Java Basics

Software Development Process

GEEN163
• Requirements – high level description of
Introduction to what the system is supposed to do
Computer Programming • Specifications – detailed description
• Design – how will the system do this
• Coding – writing the program
Java Basics
• Integration – putting the pieces together
• Testing – make sure it works correctly
• Maintenance – updates and corrections

Class Programs Structure of a Java Program

• Requirements – faculty will define briefly import package.class;
• Specifications – faculty will define public class progName {
• Design – student responsibility public static void main(String[] args) {
• Coding – student responsibility // your simple program here
• Testing – informal student responsibility }
}

GEEN163 Honors 1
Java Basics

import import example

• If you use existing objects in your program, import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
…
you need to tell Java where to find them.
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(…);
• import tells Java to look in this package for
classes you are using.
or without import
• import is not required. You can always use
the full name of an object.
javax.swing.JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(…);

Class statement main method

• Java is an Object-Oriented language.
• Objects are defined by classes.
• All Java programs are an object.
• Much more on objects to come later.
• Methods are functions or programs that
can be executed.
• The method with the name “main” is
always executed first.
• main has an array of String parameters
that can be used to pass command line
arguments.

GEEN163 Honors 2
Java Basics
Names
• Names or identifiers in Java (such as
program names, class names, variable
names, etc.) can be as long as you like.
• Names should make sense to humans.
• Names can contain letters, numbers
underscores (_), and dollar signs ($).
• Names should start with a letter.
• Java is case sensitive, upper and lower
case letters are different.
Which of these are valid names?
a) abc e) ABC i) a_1
b) m/h f) 25or6to4 j) studentNumber
c) main g) 1_time k) Main
d) double h) first name l) ______
GEEN163 Honors
Java Conventions
• While the Java language allows you to use
upper and lower case letters as you please,
tradition dictates you follow some rules.
• Variables and methods names start with a
lower case letter.
• Class names start with an upper case letter
• Constants are all upper case
• When you combine two English words,
upper case the first letter of the second
word (i.e. firstPlace, mySchool, whoCares)
Which of these are valid names?
a) abc e) ABC i) a_1
b) m/h f) 25or6to4 j) studentNumber
c) main g) 1_time k) Main
d) double h) first name l) ______
3
Java Basics

Common Operations on
Variables Variables
• Variables hold data. They represent a • Common Operations for many types of
memory location. variables include these four
– Declaration Construct an variable
• Variables have a:
Initialization and optionally initialize its value
– Name – Assignment Modify the value of an variable
– Type – Input Read the value from keyboard
– Value – Output Write the value of an variable
• Before you set a variable’s value, it may to the screen
not have a reliable value.

Simple Data Types Other Simple Data Types

• int – integer whole numbers. • char – single characters
• double – numbers with decimal points. • boolean – true or false

• float – a double with 7 digit accuracy

• short – a 2 byte int for number < 16384
• long – a 8 byte int for numbers > 2 billion
• byte – a 1 byte int for numbers < 128

GEEN163 Honors 4
Java Basics

A Not-So-Simple Data Type Constants

• String – A string of characters. • int 1 2 3 -6 123456
• Any character on the keyboard (and more) • double -1.234 0.000123 1.23e-4
can be used. • String “inside double quotes”
• String is a Java class. We will talk more • boolean true false
about classes and complex data types • character ‘x’ // a single character in single quotes
later.

Declaring Variables Example Declarations

• All variables must be declared before the double interestRate;
are used in the program. int numPenguins;
• A variable is declared by writing the data String myName;
type followed by the variable name. boolean doit;
• More than one variable may be declared int first, second;
on the same line as the same type by
separating the variable names by commas

GEEN163 Honors 5
Java Basics

Assigning Values Not All Are Equal

• You can set a variable to a value during • The equals sign is used to set a variable to
execution by putting the name of variable, a value. It does not mean equal in the
an equals sign followed by a value and mathematical sense.
semicolon int a, b;
numPenguins = 6; a = 3;
first = 3; b = 5;
interestRate = 4.75; a = b; // a has the value 5
An old computer language used to use the arrow
character to indicate assignment.
• The type of the variable and the value a ← 3; b ← 5; a ← b; // not C++
must match.

Variable Initialization Example Initializations

• When you declare a variable, you can give double interestRate = 0.075;
it an initial value. int numPenguins = 7;
• If you don’t give a variable an initial value, String myName = “Ken”;
it will have some unknown random value. boolean doit = false;
• In the declaration after the variable name, int first = 1, second = 2;
put an equals sign followed by the value.
int bad = “This is wrong”;
• The type of the variable and the value
must match.

GEEN163 Honors 6
Java Basics

What is an Expression in Java? Operators can be

• An expression or equation is a valid binary involving 2 operands 2+3
arrangement of variables, constants,
and operators. unary involving 1 operand -3

• in Java each expression can be

evaluated to compute a value of a ternary involving 3 operands later
given type

• the value of the expression

9.3 * 4.5 is 41.85

Some Java Arithmetic Operators Modulus Operator

12 + 3 addition • the modulus operator % can only be used
12 - 3 subtraction with integer type operands and always has an
integer type result
12 * 3 multiplication
• its result is the integer type remainder of an
12 / 3 division integer division
12 % 3 modulus or remainder EXAMPLE
-12 negative 11 % 4 has value 3 because
+12 positive (pointless, do not use) R=3
4 ) 11

GEEN163 Honors 7
Java Basics

Integer Division Operator Priority

• Integers can only hold whole numbers Precedence Operator Description
• If division results in a fractional part, the Higher ( ) Parenthesis
fraction is dropped and the result is just + Positive
the whole number. - Negative
* Multiplication
/ Division
8/2 is 4 7 / 3 is 2 % Modulus (remainder)
+ Addition
1 / 2 is 0 5 / 4 is 1 - Subtraction
Lower = Assignment

Expression Evaluation Evaluate the Expression

• Higher precedence determines which
2*3 equals 6
operator is applied first in an expression
having several operators 2*3+1 equals 7
• An expression is evaluated by performing 1+2*3 equals 7
the operations in precedence order. (1 + 2) * 3 equals 9
• Operations of equal precedence are 3 + 7 / 2 + 1 equals 7
performed left to right. (3 + 7) / 2 + 1 equals 6
• Expressions inside parenthesis are (3 + 7) / (2 + 1) equals 3
evaluated first.

GEEN163 Honors 8
Java Basics

Evaluate the Expression Parentheses

7 * 10 - 5 % 3 * 4 + 9 • parentheses can be used to change the
means (7 * 10) - 5 % 3 * 4 + 9 usual order
70 - 5 % 3 * 4 + 9 • parts in ( ) are evaluated first
70 - (5 % 3) * 4 + 9
• evaluate (7 * (10 - 5) % 3) * 4 + 9
70 - 2 * 4 + 9
(7 * 5 % 3 ) * 4 + 9
70 - ( 2 * 4 ) + 9
( 35 % 3 ) * 4 + 9
70 - 8 + 9
2 * 4 + 9
( 70 - 8 ) + 9
8 + 9
62 + 9
17
71

GEEN163 Honors 9