CS105-Java: Programming Abstractions

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A comprehensive course on programming abstractions, data structures, and object-oriented programming using Java. This repository contains materials for learning advanced programming concepts through practical implementation and problem-solving.

Course Overview

Computing continues to play an ever-increasing role in today's society. Understanding computational thinking and programming is essential for professionals across industries, from technology-driven sectors to scientific research and informed citizenship in our digital world.

This course builds upon foundational programming knowledge, focusing on data structures and object-oriented programming principles. It assumes prior experience with programming fundamentals including control structures, variables, data types, and arrays.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

Computational Thinking

• Decompose complex problems into manageable subproblems
• Design and express algorithms using structured methodologies
• Evaluate design trade-offs and solution efficiency

Data Structures Implementation

• Implement and utilize fundamental data structures:
  • Lists and ArrayLists
  • Stacks and Queues
  • Maps and Dictionaries
  • Sets and Collections
• Select appropriate data structures for specific problem domains
• Analyze time and space complexity of data structure operations

Object-Oriented Programming

• Design and implement Java classes with proper encapsulation
• Create compound data types and custom objects
• Establish relationships between classes using interfaces and inheritance
• Apply abstraction principles to separate interface from implementation

Code Quality and Maintenance

• Write readable, maintainable Java code following established conventions
• Implement comprehensive testing strategies
• Debug complex programs using systematic approaches
• Document code effectively for long-term maintainability

Curriculum Structure

The curriculum is organized around 17 specific learning objectives across seven major themes:

1. Computational Thinking

• Problem Decomposition: Break complex problems into solvable components
• Algorithm Design: Create structured solutions using pseudocode and flowcharts

2. Code Comprehension

• Program Tracing: Follow execution flow through complex data structures
• Behavior Prediction: Anticipate program output and state changes

3. Code Implementation

• Functional Correctness: Write programs that meet specified requirements
• I/O Operations: Handle console input/output and file operations
• Data Structure Selection: Choose appropriate structures for specific problems
• Class Design: Create well-structured Java classes and interfaces

4. Communication

• Program Documentation: Clearly describe program behavior and functionality
• Method Specification: Document class methods with input/output specifications
• Code Documentation: Create maintainable documentation for programs and classes

5. Testing

• Correctness Verification: Evaluate programs against specifications
• Test Case Design: Create comprehensive test suites for validation

6. Debugging

• Error Identification: Systematically locate and diagnose program issues
• Problem Resolution: Implement effective fixes for identified errors

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Basic programming experience in any language
• Understanding of fundamental programming concepts
• Familiarity with control structures and basic data types

Setup Instructions

1. Install Java Development Kit (JDK): Follow the software setup guide
2. Install Visual Studio Code: Download from code.visualstudio.com
3. Install Java Extensions: Add the Extension Pack for Java to VS Code
4. Clone this repository: git clone https://github.com/darinz/CS105-Java.git

Development Environment

• IDE: Visual Studio Code with Java extensions
• Java Version: JDK 17 or later (LTS recommended)
• Build Tool: Maven (for advanced projects)
• Testing Framework: JUnit 5

Learning Path

1. Software Setup
   Environment configuration and development tools setup

2. Introduction and Review
   Course overview, Java fundamentals, functional decomposition, code quality

3. Checkpoint 1
   Practice problems and review: functional decomposition, file I/O, ArrayLists

4. File Input/Output
   Console and file I/O operations, data persistence and retrieval

5. Programming Assignment 1
   Comprehensive project applying file I/O concepts

6. ArrayLists
   Dynamic array implementation, ArrayList operations and algorithms

7. Quiz 1
   Assessment covering foundational concepts

8. Checkpoint 2
   Practice problems and review: reference semantics, stacks, queues

9. Reference Semantics, Stacks & Queues
   Reference semantics, memory management, stack and queue data structures

10. Programming Assignment 2
    Project incorporating stacks, queues, and reference semantics

11. Sets and Maps
    Set data structures, for-each loops, map implementations, iterators

12. Checkpoint 3
    Practice problems and review: sets, maps, nested collections

13. Collections and Objects
    Nested collections and complex data structures

14. Programming Assignment 3
    Project focusing on collections and object design

15. Quiz 2
    Assessment covering intermediate concepts

16. Object-Oriented Programming
    OOP introduction, class design, encapsulation, instance methods, inheritance

17. Checkpoint 4
    Practice problems and review: nested collections, objects, interfaces

18. Interfaces and Beyond
    Interface design, Java Collections Framework, advanced abstractions

19. Programming Assignment 4
    Final comprehensive project

20. Quiz 3
    Assessment covering advanced concepts

21. Testing and Libraries
    JUnit testing, third-party libraries, testing strategies

22. Final Exam
    Comprehensive assessment of all course concepts

Assessment and Evaluation

Learning Objectives

Each module includes specific learning objectives with:

• Clear success criteria
• Practical implementation exercises
• Assessment rubrics for self-evaluation

Project-Based Learning

• Hands-on coding exercises
• Real-world problem-solving scenarios
• Portfolio development for skill demonstration

Code Quality Standards

• Consistent coding style and conventions
• Comprehensive documentation
• Effective testing strategies
• Performance optimization considerations

Resources and References

Official Documentation

• Java Documentation
• VS Code Java Tutorial
• Maven Documentation

Additional Learning Materials

• Java Collections Framework
• Object-Oriented Programming Concepts
• JUnit Testing Guide
• Codecademy Java Cheatsheet - Quick reference for Java syntax and fundamentals
• Java Tutorial - A guide to learning Java using other languages as examples
• Learn Java in Y Minutes - Quick overview of Java syntax and features

Community and Support

• Stack Overflow Java Tag
• Reddit r/learnjava
• Java Programming Discord

Contributing

This repository welcomes contributions from educators, developers, and learners:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch: git checkout -b feature/improvement-name
3. Make your changes following established coding standards
4. Test thoroughly to ensure functionality
5. Submit a pull request with detailed description of changes

Contribution Guidelines

• Follow Java coding conventions
• Include comprehensive documentation
• Add appropriate test cases
• Update relevant documentation

Acknowledgments

• Course materials developed for educational purposes
• Built upon established Java programming best practices
• Inspired by modern software development methodologies

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Ready to begin your journey into advanced Java programming? Start with the software setup guide and work through the modules systematically.