Welcome to CIT 590LabsAbout this courseVersions of JavaWhat’s ahead?What does that mean for CS?Java is a terrible languageComparison with other languagesHow to get a good grade in hereThe EndJan 14, 2019Welcome to CIT 590http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~matuszek/cit590-2009.html“Duke”2LabsOn Fridays we have lab (not “recitation”) in Moore 207 (not in Towne 313)If you are registered for this course, you should be able to log in in Moore 207Before you come to lab on Friday, go to Moore 207 and make sure you can log in thereIf you can’t, contact CETS immediatelyThe lab is a required part of this courseIf you cannot make it to a particular lab, you must let me know in advance, otherwise it will cost you points3About this courseI’m your instructor, David Matuszek (muh-TOOZ-ik)I prefer “Dave” or “Dr. Dave”This is a beginning programming courseThe programming language we are using is Java 6The IDE (Integrated Development Environment) we are using is Eclipse (Classic version)There are two basic goals:1. Teach you to program (that is, write programs that work)•This is a skill, and requires practice2. Teach you to program well (that is, write programs that aren’t total crap)•This is more nearly an art4Versions of JavaJava 1Java 2Java 5.0Oak: Designed for embedded devicesJava 1.1: Adds inner classes and a completely new event-handling modelJava 1.2: Includes “Swing” but no new syntaxJava 1.3: Additional methods and packages, but no new syntaxJava 1.4: More additions and the assert statementJava 1.5: Generics, enums, new for loop, and other new syntaxJava: Original, not very good version (but it had applets)Java 6 (=1.6): A few new features, mostly at the advanced level5What’s ahead?Half-life of CS knowledge: about 5 yearsTypical length of career: about 40 yearsWhat does this tell you?Nobody expected: personal computers, graphical user interfaces, the mouse, the World Wide Web, the popularity of Java, the ascendance of XML, the DMCA, Amazon, Google, etc.There is only one safe prediction:You will be taken by surprise!6What does that mean for CS?What can we ask you to build in your classes?What will be expected of you in industry?We teach skyscraper-level skills, butwe ask you to apply those skills to doghousesit’s silly, but what alternative do we have?It’s up to you: When you leave here,will you be able to build skyscrapers?or will you just be very good at building doghouses?7Java is a terrible language...That is, Java is a terrible first languageYour first programming language should be simple, so that you can concentrate on learning the conceptsJava is designed primarily for power, and only secondarily for simplicityJava is relatively elegant, for the amount of power it hasThis means:Java is more difficult to learn than many other languagesIn exchange, Java is a workhorse language that you can use in the so-called “real world”But this does not mean Java is the only language you will ever need!Java may be nearing the end of its popularity curve8Comparison with other languagesJava is somewhat less complex than C++ and C#Java is more complex than C, but in different waysJava is much more complex than Basic or PascalIt is mathematically provable that anything you can compute in one programming language, you can compute in (almost) any other programming languageHence, Java = C++ = C# = Basic = Pascal = C = Python =...However, “possible”  “practical”In practical terms, you can do a lot more in Java than in BasicJava is a powerful general-purpose languageIn the future you are likely to use many special-purpose languages that are better for certain tasks than Java or its competitors9How to get a good grade in hereStart your assignments early!This is the first and most important way to improve your gradesProgramming takes a lot of timeIt’s not easy to predict how long a program will takeWork with your partner--help, and let yourself be helpedTest your programs thoroughlyOne or two simple tests are not enoughWe often provide simple but incomplete tests, just to get you startedWe will do thorough testing, even if you don’t!Read the assignments carefullyDo what is assigned, not “something like” what is assignedLearn to use your tools (Eclipse, JUnit, etc.)Use comments and good style right from the beginning, not as a last-minute additionTo prepare for tests, review and understand the lectures10The EndHe who works with his hands is a laborer.He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist. -- St. Francis of