Administrivia

Textbooks

The required text is:

It is very expensive. If you have a good background, perhaps you don't need this book. Recommended texts are: If you have a good background, the book by Gosling is the most interesting. If you want facts, facts, nothing but the facts, the Nutshell book is best.

Software

You have a choice of commmand line development or using an Integrated Development Environment. To develop from the command line you will need a programmer's editor such as Jext, and the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition, v 1.4.2, For those who chose in IDE, the official class IDE is JBuilder 9, Personal Edition.

If you have a computer, please install either the IDE or Java SDK. JBuilder works on Windows and Linux, and probably FreeBSD users will have no problem either. The Java SDK is also available for these platforms. Mac OS X ships with Java. Also Mac users can download the developer package from apple which has an IDE. Jext is written in Java and therefore works cross platform.

If you have trouble installing software, ask your lab instructor. They will try to help or find you someone who can help.

Using JBuilder

When you download JBuilder you will receive a license in an email. Save the license to a file. When you first run JBuilder it will ask for this file. Browse to its location and select it.

In the lab you might have to license your use of JBuilder. Their is a copy of the license at, 

   /usr/local/jb9_linux/LOCAL/reg276.txt
Browse to the directory and select this file to license your use of JBuilder.

To use JBuilder you first must select New Project. Everything has to be in a project. Then select New Class. Edit the class that it gives you. You can add as many classes as you need. Then select run. You will have to point jbuilder to your main class. In the run properties browse to you see your package, click open it and select the class containing the main method.

The Lab

The lab in Ungar 426 has about 14 Linux machines clustered around a central linux server whose name is lee.cs.miami.edu. The lab is firewalled. Access is limited to ssh. However you can use ssh tunneling to get email via IMAP and send email via SMTP. You can also upload and download to your computer using sftp.

Additional lab section

   JX = Monday 5-7
   FY = Wednesday 1-3
   HY = Wednesday 3-5 (taken already)
   JY = Wednesday 5-7

Grading

Your programs are graded. There are two tests and a final. Your grade is based on programs, tests and final. The final receives greatest weight. The final letter grades are usually curved, although it could happen that class performance is exceptional (in either direction) and therefore the curve will be abandoned.