Getting Started with Programming, OO & Java Basics for Non-Developers

Course Objectives

Learning how to code and become a modern software developer is like trying to learn and become fluent in a new spoken language. Learning any new language takes study, practice, more study, and more practice, to truly be able put your newly learned skills to work in a practical way. This course won't make you an experienced developer in the five days we have with you, but we'll ensure that you're provided with a solid introduction to coding basics, along with real hands-on experience programming in Java.  All while focused on learning how to Think Like a Programmer. Please note that this course is for beginners new to programming, but it is technical in nature. Our instructors are there to guide you through the process and provide you with a trusted platform to dig into something new, ask questions, and leave the class ready to take the next steps in your learning journey.

Working in a lab-intesive hands-on learning environment, guided by our expert team, you’ll explore:

• The steps involved in the creation and deployment of a computer program
• What OO programming is and what the advantages of OO are in today's world
• To work with objects, classes, and OO implementations
• The basic concepts of OO such as encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction
• The basic constructs that all programming languages share
• The basic Java constructs supporting processing as well as the OO orientation
• How to use Java exception handling
• About and how to use classes, inheritance and polymorphism
• About use collections, generics, autoboxing, and enumerations
• How to take advantage of the Java tooling that is available with the programming environment being used in the class

Need different skills or topics?  If your team requires different topics or tools, additional skills or custom approach, this course may be further adjusted to accommodate.  We offer additional Java, JEE and Java for Web application development, design, testing, services, application security and other related topics that may be blended with this course for a track that best suits your needs. Our team will collaborate with you to understand your needs and will target the course to focus on your specific learning objectives and goals.

Course Prerequisites

Course Agenda

Please note that this list of topics is based on our standard course offering, evolved from typical industry uses and trends. We’ll work with you to tune this course and level of coverage to target the skills you need most.

Session: Computer Programming Basics

Lesson: Programming Tools

• Explain why we use various tools when programing
• Define the four major types of tools
• Lab: Setup the 'Java Development Environment'
• Lab: The HelloWorld 'Application' (optional)

Session: Getting Started with Programming

Lesson: Programming Basics

• Explain why different languages have different syntax
• Understand some basic features of any program
• Explain why we would break a program apart
• Lab: Using an Integrated Development Environment

Lesson: Thinking About Objects

• Define what an object is
• Explain the difference between an object and a class
• Design a class using a class diagram
• Understand how to define a basic class
• Explain how to compile and run a Java application

Lesson: Programming Constructs

• Explain what variables and constants are and when to use the
• Explain what arrays are and why they are used
• Explain what a method is
• Write if statements
• Write loops
• Lab: Modeling the Television Object

Session: Java: A First Look

Lesson: The Java Platform

• Java Platforms
• Lifecycle of a Java Program
• Responsibilities of JVM
• Documentation and Code Reuse

Lesson: Using the JDK

• Setting Up Environment
• Locating Class Files
• Compiling Package Classes
• Source and Class Files
• Java Applications
• Lab: Exploring MemoryViewer
• Lab: Exploring ColorPicker (optional)

Lesson: Getting Started with IDEs / Eclipse

• Become more familiar with Eclipse workbench concepts
• Explore the paradigm used by Eclipse, consisting of editors, views and perspectives in detail
• Introduce some commonly used views
• Explain Perspectives
• Tutorial: Setup Projects in Eclipse

Lesson: Writing a Simple Class

• Classes in Java
• Class Modifiers and Types
• Class Instance Variables
• Primitives vs. Object References
• Creating Objects
• Lab: Create a Simple Class

Lesson: Adding Methods to the Class

• Passing Parameters into Methods
• Returning a Value from a Method
• Overloaded Methods
• Constructors
• Optimizing Constructor Usage
• Lab: Create a Class with Methods

Session: Getting Started with OO

Lesson: Object-Oriented Programming

• Real-World Objects
• Classes and Objects
• Object Behavior
• Methods and Messages
• Lab: Define and use a New Java class

Lesson: Inheritance, Abstraction, and Polymorphism

• Encapsulation
• Inheritance
• Method Overriding
• Polymorphism
• Lab: Define and use Another Java Class

Session: Getting Started with Java

Lesson: Language Statements

• Operators
• Comparison and Logical Operators
• Looping
• Continue and Break Statements
• The switch Statement
• The for-each() Loop
• Lab: Looping
• Lab: Language Statements

Lesson: Using Strings

• Create an instance of the String class
• Test if two strings are equal
• Get the length of a string
• Contrast String, StringBuffer, and StringBuilder
• Lab: Fun with Strings
• Lab: Using StringBuffers and StringBuilders

Lesson: Specializing in a Subclass

• Extending a Class
• implementing equals and toString
• Using instanceof to verify the class type of an object reference
• The Object Class
• Default Constructor
• Implicit Constructor Chaining
• Safely casting references to a more refined type
• Lab: Creating Subclasses
• Lab: Defining the Student Subclass

Session: Essential Java Programming

Lesson: Java Coding and Debugging Tools

• Java Editing Assistance
• The Debug Perspective
• Breakpoints and the Debug View
• Debug Mode
• Refactoring Overview

Lesson: Fields and Variables

• Instance vs. Local Variables: Usage Differences
• Data Types
• Default Values
• Block Scoping Rules
• Final and Static Fields
• Static Methods
• Lab: Field Test

Lesson: Using Arrays

• Declaring an array
• Accessing the Array
• Multidimensional Arrays
• Copying Arrays
• Variable Arguments
• Lab: Creating an Array
• Lab: Defining the Student Array

Lesson: Java Packages and Visibility

• Class Location of Packages
• The Package Keyword
• Importing Classes
• Executing Programs
• Java Naming Conventions

Session: Advanced Java Programming

Lesson: Inheritance and Polymorphism

• Writing a subclass with a method that overrides a method in the superclass
• Grouping objects by their common supertype
• Utilize polymorphism by invoking subclass method implementations through superclass references
• Casting a supertype reference to a subtype reference
• Using the final keyword on methods and classes
• Lab: Salaries - Polymorphism

Lesson: Interfaces and Abstract Classes

• Define supertype contracts using interfaces
• Define supertype contracts using abstract classes
• Implement concrete classes using interfaces
• Implement concrete classes using abstract classes
• Explain the advantage of interfaces over abstract classes
• Explain the advantage of abstract classes over interfaces
• Lab: Mailable - Interfaces

Lesson: Exceptions

• Exception Architecture
• Handling Multiple Exceptions
• Automatic Closure of Resources
• Creating Your Own Exceptions
• Throwing Exceptions
• Checked vs. Unchecked Exceptions
• Lab: Exceptions

Session: Java Developer's Toolbox

Lesson: Utility Classes

• Wrapper Classes
• The Number Class
• Random Numbers
• Autoboxing/Unboxing
• The Date Class
• Lab: Using Primitive Wrappers

Lesson: Enumerations and Static Imports

• Enumeration Syntax
• When You Should Use Enumerations
• Using Static Imports
• When You Should Use Static Imports
• Lab: Enumerations (optional)

Lesson: The new Date/Time API

• Introduce the new Date/Time API
• LocalDate, LocalDateTime, etc.
• Formatting Dates
• Working with time zones
• Manipulate date/time values
• Lab: Agenda

Session: Collections and Generics

Lesson: Introduction to Generics

• Generics and Subtyping
• Bounded Wildcards
• Generic Methods
• Legacy Calls To Generics
• When Generics Should Be Used
• Lab: DynamicArray
• Lab: Adding Generics to Dynamic Array

Lesson: Collections

• Characterizing Collections
• Collection Interface Hierarchy
• Iterators
• The Set, List and Queue Interfaces
• The Map Interface
• Collections and Multithreading
• Lab: Using Hashtable and HashMap
• Lab: Collections Poker
• Lab: Writing a Collection (optional)

Course Materials

Student Materials: Each participant will receive a Student Guide with course notes, code samples, software tutorials, step-by-step written lab instructions, diagrams and related reference materials and resource links. Students will also receive the project files (or code, if applicable) and solutions required for the hands-on work. Any courseware of lab materials provided in a cloud (if applicable) will also be made available to you separately.

Hands-On Setup Made Simple! Our dedicated tech team will work with you to ensure our ‘easy-access’ cloud-based course environment is accessible, fully-tested and verified as ready to go well in advance of the course start date, ensuring a smooth start to class and effective learning experience for all participants. We can also help you install this course locally if preferred. Please inquire for details and options.

Every-Course Extras = High-Value & Long-Term Learning Support! All Public Schedule courses include our unique EveryCourse Extras package (Post-Course Resource Site access with Review Labs & Live Instructor Follow-on Support, access to QuickSkills recorded High-Value lessons, Free *Live* Course Refresh Re-Takes, early access to Special Offers, Free Courses & more). Please inquire for details.