Introductory description

Aspects of software specification, design, implementation and testing will be introduced in the context of the Java language. The description of basic elements of Java will include data types, expressions, assignment and compound, alternative and repetitive statements. Program structuring and object oriented development will be introduced and illustrated in terms of Java's method, class and interface. This will enable the development of software that reads data in a variety of contexts, performs computations on that data and displays results in text and graphical form. Examples of iterative and recursive algorithms will be given. The importance of Java and Java Virtual Machine in networked computing will be described. The majority of examples will be standard applications but the development of Java Applets to be delivered by web browsers will also be covered.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Aspects of software specification, design, implementation and testing will be introduced in the context of the Java language. The description of basic elements of Java will include data types, expressions, assignment and compound, alternative and repetitive statements. Program structuring and object oriented development will be introduced and illustrated in terms of Java's method, class and interface. This will enable the development of software that reads data in a variety of contexts, performs computations on that data and displays results in text and graphical form. Examples of iterative and recursive algorithms will be given. The importance of Java and Java Virtual Machine in networked computing will be described. The majority of examples will be standard applications but the development of Java Applets to be delivered by web browsers will also be covered.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• understand the programming process, from the definition of the problem and the design of a solution at an abstract level, to the coding itself with an integrated approach to testing for correctness,
• develop programs in a high-level programming language using the imperative paradigm,
• structure complex software using principles of encapsulation and abstraction in the object-oriented programming abstractions,
• apply informal reasoning techniques to justify the correctness of methods and programs, and justify desired properties such as termination.

Indicative reading list

Books are not essential for this module as use will be made of on-line tutorial and reference material. An informative, optional text is H M Deitel & P J Deitel, Java How to Program (2nd or 3rd Ed), Prentice Hall.

Subject specific skills

Experience with the Java programming language Understanding of Data Types Iterative Statements Conditional Statements Imperative Programming Object Oriented Programming Inheritance Error Handling Passing by value vs passing by reference. Learning to thinking programmatically and algorithmically and how to take a specification and turn it into a plan for a program.

Transferable skills

Students will acquire key programming and computer skills which will empower them to address software development and new computer languages with confidence.