CSC Java Programming (Definitions)

square brackets (Typical uses, and alternate names)

[ ] signifies an array, AKA box brackets/ square braces

Dialog box

a GUI object resembling a window in which you can place messages you want to display

Syntax error

a character or string incorrectly placed in a command or instruction that causes a failure in execution. (basically typing errors)

Machine Language (Machine Code)

a circuitry-level language that represents a series of on and off switches (0's and 1's)

Java Virtual Machine (JVM)

a hypothetical (software-based) computer on which Java runs

identifier

a name of a program component such as a class, object, or variable

Java interpreter

a program that checks bytecode and communicates with the operating system, executing the bytecode instructions line by line within the Java Virtual Machine

Compiler

a program that translates language statements into machine code; it translates an entire program at once before any part of the program can execute

Interpreter

a program that translates language statements into machine code; it translates one sentence as a time, allowing the program to execute partially.

method

a self-contained block of program code, similar to a procedure

SDK

a software development kit, or a set of tools useful to programmers

Procedural Programming

a style of programming in which sets of operations are executed one after another in sequence

import statement

accesses a built-in Java class that is contained in a package

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

allows users to interact with a program in a graphical environment

High level programming language

allows you to use an English-like vocabulary to write programs.

Java (definition)

an object-oriented language used both for general purpose business applications and for interactive, world wide web based internet applications.

Properties

attributes of a class

Javadoc comments

block comments that generate documentation; Javadoc comments begin with /** and end with */

Java is case _______

case sensitive

documentation comments

comments that automatically generate nicely formatted program documentation

Software

computer programs

Source Code

consists of programming statements written in a high-level programming language

Windowed applications

create a graphical user interface (GUI) with elements such as menus, toolbars, and dialog boxes

Access specifier

defines the circumstances under which a class can be accessed and the other classes that have the right to use a class

Polymorphism

describes the feature of languages that allows the same word to be interpreted correctly in different situations based on the context

Class definition

describes what attributes its objects will have and what those objects will be able to do

Logic

executing statements and procedures in the correct order to produce the desired results.

package

group of built-in Java classes

Class

group or collection of objects with common properties

Void

indicates that the method does not return any value when it is called.

Arguments

information passed to a method so it can preform its task.

object

instance of a class

Unicode

international system of character representation (a character code)

object-oriented programs

involves creating classes, creating objects from those classes, and creating applications that use those objects.

development environment

is a set of tools that help you write programs by providing such features as displaying a language's keywords in colour.

Allman style

is the indent style in which curly braces are aligned and each occupies its own line; it is named for Eric Allman, a programmer who popularized the style

Static

method is accessible and usable even though no objects of the class exists.

Variables

named computer memory locations that hold values that might vary.

program comments

non-executing statements that you add to a Java file for the purpose of documentation

run-time error

occurs when a program complies successfully but does not execute

Bytecode

programming statements that have been compiled into binary format.

computer program

set of instructions that tells the computer what to do.

Procedures

set of operations preformed by a computer program

Program statements (commands)

similar to English sentences; they carry out the tasks that programs perform

Java applications

stand-alone Java programs

Pascal casing (upper camel casing)

starting with an uppercase letter to start each new word in identifiers.

console applications

support character or text output to a computer screen.

inheritance

the ability to create classes that share the attributes and methods of existing classes, but with more specific features.

Passing arguements

the act of sending arguments to a method

Attributes

the characteristics that define an object as part of a class

Encapsulation

the enclosure of data and methods within an object

Architecturally neutral

the feature of Java that allows you to write programs that run on any platform (operating system)

K & R style

the indent style in which the opening brace follows the header on the same line; it is named for Kernighan and Ritchie, who wrote the first book on the C programming language

Hardware

the physical parts of a computer

Syntax

the rules that define the way language elements are used together correctly to create usable statements.

The Public File name MUST BE:

the same name as the class it contains.

Class body

the set of data items and methods between the curly braces that follow the class header

state

the set of values for its attributes

At run time

the time it takes to execute a program

Standard output device

usually the monitor

Compile-time error

when a compiler detects a violation of language syntax and is unable to translate the source code into machine code.

Parsing

when compilers divide source code into meaningful portions for analysis.

semantic error

when you use a correct word in the wrong context in program code.

Keywords

words that are part of a programming language

Curly braces (Typical uses, and alternate names)

{ } surrounds a class body/method body/block of code/arrays, AKA Curly Brackets

Parenthesis (Typical uses, and alternate names)

( ) it is after the methods name such as println(), AKA Round Brackets

Logic error

(program runs but does the wrong thing) a bug that allows the program to be complied but produces incorrect results.

Block comments begin with /* and end with _____.

*/

comment out a statement

- turn it into a comment - the compiler does not translate, and does not execute its command

Block comments

-start with a forward slash and an asterisk (/*) -end with an asterisk and a forward slash (*/)

Angle Brackets (Typical uses, and alternate names)

< > used in arguments (not in our book tho) AKA Chevron if nothing is between them

jGRASP

A development environment and source code editor.

Low level programming language

A programming language that corresponds closely to a computers processor's circuitry.

literal string

A series of characters that appear exactly as entered. Any literal string in Java appears between double quotation marks.

"Write once, run anywhere" (WORA)

A slogan developed by Sun Microsystems to describe the ability of one Java program version to work correctly on multiple platforms.

Bug

An error in a program.

Whitespace

Any character that shows up as a blank space on the screen, such as spaces, tabs, and carriage returns (black lines)

Why is your program not perfect when all compiler errors are gone/eliminated?

Because you might have logical errors.

Debugging

Finding and fixing problems in code

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Clean build

Is created when you delete all previously compiled versions of a class before compiling again.

JDK

Java Development Kit

Applets

Java code that can be located anywhere on the Internet/ that are embedded in a web page

Instantation

Process of creating an object

computer simulations

Programs that attempt to mimic real-world activities so that their processes can be improved or so that users can better understand how the real-world processes operate.

After you made changes to a file that you already complied, you must ____

Recompile (Why? the .class file won't contain the changes you made bcuz you didn't recompile)

Application Software

Software that performs tasks for a user.

Line comments

Start with two forward slashes (//) and continue to the end of the current line. Line comments can appear on a line by themselves, or at the end of a line following executable code.