Course Information

Textbook:

     Lambert and Osborne. Fundamentals of Java, Introductory Course. 3rd ed. Boston, MA: Thomson Learning, Inc., 2007.

Software:

• Sun Java materials
  • Java API (this is the complete online set of documentation for Java)
  • AP Computer Science Subset of the Java API (these are the Java language elements you're responsible for knowing by the AP exam)
  • JDK (Java Development Kit - get latest version)
• Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)
  • Eclipse
  • JCreator
  • JGrasp
  • Greenfoot
• Study Materials
  • Javabat - free online Java practice problems
  • Gridworld (AP Computer Science Case Study)

Hello World! - getting Java working on your computer

• On a PC
  • Step 1: verify that the Java Development Kit has been installed on your PC. Here's how you can tell: you'll have a folder in your Program Files folder called Java, and this folder will contain a folder that begins 'jdk' -- for instance, it might be jdk1.6.0_03 (see this screenshot) - or perhaps the number will be different for a different version. If this folder is present, you can skip to Step 3.
  • Step 2: install the Java Development Kit by navigating to the Sun Java downloads page and downloading the most recent JDK (in this screenshot, its JDK 6 Update 7). You don't need to download the most recent "beta" version. You will need to run the executable (.exe) file you download by double-clicking on it. Click through the installation and proceed to Step 3.
  • Step 3: find the \bin folder in Java \ Program Files \ jdk1.6.0_03 (or whatever version you download). Here's a screenshot - the bottom image is the one you want. (Note to get the path to the /bin folder in Vista you may need to click in the white folder bar to convert it to the C:\Program Files\Java\... format). Copy this path using Control-C -- you'll need to paste it in Step 4.
  • Step 4: set the Windows path to point to the \bin folder you copied in Step 3. To do this, open the Control Panel and type "PATH" in the search bar in the upper-right. Click on 'Edit the System Variables' and navigate using this photo as a guide until you have appended the path you copied in Step 3 onto the end of the path. Note that there must be a semicolon before your paste. The point of doing these last two steps is that Windows doesn't know to run an application automatically unless you specifically tell it about the application in the path or navigate to it through windows. Since we'll be in Console, this will save us a LOT of work.
  • Open the program called Command Prompt which is in the Start Menu under Program Files \ Accessories. Follow the example steps in the left window in this image. When you open notepad, type in the material exactly as shown in the right-hand window. If everything works as shown, you're set! Congrats! If not, be sure to get on the Forum or Chat for AP Computer Science in Catlink and let me know.
• On a Mac
  • Get a PC!

Use of Resourses:

Students must have access to a computer on an as-needed basis; once into the programming problem sections of chapters 2-13, students may be able to use the compiler for doing progamming work at home, so long as they supply a CD-R, and have a CD-ROM drive on their home PC. Reference manuals/texts will be used for most 1st Semester lab assignments.
• Curriculum ()
• Software Resources ()
• Grading ()
  

Additional Resources:

For running course programs not normally available to students, a remote server has been created (buckhome01) to host Remote Desktop Connections (Win 2000, XP, or VISTA required). This is for Computer Science course work only, misuse of any applications or resources will not be tolerated.

To create a new Remote Desktop Connection:

1. Open Remote Desktop Connection.
2. Click Start => All Programs => Accessories => Communications => Remote Desktop Connection
   
3. In Computer, type the computer name or TCP/IP (shown below) address of the host you want to control… remember, only Computer Science course id's will be allowed control.
   
4. Fill in your credentials (ID/Password) and Domain (buckhome01), save the connection as a ‘profile’ so you can quickly go back to it later and use it again.*
   
   
   
   
5. Don’t check the ‘Save my password’ check box because if the 'buckhome' system becomes compromised, your computer (or other systems) have now become exposed to the Hacker.
   
6. Once you have put in your credentials and all other pertinent information, Click Connect.
   
7. Your request will now be sent to the 'buckhome01' system. The Log On to Windows dialog box appears.
   
8. In the Log On to Windows dialog box, type your user name, password, and domain (buckhome), and then click OK.
   
9. The Remote Desktop window will open and you will see the desktop settings, files, and programs that are the system. Whatever you are doing cannot be seen by anyother Computer Science users.
   
10. Problems do occur, most commonly it’s just that the connection is either refused or it timed out because of latency. If you have a problem, contact Dr. Buck

*Note: for tracking or reconnecting, BUCKHOME's specific settings are: buckhome01 (71-221-30-171.dlth.qwest.net).

Calendar of Events

Although a lot of attention is given to the AP Exam, the AP experience really begins a whole year before then. Here are some checkpoints based on a traditional school year: