Graham Mitchell - Learn Object-Oriented Java the Hard Way

Java is an object-oriented programming language. My first book covered all thebasic syntax of the Java language, but avoided all the object-oriented parts.This book covers the rest.

If you have never programmed before in any language, this book is probablynot for you. You need some experience in a similar language before you will beable to make it through this book. If you already know the basics of Java oranother language like C, C++, C# or Javascript, you will be okay. If you onlyknow a very different language like Python or Ruby then youll have a littlecatching up to do.

If you get lost trying to follow the code in exercise 1, then you shouldprobably go back and work through a simpler book before trying this one.

• How to install the Java compiler and a text editor
• How to work with Java objects and create your own classes
• Fields and instance variables
• Methods and Parameters
• Constructors
• Reference Variables vs Primitives
• Generics and Casting
• Inheritance
• Interfaces
• Abstract Classes and Methods
• Packages
• How to create JAR files
• Graphical User Interfaces in JavaFX
• Mouse and Keyboard Input in GUIs
• Testing and Efficiency
• Algorithmic Complexity and Big-O Notation
• ArrayLists
• Sorting

and more!

In the final chapter youll write a graphical version of a popularchecker-dropping game and be able to package that up to send to others.

All the examples in this book will work in version 1.8 of Java or any newerversion. If you omit the last few chapters on JavaFX, most of the code willwork in Java version 1.6 or later.

• How to compile and run Java programs in a terminal
• The basics of Java
• How to make an Android app
• Specifics of different versions of Java
• Javascript

Create, compile & runIf you have written some Java before but you have always used an IDE, youshould learn how to write your code in a simple text editor and how tocompile your code from a terminal. My first book has anentire chapter on it whichis free to read online, so work through that first if you need to.No basicsIf you dont already know how to create variables and write if statements,loops and functions in Java, then you should learn that before tryingto work through this book.No AndroidAndroid apps are pretty complex, and if youre a beginner, an appis way beyond your ability. Nothing in this book will hurt your chancesof making an app, though, and the kinder, gentler pace may keep you goingwhen other books would frustrate you into quitting.No specific versionI will not cover anything about the differences between Java SE 7 and JavaSE 8, for example. If you care about the difference, then this book is notfor you.

Except for the last few graphics chapters, I will also not cover anythingthat was only recently added to Java. This book is for learning the basicsof object-oriented programming and nothing has changed about the basics ofJava in many years.

No JavascriptJavascript is the name of a programming language and Java isalso the name of a programming language. These two languages have nothingto do with each other. They are completely unrelated.

I hope to write more books after this one. My third book will cover making asimple Android app, assuming you have finished working through the first twobooks.

Although I have provided a zipfile containing the source code for all theexercises in the book, you should type them in.

For each exercise, type in the code. Yourself, by hand. How are you going tolearn otherwise? None of my former students ever became great at programming bymerely reading others code.

Work the Study Drills. Then watch the Study Drill videos (if you have them) tocompare your solutions to mine. And by the end you will be able to code, atleast a little.

Some chapters of this book are made available free to read online but you arenot allowed to make copies for others without permission.

The materials provided for download may not be copied, scanned, or duplicated,or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Educators who purchase this book and/or tutorial videos are given permission toutilize the curriculum solely for self-study or for one-to-one, face-to-facetutoring of a single student. Large-group teaching of this curriculum requiresa site license.

Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyright 2015-2016 Graham Mitchell.