Topic 2

Java Basics
"On the other hand, Java has already been a big win
in academic circles, where it has taken the place of
Pascal as the preferred tool for teaching the basics of
good programming…"
-The New Hacker's Dictionary version 4.3.1
[Link]/~esr/jargon/html/[Link]

Java Basics 1
 Agenda
 Brief History of Java and overview of
language
 Solve a problem to demonstrate Java syntax
 Discuss coding issues and style via example
 Slides include more details on syntax
– may not cover everything in class, but you are
expected to know these

Java Basics 2
 Brief History of Java and
Overview of Langauge
[Link]/features/1998/05/[Link]

Java Basics 3
 A brief history of Java
– "Java, whose original name was Oak, was developed as a
part of the Green project at Sun. It was started in December
'90 by Patrick Naughton, Mike Sheridan and James Gosling
and was chartered to spend time trying to figure out what
would be the "next wave" of computing and how we might
catch it. They came to the conclusion that at least one of the
waves was going to be the convergence of digitally controlled
consumer devices and computers. "
 Applets and Applications
– "The team returned to work up a Java technology-based clone of
Mosaic they named "WebRunner" (after the movie Blade Runner),
later to become officially known as the HotJava TM browser. It was
1994. WebRunner was just a demo, but an impressive one: It
brought to life, for the first time, animated, moving objects and
dynamic executable content inside a Web browser. That had
never been done. [At the TED conference.]"

Java Basics 4
 How Java Works
 Java's platform independence is achieved by the
use of the Java Virtual Machine
 A Java program consists of one or more files with a
.java extension
– these are plain old text files
 When a Java program is compiled the .java files
are fed to a compiler which produces a .class file
for each .java file
 The .class file contains Java bytecode.
 Bytecode is like machine language, but it is
intended for the Java Virtual Machine not a specific
chip such as a Pentium or PowerPC chip
Java Basics 5
 More on How Java Works
 To run a Java program the bytecode in a .class file
is fed to an interpreter which converts the byte
code to machine code for a specific chip (IA-32,
PowerPC)
 Some people refer to the interpreter as "The Java
Virtual Machine" (JVM)
 The interpreter is platform specific because it takes
the platform independent bytecode and produces
machine language instructions for a particular chip
 So a Java program could be run an any type of
computer that has a JVM written for it.
– PC, Mac, Unix, Linux, BeaOS, Sparc
Java Basics 6
 A Picture is Worth…
The output of the
compiler is .class
file

The Interpreter's are sometimes referred to as the Java Virtual

Machines
Java Basics 7
 So What!
 The platform independence of Java may be a huge
marketing tool, but is actually of little use to people
learning Object Oriented Programming and
Abstract Data Types
 What is of use is the simplicity of the Java syntax
and programming concepts
 Java is a "pure" Object Oriented Language
– encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism
– all code must be contained in a class
– no free functions (functions that do not belong to some
class) like C++, although someone who wants to write
messy Java code certainly can
– Is OO the best programming paradigm?

Java Basics 8
 [Link]
/**
* A simple program
*/

public class HelloWorld

{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
[Link]("HELLO CS307!");
}
}
Java Basics 9
 More on Java Programs
 All code part of some class
public class Foo
{ //start of class Foo
/*all code in here!*/
} // end of class Foo
 The code for class Foo will be in a file named
[Link]
– just a text file with the .java extension
– a class is a programmer defined data type
 A complete program will normally consist of
many different classes and thus many
different files
Java Basics 10
 Attendance Question 1
What does 6,967 * 7,793 equal?
A. 10,000
B. 23,756,201
C. 54,293,831
D. 2,147,483,647
E. - 2,147,483,648

Java Basics 11
 Attendance Question 2
How many factors does 54,161,329 have?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 6
E. more than 6

Bonus question. What are they?

Java Basics 12
 Example Problem
 Determine if a given integer is prime
– problem definition
– really naïve algorithm
– implementation
– testing
– a small improvement
– another improvement
– yet another improvement
– always another way ...
– what about really big numbers? (Discover AKS
Primality Testing) Java Basics 13
 Error Types
 Syntax error / Compile errors
– caught at compile time.
– compiler did not understand or compiler does not
allow
 Runtime error
– something “Bad” happens at runtime. Java
breaks these into Errors and Exceptions
 Logic Error
– program compiles and runs, but does not do
what you intended or want
Java Basics 14
 Java Language
Review of Basic Features

Java Basics 15
 Basic Features
 Data Types
– primitives
– classes / objects
 Expressions and operators
 Control Structures
 Arrays
 Methods
 Programming for correctness
– pre and post conditions
– assertions
Java Basics 16
Java Data Types

Java Basics 17
 Identifiers in Java
 letters, digits, _, and $ (don't use $. Can confuse
the runtime system)
 start with letter, _, or $
 by convention:
1. start with a letter
2. variables and method names, lowercase with internal
words capitalized e.g. honkingBigVariableName
3. constants all caps with _ between internal words e.g.
ANOTHER_HONKING_BIG_INDENTIFIER
4. classes start with capital letter, internal words
capitalized, all other lowercase e.g
HonkingLongClassName
 Why? To differentiate identifiers that refer to
classes from those that refer to variables
Java Basics 18
 Data Types
 Primitive Data Types
– byte short int long float double boolean char

//dataType identifier;
int x;
int y = 10;
int z, zz;
double a = 12.0;
boolean done = false, prime = true;
char mi = 'D';
– stick with int for integers, double for real numbers
 Classes and Objects
– pre defined or user defined data types consisting of constructors,
methods, and fields (constants and fields (variables) which may be
primitives or objects.)
Java Basics 19
 Java Primitive Data Types
Data Characteristics Range
Type
byte 8 bit signed integer -128 to 127

short 16 bit signed integer -32768 to 32767

int 32 bit signed integer -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647

long 64 bit signed integer -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to-

9,223,372,036,854,775,807
float 32 bit floating point + 1.4E-45 to
number + 3.4028235E+38
double 64 bit floating point + 4.9E-324 to
number + 1.7976931348623157E+308
boolean true or false NA, note Java booleans cannot be
converted to or from other types
char 16 bit, Unicode Unicode character, \u0000 to \uFFFF
Can mix with integer types
Java Basics 20
 What are Classes and Objects?
 Class is synonymous with data type
 Object is like a variable
– The data type of the Object is some Class
– referred to as an instance of a Class
 Classes contain:
– the implementation details of the data type
– and the interface for programmers who just want
to use the data type
 Objects are complex variables
– usually multiple pieces of internal data
– various behaviors carried out via methods
Java Basics 21
 Creating and Using Objects
 Declaration - DataType identifier
Rectangle r1;
 Creation - new operator and specified
constructor
r1 = new Rectangle();
Rectangle r2 = new Rectangle();
 Behavior - via the dot operator
[Link](10, 20);
String s2 = [Link]();
 Refer to documentation for available
behaviors (methods)
Java Basics 22
 Built in Classes
 Java has a large built  System
in library of classes  Arrays
with lots of useful  Scanner
methods
 File
 Ones you should
 Object
become familiar with
quickly  Random
 String  Look at the Java API
 Math page
 Integer, Character,
Double
Java Basics 23
 import
 import is a reserved word
 packages and classes can be imported to
another class
 does not actually import the code (unlike the
C++ include preprocessor command)
 statement outside the class block
import [Link];
import [Link];
public class Foo{
// code for class Foo
}
Java Basics 24
 More on import
 can include a whole package
– import [Link].*;
 or list a given class
– import [Link];
 instructs the compiler to look in the package for
types it can't find defined locally
 the [Link].* package is automatically
imported to all other classes.
 Not required to import classes that are part of the
same project in Eclipse

Java Basics 25
 The String Class
 String is a standard Java class
– a whole host of behaviors via methods
 also special (because it used so much)
– String literals exist (no other class has literals)
String name = "Mike D.";
– String concatenation through the + operator
String firstName = "Mike";
String lastName = "Scott";
String wholeName = firstName + lastName;
– Any primitive or object on other side of + operator
from a String automatically converted to String
Java Basics 26
 Standard Output
 To print to standard output use
[Link]( expression ); // no newline
[Link]( expression ); // newline
[Link]( ); // just a newline

common idiom is to build up expression to

be printed out

[Link]( "x is: " + x + " y is: " + y );

Java Basics 27
 Constants
 Literal constants - "the way you specify values that
are not computed and recomputed, but remain,
well, constant for the life of a program."
– true, false, null, 'c', "C++", 12, -12, 12.12345
 Named constants
– use the keyword final to specify a constant
– scope may be local to a method or to a class
 By convention any numerical constant besides -1,
0, 1, or 2 requires a named constant
final int NUM_SECTIONS = 3;

Java Basics 28
Expressions and Operators

Java Basics 29
 Operators
 Basic Assignment: =
 Arithmetic Operators: +, -, *, /, %(remainder)
– integer, floating point, and mixed arithmetic and
expressions
 Assignment Operators: +=, -=, *=, /=, %=
 increment and decrement operators: ++, --
– prefix and postfix.
– avoid use inside expressions.
int x = 3;
x++;
Java Basics 30
 Expressions
 Expressions are evaluated based on the
precedence of operators
 Java will automatically convert numerical
primitive data types but results are
sometimes surprising
– take care when mixing integer and floating point
numbers in expressions
 The meaning of an operator is determined by
its operands
/
is it integer division or floating point division?
Java Basics 31
 Casting
 Casting is the temporary conversion of a variable from its
original data type to some other data type.
– Like being cast for a part in a play or movie
 With primitive data types if a cast is necessary from a less
inclusive data type to a more inclusive data type it is done
automatically.
int x = 5;
double a = 3.5;
double b = a * x + a / x;
double c = x / 2;
 if a cast is necessary from a more inclusive to a less
inclusive data type the class must be done explicitly by the
programmer
– failure to do so results in a compile error.
double a = 3.5, b = 2.7;
int y = (int) a / (int) b;
y = (int)( a / b );
y = (int) a / b; //syntax error

Java Basics 32
 Primitive Casting Outer ring is most
inclusive data type.
double Inner ring is least
inclusive.
float
In expressions
long variables and
sub expressions
int of less inclusive
short, data types are
automatically cast
char to more inclusive.
From MORE to LESS
byte If trying to place
expression that is
more inclusive into
variable that is less
inclusive, explicit cast
must be performed.
Java Basics 33
Java Control Structures

Java Basics 34
 Control Structures
 linear flow of control
– statements executed in consecutive order
 Decision making with if - else statements
if(boolean-expression)
statement;
if(boolean-expression)
{ statement1;
statement2;
statement3;
}
A single statement could be replaced by a
statement block, braces with 0 or more statements
inside
Java Basics 35
 Boolean Expressions
 boolean expressions evaluate to true or false
 Relational Operators: >, >=, <, <=, ==, !=
 Logical Operators: &&, ||, !
– && and || cause short circuit evaluation
– if the first part of p && q is false then q is not
evaluated
– if the first part of p || q is true then q is not
evaluated
//example
if( x <= X_LIMIT && y <= Y_LIMIT)
//do something
Java Basics 36
 if-else:
More Flow of Control
if(boolean-expression)
statement1;
else
statement2;
 multiway selection:
if(boolean-expression1)
statement1;
else if(boolean-expression2)
statement2;
else
statement3;
 individual statements could be replaced by a statement
block, a set of braces with 0 or more statements
 Java also has the switch statement, but not part of our
subset
Java Basics 37
 for Loops
 for loops
for(init-expr;boolean-expr;incr-expr)
statement;
 init-expr and incr-expr can be more zero or more
expressions or statements separated by commas
 statement could be replaced by a statement block
false
execute evaluate
init-expr boolean-expr skip to 1st statement after
body of loop
true
execute execute
body of loop incr-expr

Java Basics 38
 while loops
 while loops
while(boolean-expression)
statement; //or statement block
 do-while loop part of language
do
statement;
while(boolean-expression);
 Again, could use a statement block
 break, continue, and labeled breaks
– referred to in the Java tutorial as branching statements
– keywords to override normal loop logic
– use them judiciously (which means not much)

Java Basics 39
 Attendance Question 3
True or false: Strings are a primitive data
type in Java.
A. TRUE
B. FALSE

Java Basics 40
 Attendance Question 4
What is output by the following Java code?
int x = 3;
double a = x / 2 + 3.5;
[Link](a);
A. a
B. 5
C. 4.5
D. 4
E. 5.0
Java Basics 41
Arrays

Java Basics 42
 Arrays in Java
 "Should array indices start at 0 or 1? My compromise of 0.5 was
rejected without, I thought, proper consideration. "
– S. Kelly-Bootle
 Java has built in arrays. a.k.a. native arrays
 arrays hold elements of the same type
– primitive data types or classes
– space for array must be dynamically allocated with new operator.
(Size is any integer expression. Due to dynamic allocation does not
have to be constant.)
public void arrayExamples()
{ int[] intList = new int[10];
for(int i = 0; i < [Link]; i++)
{ assert 0 >= i && i < [Link];
intList[i] = i * i * i;
}
intList[3] = intList[4] * intList[3];
}
Java Basics 43
 Array Details
 all arrays must be dynamically allocated
 arrays have a public, final field called length
– built in size field, no separate variable needed
– don't confuse length (capacity) with elements in
use
 elements start with an index of zero, last index
is length - 1
 trying to access a non existent element results
in an ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException
(AIOBE)
Java Basics 44
 Array Initialization
 Array variables are object variables
 They hold the memory address of an array
object
 The array must be dynamically allocated
 All values in the array are initialized (0, 0.0,
char 0, false, or null)
 Arrays may be initialized with an initializer
list:
int[] intList = {2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13};
double[] dList = {12.12, 0.12, 45.3};
String[] sList = {"Olivia", "Kelly", "Isabelle"};
Java Basics 45
 Arrays of objects
 A native array of objects is actually a native
array of object variables
– all object variables in Java are really what?
– Pointers!
public void objectArrayExamples()
{ Rectangle[] rectList = new Rectangle[10];
// How many Rectangle objects exist?
rectList[5].setSize(5,10);
//uh oh!
for(int i = 0; i < [Link]; i++)
{ rectList[i] = new Rectangle();
}
rectList[3].setSize(100,200);
}

Java Basics 46
 Array Utilities
 In the Arrays class, static methods
 binarySearch, equals, fill, and sort
methods for arrays of all primitive types
(except boolean) and arrays of Objects
– overloaded versions of these methods for
various data types
 In the System class there is an arraycopy
method to copy elements from a specified
part of one array to another
– can be used for arrays of primitives or arrays of
objects
Java Basics 47
 The arraycopy method
 static voidarraycopy(Object src, int srcPos,
Object dest, int destPos, int length)
Copies an array from the specified source
array, beginning at the specified position, to
the specified position of the destination array.
int[] list = new int[10];
// code to fill list
// list needs to be resized
int[] temp = new int[[Link] * 2];
[Link](list, 0, temp, 0,
[Link]);
list = temp;

Java Basics 48
 2D Arrays in Java
 Arrays with multiple dimensions may be
declared and used
int[][] mat = new int[3][4];
 the number of pairs of square brackets
indicates the dimension of the array.
 by convention, in a 2D array the first number
indicates the row and the second the column
 Java multiple dimensional arrays are handles
differently than in many other programming
languages.
49
2D Arrays
 Two Dimensional Arrays
0 1 2 3 column
0 0 0 0 0

1 0 0 0 0

2 0 0 0 0
row
This is our abstract picture of the 2D array and treating
it this way is fine.
mat[2][1] = 12;

50
2D Arrays
 The Real Picture
0 1 2 3
0 0 0 0 0
0 1 2 3
mat 1 0 0 0 0
0 1 2 3
2 0 0 0 0

mat holds the memory address of an array with 3

elements. Each element holds the memory address
of an array of 4 ints
51
2D Arrays
 Arrays of Multiple Dimension
 because multiple dimensional arrays are
treated as arrays of arrays of arrays……
multiple dimensional arrays can be ragged
– each row does not have to have the same
number of columns

int[][] raggedMat = new int[5][];

for(int i = 0; i < [Link]; i++)
– raggedMat[i] = new int[i + 1];
each row array has its own length field

52
2D Arrays
 Ragged Arrays
 Ragged arrays are sometime useful, but
normally we deal with rectangular matrices
– each row has the same number of columns as
every other row
– use this a lot as precondition to methods that
work on matrices
 working on matrices normally requires
nested loops
– why is this so hard?

53
2D Arrays
 Enhanced for loop
 New in Java 5.0
 a.k.a. the for-each loop
 useful short hand for accessing all elements in an
array (or other types of structures) if no need to
alter values
 alternative for iterating through a set of values
for(Type loop-variable : set-expression)
statement
 logic error (not a syntax error) if try to modify an
element in array via enhanced for loop

Java Basics 54
 Enhanced for loop
public static int sumListOld(int[] list)
{ int total = 0;
for(int i = 0; i < [Link]; i++)
{ total += list[i];
[Link]( list[i] );
}
return total;
}
public static int sumListEnhanced(int[] list)
{ int total = 0;
for(int val : list)
{ total += val;
[Link]( val );
}
return total;
}
Java Basics 55
 Attendance Question 5
What is output by public void d2(int x){
the code to the right x *= 2;
when method d1 is [Link](x);
}
called?
A. 322 public void d1(){
int x = 3;
B. 323
[Link](x);
C. 363 d2(x);
D. 366 [Link](x);
}
E. 399
Java Basics 56
 Attendance Question 6
What is output int[] list = {5, 1, 7, 3};
by the code to [Link]( list[2] );
[Link]( list[4] );
the right?
A. Output will vary from one run of program to
next
B. 00
C. 363
D. 7 then a runtime error
E. No output due to syntax error
Java Basics 57
Methods

Java Basics 58
 Methods
 methods are analogous to procedures and
functions in other languages
– local variables, parameters, instance variables
– must be comfortable with variable scope: where is a
variable defined?
 methods are the means by which objects are
manipulated (objects state is changed) - much
more on this later
 method header consists of
– access modifier(public, package, protected, private)
– static keyword (optional, class method)
– return type (void or any data type, primitive or class)
– method name
– parameter signature
Java Basics 59
 More on Methods
 local variables can be declared within methods.
– Their scope is from the point of declaration until the
end of the methods, unless declared inside a
smaller block like a loop
 methods contain statements
 methods can call other methods
– in the same class: foo();
– methods to perform an operation on an object that
is in scope within the method: [Link]();
– static methods in other classes:
double x = [Link](1000);

Java Basics 60
 static methods
 the main method is where a stand alone Java program
normally begins execution
 common compile error, trying to call a non static method from
a static one
public class StaticExample
{ public static void main(String[] args)
{ //starting point of execution
[Link]("In main method");
method1();
method2(); //compile error;
}

public static void method1()

{ [Link]( "method 1"); }

public void method2()

{ [Link]( "method 2"); }
}
Java Basics 61
 Method Overloading and Return
 a class may have multiple methods with the same
name as long as the parameter signature is unique
– may not overload on return type
 methods in different classes may have same name
and signature
– this is a type of polymorphism, not method overloading
 if a method has a return value other than void it
must have a return statement with a variable or
expression of the proper type
 multiple return statements allowed, the first one
encountered is executed and method ends
– style considerations
Java Basics 62
 Method Parameters
 a method may have any number of
parameters
 each parameter listed separately
 no VAR (Pascal), &, or const & (C++)
 final can be applied, but special meaning
 all parameters are pass by value
 Implications of pass by value???

Java Basics 63
 Value Parameters vs.
Reference Parameters
 A value parameter makes a copy of the
argument it is sent.
– Changes to parameter do not affect the
argument.
 A reference parameter is just another name
for the argument it is sent.
– changes to the parameter are really changes to
the argument and thus are permanent

Java Basics 64
 Value vs. Reference
// value // C++, reference
void add10(int x) void add10(int& x)
{ x += 10; } { x += 10; }

void calls() void calls()

{ int y = 12; { int y = 12;
add10(y); add10(y);
// y = ? // y = ?
} }

12 12 12
y x y x

Java Basics 65
Programming for Correctness

Java Basics 66
 Creating Correct Programs
 methods should include pre conditions and post conditions
 Preconditions are things that must be true before a method
is called
 Postconditions are things that will be true after a method is
complete if the preconditions were met
 it is the responsibility of the caller of a method to ensure the
preconditions are met
– the class must provide a way of ensuring the precondition is true
– the preconditions must be stated in terms of the interface, not the
implementation
 it is the responsibility of the class (supplier, server) to
ensure the postconditions are met

Java Basics 67
 Programming by Contract
 preconditions and postconditions create a contract between the
client (class or object user) and a supplier (the class or object
itself)
– example of a contract between you and me for a test

Obligations Benefits
Client (Must ensure preconditions) (May benefit from postcondition)
(Student) Be at test on time, bring pencil Receive fair and accurate
and eraser, write legibly, evaluation of test to help formulate
answer questions in space progress in course
provided
Supplier (Must ensure postcondition) (May assume preconditions)
(Mike) Fairly and accurately grade No need to grade test or questions
test based on universal that are illegible, on wrong part of
guidelines applied to all tests exam, or give makeup exams for
unexcused absences

Java Basics 68
 Thinking about pre and
postconditions
 pre and postconditions are part of design
 coming up with pre and postconditions at the
time of implementation is too late
 the pre and post conditions drive the
implementation and so must exist before the
implementation can start
– The sooner you start to code, the longer your
program will take.
-Roy Carlson, U Wisconsin
 You must spend time on design
Java Basics 69
 Precondition Example
/**
* Find all indices in <tt>source</tt> that are the start of a complete
* match of <tt>target</tt>.
* @param source != null, [Link]() > 0
* @param target != null, [Link]() > 0
* @return an ArrayList that contains the indices in source that are the
* start of a complete match of target. The indices are stored in
* ascending order in the ArrayList
*/
public static ArrayList<Integer> matches(String source, String target) {
// check preconditions
assert (source != null) && ([Link]() > 0)
&& (target != null) && ([Link]() > 0)
: "matches: violation of precondition";

Java Basics 70
 Creating Correct Programs
 Java features has a mechanism to check the
correctness of your program called assertions
 Assertions are statements that are executed as
normal statements if assertion checking is on
– you should always have assertion checking on when
writing and running your programs
 Assertions are boolean expressions that are
evaluated when reached. If they evaluate to true
the program continues, if they evaluate to false
then the program halts
 logical statements about the condition or state of
your program
Java Basics 71
 Assertions
 Assertions have the form
assert boolean expression : what to output
if assertion is false
 Example
if ( (x < 0) || (y < 0) )
{ // we know either x or y is < 0
assert x < 0 || y < 0 : x + " " + y;
x += y;
}
else
{ // we know both x and y are not less than zero
assert x >= 0 && y >= 0 : x + " " + y;
y += x;
}
 Use assertion liberally in your code
– part of style guide

Java Basics 72
 Assertions Uncover Errors in
Your Logic
if ( a < b )
{ // we a is less than b
assert a < b : a + " " + b;
[Link](a + " is smaller than " + b);
}
else
{ // we know b is less than a
assert b < a : a + " " + b;
[Link](b + " is smaller than " + a);
}
 Use assertions in code that other
programmers are going to use.
 In the real world this is the majority of your
code!
Java Basics 73
 javadoc
 javadoc is a program that takes the comments in Java
source code and creates the html documentation pages
 Open up Java source code. (Found in the [Link] file when
you download the Java sdk.)
 Basic Format
/** Summary sentence for method foo. More details. More
details.
pre: list preconditions
post: list postconditions
@param x describe what x is
@param y describe what y is
@return describe what the method returns
*/
public int foo(int x, double y)
 Comments interpreted as html
Java Basics 74