion from or to the type boolean! You can force conversions with a cast – same syntax as C/C++. int i = (int) 1.345;
14	Operators Assignment: =, +=, -=, =, … Numeric: +, -, , /, %, ++, --, … Relational: ==. !=, <, >, <=, >=, … Boolean: &&, \|\|, ! Bitwise: &, \|, ^, ~, <<, >>, … Just like C/C++!
15	Control Structures More of what you expect: conditional: if, if else, switch loop: while, for, do break and continue (but a little different than with C/C++).
16	Exceptions Terminology: throw an exception: signal that some condition (possibly an error) has occurred. catch an exception: deal with the error (or whatever). In Java, exception handling is necessary (forced by the compiler)!
17	Try/Catch/Finally try { // code that can throw an exception } catch (ExceptionType1 e1) { // code to handle the exception } catch (ExceptionType2 e2) { // code to handle the exception } catch (Exception e) { // code to handle other exceptions } finally { // code to run after try or any catch }
18	Exception Handling Exceptions take care of handling errors instead of returning an error, some method calls will throw an exception. Can be dealt with at any point in the method invocation stack. Forces the programmer to be aware of what errors can occur and to deal with them.
19	Concurrent Programming Java is multithreaded! threads are easy to use. Two ways to create new threads: Extend java.lang.Thread Overwrite “run()” method. Implement Runnable interface Include a “run()” method in your class. Starting a thread new MyThread().start(); new Thread(runnable).start();
20	The synchronized Statement Java is multithreaded! threads are easy to use. Instead of mutex, use synchronized: synchronized ( object ) { // critical code here }
21	synchronized as a modifier You can also declare a method as synchronized: synchronized int blah(String x) { // blah blah blah }
22	Classes and Objects “All Java statements appear within methods, and all methods are defined within classes”. Java classes are very similar to C++ classes (same concepts). Instead of a “standard library”, Java provides a lot of Class implementations.
23	Defining a Class One top level public class per .java file. typically end up with many .java files for a single program. One (at least) has a static public main() method. Class name must match the file name! compiler/interpreter use class names to figure out what file name is.
24	Sample Class (from Java in a Nutshell) public class Point { public double x,y; public Point(double x, double y) { this.x = x; this.y=y; } public double distanceFromOrigin(){ return Math.sqrt(xx+yy); } }
25	Objects and new You can declare a variable that can hold an object: Point p; but this doesn’t create the object! You have to use new: Point p = new Point(3.1,2.4); there are other ways to create objects…
26	Using objects Just like C++: object.method() object.field BUT, never like this (no pointers!) object->method() object->field
27	Strings are special You can initialize Strings like this: String blah = "I am a literal "; Or this ( + String operator): String foo = "I love " + "RPI";
28	Arrays Arrays are supported as a second kind of reference type (objects are the other reference type). Although the way the language supports arrays is different than with C++, much of the syntax is compatible. however, creating an array requires new
29	Array Examples int x[] = new int[1000]; byte[] buff = new byte[256]; float[][] mvals = new float[10][10];
30	Notes on Arrays index starts at 0. arrays can’t shrink or grow. e.g., use Vector instead. each element is initialized. array bounds checking (no overflow!) ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException Arrays have a .length
31	Array Example Code int[] values; int total=0; for (int i=0;i<value.length;i++) { total += values[i]; }
32	Array Literals You can use array literals like C/C++: int[] foo = {1,2,3,4,5}; String[] names = {“Joe”, “Sam”};
33	Reference Types Objects and Arrays are reference types Primitive types are stored as values. Reference type variables are stored as references (pointers that we can’t mess with). There are significant differences!
34	Primitive vs. Reference Types int x=3; int y=x; Point p = new Point(2.3,4.2); Point t = p; Point p = new Point(2.3,4.2); Point t = new Point(2.3,4.2);
35	Passing arguments to methods Primitive types: the method gets a copy of the value. Changes won’t show up in the caller. Reference types: the method gets a copy of the reference, the method accesses the same object!
36	Example int sum(int x, int y) { x=x+y; return x; } void increment(int[] a) { for (int i=0;i<a.length;i++) { a[i]++; } }
37	Comparing Reference Types Comparison using == means: “are the references the same?” (do they refer to the same object?) Sometimes you just want to know if two objects/arrays are identical copies. use the .equals() method you need to write this for your own classes!
38	Packages You can organize a bunch of classes and interfaces into a package. defines a namespace that contains all the classes. You need to use some java packages in your programs java.lang java.io, java.util
39	Importing classes and packages Instead of #include, you use import You don’t have to import anything, but then you need to know the complete name (not just the class, the package). if you import java.io.File you can use File objects. If not – you need to use java.io.File objects.
40	Sample Code Sum.java: reads command line args, converts to integer, sums them up and prints the result. Sum1.java: Same idea, this one creates a Sum1 object, the constructor then does the work (instead of main).
41	More Samples Multiple Public classes: need a file for each class. Tell the compiler to compile the class with main(). automatically finds and compiles needed classes. Circle.java, CircleTest.java, Point.java, Threads.java, ExceptionTest.java