Introduction to Java for New Programmers

This Java training course is intended for students without an extensive programming background. It covers most Java syntax elements, concentrating on fundamental and universally useful elements, while providing an overview of many more advanced elements. Students will learn to write useful Java classes, applying Object-Oriented concepts such as inheritance, and create Java programs that work with these classes.

Early in the class the concept of objects is introduced so that later concepts can be discussed from the perspective of object orientation. The class is based on Java 1.5 and 1.6, but most concepts would apply in 1.4 as well.

If you have a lot of object-oriented programming experience in a language such as C# or C++, you may want to consider our Java Programming Training for Experienced Programmers class instead.

1. Learn how Java works.
2. Understand the “write once, run anywhere” concept.
3. Understand and learn how to create basic Java objects.
4. Learn how to implement flow-control concepts in Java.
5. Understand Java’s package concept and create packages of Java classes.
6. Understand Java arrays and write code to create and use arrays.
7. Learn how to write Java classes using inheritance.
8. Learn how to create and use interfaces.
9. Understand and use the concept of polymorphism in an application
10. Understand how Java’s exception-handling mechanism works and learn how to apply exception-handling to Java applications.
11. Understand and use inner classes.
12. Learn how to use elements from the Java API library, including the Collections classes.

1. Java Introduction
   1. The Java Environment – Overview
   2. Writing a Java Program
   3. Obtaining The Java Environment
   4. Setting up your Java Environment
   5. Creating a Class That Can Run as a Program
      1. The main() Method
   6. Useful Stuff Necessary to go Further
      1. System.out.println()
   7. Using the Java Documentation
2. Java Basics
   1. Basic Java Syntax
      1. General Syntax Rules
      2. Java Statements
      3. Blocks of Code
      4. Comments
      5. Variables
   2. Data
      1. Primitive Data Types
      2. Object Data Types
      3. Literal Values
      4. Constants and the final keyword
   3. Mathematics and Java
      1. Expressions
      2. Operator Precedence
      3. Multiple Assignments
      4. Order of Evaluation
      5. Bitwise Operators
      6. Compound Operators
      7. Expressions that Mix Data Types: Typecasting
   4. Creating and Using Methods
      1. Creating Methods
      2. Variable Scope
3. Java Objects
   1. Objects
      1. Object-Oriented Languages
      2. Object-Orients Programs
      3. Encapsulation
      4. Creating and Using an Instance of an Object
      5. References
      6. Defining a Class
      7. Java Beans
      8. Constructors
      9. Method Overloading The this Keyword
      10. static Elements
      11. Garbage Collection
      12. Java Packages
      13. Dealing with Keyboard Input
   2. String, StringBuffer, and StringBuilder
   3. Creating Documentation Comments and Using Javadoc
      1. Javadoc Comments
4. Comparisons And Flow Control Structures
   1. Controlling Program Flow
      1. Boolean-Valued Expressions
      2. Complex boolean Expressions
      3. Simple Branching
      4. Two Mutually Exclusive Branches
      5. Nested if…else Statements – Comparing a Number of Mutually Exclusive Options
      6. Comparing a Number of Mutually Exclusive Options – The switch Statement
      7. Comparing Objects
      8. Conditional Expression
      9. while and do…while Loops
      10. for Loops
   2. Additional Loop Control: break and continue
      1. Breaking Out of a Loop
      2. Continuing a Loop
   3. Classpath, Code Libraries, and Jar files
      1. Using CLASSPATH
      2. Creating a jar File (a Library)
5. Arrays
   1. Arrays
      1. Defining and Declaring Arrays
      2. Instantiating Arrays
      3. Initializing Arrays
      4. Working With Arrays
      5. Array Variables
      6. Copying Arrays
      7. Arrays of Objects
   2. Enhanced for Loops – the For-Each Loop
   3. Multi-Dimensional Arrays
      1. Multidimensional Arrays in Memory
      2. Example – Printing a Picture
   4. Typecasting with Arrays of Primitives
6. Inheritance
   1. Inheritance
      1. Payroll with Inheritance
      2. Derived Class Objects
   2. Polymorphism
      1. Inheritance and References
      2. Dynamic Method Invocation
   3. Creating a Derived Class
      1. Inheritance and Access
      2. Inheritance and Constructors – the super Keyword
      3. Derived Class Methods That Override Base Class Methods
      4. Inheritance and Default Base Class Constructors
      5. The Instantiation Process at Runtime
   4. Example – Factoring Person Out of Employee and Dependent
   5. Typecasting with Object References
      1. Typecasting, Polymorphism, and Dynamic Method Invocation
      2. More on Overriding
      3. Object Typecasting Example
      4. Checking an Object’s Type: Using instanceof
      5. Typecasting with Arrays of Objects
   6. Other Inheritance-Related Keywords
      1. abstract
      2. final
   7. Methods Inherited from Object
7. Interfaces
   1. Interfaces
   2. Creating an Interface Definition
   3. Implementing Interfaces
      1. Implementing Interfaces – Example
   4. Reference Variables and Interfaces
   5. Calling an Interface Method
      1. Interfaces and Inheritance
   6. Some Uses for Interfaces
      1. Interfaces and Event-Handling
      2. Interfaces and “Pluggable Components”
8. Exceptions
   1. Exceptions
      1. Handling Exceptions
      2. Exception Objects
   2. Attempting Risky Code – try and catch
   3. Guaranteeing Execution of Code – the finally Block
   4. Letting an Exception be Thrown to the Method Caller
   5. Throwing an Exception
   6. Exceptions and Inheritance
      1. Exception Class Constructors and Methods
   7. Creating and Using Your Own Exception Classes
   8. Rethrowing Exceptions
   9. Initializer Blocks
      1. Static Initializer Blocks
      2. Assertions
9. Generics and Collections
   1. Fundamental Collections: Sets, Lists, and Maps
   2. Iterators
   3. Creating Collectible Classes
      1. hashCode and equals
      2. Comparable and Comparators
   4. Generics
      1. Basic Generics Syntax
      2. Bounded Types and Wildcards
10. Inner Classes
    1. Inner Classes, aka Nested Classes
       1. Inner Class Syntax
       2. Instantiating an Inner Class Instance from Within the Enclosing Class
       3. Inner Classes Referenced from Outside the Enclosing Class
       4. Working with Inner Classes