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Introduction You will find that although this unit is about core Java programming concepts, little of this unit deals directly with object-orientation concepts. This is because all programming languages have many core concepts, such as flow of execution and variables, that have to be understood, before moving on to some of the language's particular features. You will find that what you learn from this unit will provide the foundations for implementing the methods, variables and message-passing of classes and objects in more complex Java programs. Also, you will learn from this unit important aspects about the arguments and replies that are passed between objects. It is likely that you will not understand and be able to apply all the concepts in this (or any other) unit straight away. Programming is something that is learnt by doing. You will find that you need to re-visit parts of this and other units several times. Use the review questions and unit test to gauge your progress, and to identify topics you need to return to for further work. Although everything you will learn in this unit is important for Java programs, almost all of it is also relevant to all `procedural' programming languages (`procedural' languages are those that are based on detailed instructions executed in a specific order, such as C, C++, Pascal and Java) Although it is vital that you understand and apply object concepts as early as possible for this module, you will find that you can learn a lot about Java and programming by simply working on and extending some of the simple, single-method classes presented in this unit (i.e. by adapting the main method of some of the examples). You will find the module core text, Deitel & Deitel, covers the material in the unit (and most later units) very comprehensively. In addition to following the assigned reading for each topic, you are strongly advised to work through the exercises and self-review exercises of each chapter. There are also many software engineering observations and common programming error sidebars, which collectively a synthesis of the years of programming experience of the authors.
RITSEC - Global Campus |
