Questions tagged [java]

Questions about instruction specific to the programming language Java. Use this tag only when the language used would affect the question significantly (if your question uses Java as an example, but does not focus on the language itself, you need not use the tag).

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7 votes
15 answers
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Parent class variable pointing to Child class

Given the following: Dog rover = new Puppy("rover"); // Where Puppy extends Dog A student asked why would you ever want or need a Dog variable point to ...
rss81's user avatar
  • 170
0 votes
3 answers
213 views

Best books for solid foundation build up for python and java

Fellow programmers. I am currently learning java and python in my Master's degree (introduction) and I did those languages 2 years ago. And when I revisited for the units I feel like I have basic ...
Syed Istiak Raihan's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
107 views

Getting started on contributing to open source and making software

I’m just graduated high school. I learnt java in high school, but the java I learnt was taught on bluej and we weren’t taught to create any software or anything. I want to start contributing to open ...
user13387446's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
208 views

How to learn Java as a beginner?

I want to start learning Java from scratch. But as a beginner, I don't know where to start or what to learn first. I have basic knowledge in C++ but Java is an entirely new area to me. Can anyone give ...
Long le Thanh's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
253 views

Best book and video lecture series to follow for an "object oriented programming" course for advanced undergraduates

I am looking for an elegant textbook to be followed for self-study in an objected oriented programming course at the undergraduate level. Our course is as shown: I humbly request you to suggest to me ...
Ran Mouri's user avatar
  • 111
0 votes
1 answer
108 views

Cheating detection script [duplicate]

The pandemics has incredibly increased the number of cheating cases. Do you know of any script (bash or other scripting language) for checking a bunch of Java code submissions for similarity? I know I ...
Drimades Boy's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
361 views

What's a good example of a static factory method returning instances of subclasses?

One benefit of having a class provide a static factory method rather than public constructors is the method can return an instance of a subclass. For example, if the class ...
Ellen Spertus's user avatar
26 votes
11 answers
4k views

When mentoring individuals, teach clean coding and simple/effective thinking or let them do it their way?

I have a background of 20+ years professional coding, but my heart is really in teaching. About three years ago, I started tutoring ages grade 6 through adult in coding topics. introduction to coding ...
composerMike's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
371 views

Is there a Java library for testing command line applications?

JUnit seems to work well for unit tests, but I'm not interested in unit tests, I want to test and entire command line application as a black box. I have created a text-based adventure game project for ...
TechnoSam's user avatar
  • 121
1 vote
1 answer
197 views

AP Computer Science A vs. OCP

Out of my own interest, I have been self-learning Java over the past few months. I decided I should take this to a greater advantage, so I have been considering taking the OCP (Oracle Certified ...
Marwi's user avatar
  • 61
3 votes
4 answers
1k views

Java: The Complete Reference, which edition to follow

Java is updating on a regular basis and it being so the corresponding text books to study Java also changes. Now I do not know why the edition "Java 2: The Complete Reference" by Herbert ...
Abhishek Ghosh's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
128 views

JavaFX and console-based interfaces, at the CS1 level

I'm running into some annoying technical problems in trying to incorporate JavaFX into my CS1 class, mainly arising from the constraints of avoiding/minimizing material they haven't yet learned. ...
JLasseter's user avatar
  • 156
3 votes
7 answers
296 views

methods early in Java - before objects

Does it make sense to introduce methods even before objects? What we are attempting to do is to get students out of the "everything in main()" mode as soon as possible. Suppose one starts out with a ...
Fritz Sieker's user avatar
  • 1,123
0 votes
0 answers
55 views

Spring core exercices

I'm actually studying (free studying using online books) to pass the Pivotal Spring core certification and i need some exercices (online or pdf) to practice in order to master the framework as well, ...
Mssm's user avatar
  • 111
1 vote
1 answer
121 views

How to make project in java language, for students who doesn't know java?

In CS I have been taught other programming languages than java. Now in final year project they are demanding project in java. So is there an easy technique to learn java fast?
hina munir's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
365 views

Curriculum choice for AP Computer Science A

We are currently researching what curriculum to use/adapt for the 2019-2020 school year. It will be our first year offering AP CSA. The students taking the class will have had 3-7 years of computers ...
Allison's user avatar
  • 31
2 votes
3 answers
423 views

Why and how is it efficient to process sorted arrays than unsorted arrays?

It is well accepted that processing sorted arrays is easier and efficient. What would be the pedagogical approach to explain how and why it is more efficient to process sorted collections than ...
Mayank Kumar Chaudhari's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
285 views

Java or Kotlin for beginners (procedural programming knowledge is existing)?

We are teaching an "introduction to cs" course (bachelor level) and in the first half of a year students are learning the fundamental principles of procedural languages. We are using python 3 and C as ...
OBu's user avatar
  • 594
2 votes
4 answers
482 views

Is it okay to teach C++ to my 7 year old brother?

I was thinking this for quite long, should i teach my little brother about programming in the age of 7-8? Because it will help him in the future in 12th standard and in university life. I want him to ...
Meer Faisal Ali's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
227 views

Project based on game 2048

I'm thinking about an assignment based around the game 2048. This would be towards the end of a first programming course at the university level and assumes the students have been introduced to at ...
Fritz Sieker's user avatar
  • 1,123
4 votes
7 answers
259 views

Mental Model of Type Conformance/Subtype Polymorphism

I'm finding that my CS2 students really struggle with the notions of type conformance and subtype polymorphism in Java. Say we have the following: ...
cryptic_star's user avatar
8 votes
4 answers
1k views

First project in my second year data structures intro

I am currently teaching the pretty much normal second year Data Structures and Algorithms course. In this course there are four programming projects, with the first project completed the automated ...
Ilkka Kokkarinen's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
121 views

Example for Introduction to Generics in Java

What are some good example classes for introducing generics in Java? I'm introducing this in the context of implementing ArrayList, but I don't want my first ...
cryptic_star's user avatar
30 votes
11 answers
8k views

How can we teach good naming practice for students learning Java?

In writing software we name things. In Java we name classes, interfaces, methods, variables, etc. How can we teach both the importance and the skill of choosing good names? What teaching practices ...
Buffy's user avatar
  • 35.8k
5 votes
4 answers
126 views

Use of jshell in AP CS A

I recently installed jshell in my IDE for use in demoing concepts in AP CS A. It came at just the right time as it was a powerful way to teach ArrayLists and its ...
Peter's user avatar
  • 9,082
9 votes
7 answers
754 views

My teacher said that java is pass-by-reference when the type is not a primitive

I am an undergrad student. I am an experienced programmer. For reasons out of the scope of this question, I ended up in a class where basic things about C++ and Java are being taught (but I already ...
Pedro A's user avatar
  • 191
6 votes
1 answer
288 views

Is there evidence of differences in the outcomes of objects-early vs objects-late?

Here is the essential parts of a (HS) Junior level question from one of our (Canadian) national computing challenges. (http://www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/computing/2017/stage%201/juniorEF.pdf) ...
Mr Bradley's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
1k views

Motivation for learning C++ when you know Java

I am going to teach a C++ course to students who already know Java. From answers to my previous question, I learned that C++ is substantially harder to master than Java, particularly because of the ...
Erel Segal-Halevi's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
499 views

Using Oracle's Java Documentation as a Teaching Tool

I'm in the process of preparing for the second semester of AP CS A (Java). I want to review objects and classes with my students to prepare for our extended focus this semester on inheritance and ...
Peter's user avatar
  • 9,082
5 votes
3 answers
338 views

Teaching C++ to students that know Java

I am now teaching an OOP course to 2nd year undergrads. This is actually a course in advanced programming in Java. In the next semester, I am going to teach the same students, a C++ course. From what ...
Erel Segal-Halevi's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
227 views

Help in choosing elective subject

I am a student of B.Tech CSE and have an option to choose any one of the subjects in the next semester. Below are the options: Enterprise Java Digital Image Processing Compiler Design I want to ...
Sarthak Mehra's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
137 views

Teaching intermediate Java to students familiar with C

The class I teach (a class whose teacher I assist1, to be precise) is learning intermediate Java this year (data structures, basic OOP and a few lessons about how Java actually works). A few of the ...
ItamarG3's user avatar
  • 6,287
7 votes
7 answers
2k views

Example for For vs While Loop (in Java)

I'm looking for a set of concrete examples that illustrates good use cases of using a for vs a while loop for beginners. I feel ...
cryptic_star's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
146 views

Choosing Java-like language for teaching web development

I just started teaching an introduction to web development to high school students (they have the most basic knowledge of java) and this year my school has decided to make a change in the curriculum. ...
ItamarG3's user avatar
  • 6,287
6 votes
2 answers
381 views

Teaching OOP in Java, to students who already know Java

I am going to teach a course in object-oriented programming in Java, and am looking for materials - textbooks and slides. It is a course for 2nd-year undergrads. In the 1st year, they already learned ...
Erel Segal-Halevi's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
664 views

Using zyBooks and labs

Has anyone used zyBooks in their classes? I've seen some good comments on the SIGCSE list about them. I would primarily use this in our CS I class (Java) with their lab feature as a way to provide ...
Levon's user avatar
  • 371
18 votes
9 answers
2k views

The order of subjects in beginner's curriculum

This year I'll be an unofficial teacher assistant in the CS class of 9th graders. Background This question is about a curriculum for introducing students to programming in java. The students are in ...
ItamarG3's user avatar
  • 6,287
3 votes
1 answer
109 views

Ideas for introducing databases to Android development students

I teach an Android development course to students who have had two full years of Java experience - including a year of data structures. In the past, my students have used services such as Firebase, ...
CS Cheerleader's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
670 views

Framework choice for AP CS A students: Swing or JavaFX?

I attended an AP workshop this week to prepare for teaching AP CS A this coming school year. It gave me my first glimpse of Swing, which has now piqued my interest about including some GUI components ...
Peter's user avatar
  • 9,082
5 votes
3 answers
544 views

Lesson plan for teaching java graphics

Background: This lesson should give a firm foundation for graphics in Swing in java to students in high school who know OOP in java (...
ItamarG3's user avatar
  • 6,287
5 votes
12 answers
1k views

Teaching the tradeoffs of the foreach loop

Edit: It's been quite a while since I posted this question, and in the intervening time, I have come to love the foreach loop. However, in order to avoid invalidating answers, I leave the text ...
Ben I.'s user avatar
  • 32.8k
14 votes
4 answers
551 views

The impact of switching to Java 10

Java 9 and 10 were both released recently -- Java 9 was released on Sep. 21st, 2017 and Java 10 was released on Mar. 21st 2018. These two releases contain some very big changes: Java becomes modular ...
ItamarG3's user avatar
  • 6,287
7 votes
6 answers
271 views

Where can a student independently learn elementary recursion, preferably in Java?

Normally, Java 2 is a prerequisite for my Computer Architecture course. I gave permission to a strong student who has only taken Java 1 to take Computer Architecture, provided that she learn the ...
Ellen Spertus's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
1k views

Lambda expressions exercises and practice

While lambda expressions in java 8 are really cool in action, the school curriculum offers no exercises in this. So essentially, students never actually learn how to use lambda expressions and the ...
ItamarG3's user avatar
  • 6,287
13 votes
3 answers
493 views

Do Python and Java lead students to construct different mental models of memory?

How are novices' mental models of variable storage affected by programming language choices? Most Intro to CS teachers (I think) do not delve with breadth and depth into details of how variable names ...
Bennett Brown's user avatar
17 votes
10 answers
3k views

Explaining access levels and visibility in OOP

While teaching OOP in a high school CS major (in java), it is important (and part of the curriculum in any case) to explain "what is the meaning of this public ...
ItamarG3's user avatar
  • 6,287
5 votes
2 answers
450 views

Introducing the MVC pattern along with JavaFX

This year I am planning to shift from teaching Swing for graphics, to teaching JavaFX. As JavaFX ideally uses the MVC design pattern, I thought it would help students understand how to use JavaFX if ...
ItamarG3's user avatar
  • 6,287
10 votes
10 answers
5k views

Explaining how an Interface is a contract

When teaching Interfaces (in Java, for example), it is common to describe them as a contract. Which means that if a class implements an interface, it has to use the methods in the interface. As an ...
ItamarG3's user avatar
  • 6,287
8 votes
6 answers
854 views

Analogy for abstract classes

Abstract classes are peculiar things. Consider: ...
Ben I.'s user avatar
  • 32.8k
3 votes
2 answers
150 views

Genetic Algorithm enrichment lesson

As a special lesson, I would like to show students the very basic idea of genetic\evolutionary algorithms. I let them play a bit in a genetic algorithm online game, to get the idea. Then I teach them ...
ItamarG3's user avatar
  • 6,287