Programming in Java

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: Dr Carsten Fuhs
• Assessment: a programming project (70%) and one-hour examination (30%)

This module is a relatively fast-paced introduction to programming for postgraduate students who do not have a computer science background. We will present the basics of data structures, recursion, object-oriented design and code maintainability and discuss several advanced programming approaches, such as functional programming, and use of state-of-the-art applied software-engineering tools and techniques.

The primary objective is for you to develop key programming and problem-solving skills using a modern programming language: Java.

Indicative syllabus

• Introduction to programming
• Programming tools
• Problem solving, program design and data structures
• Object-based programming
• Object-oriented programming
• Exception handling
• Advanced programming
• File and stream-based input and output
• Collections, dynamic data structures, classes containing dynamic data structures
• Graphical/Web user interfaces
• Networking
• Concurrent programming

By the end of this module, you will be able to demonstrate:

• knowledge of fundamental imperative programming concepts such as variables and assignment, conditional statements, loops and methods
• the ability to implement an application in Java, from a detailed software specification
• knowledge of basic concepts and principles of object-orientation such as objects and classes, encapsulation, object state, inheritance, subclasses, interfaces, coupling, cohesion and modularity
• awareness of basic principles of software design and development including appropriate naming of variables and classes, code layout, testing, debugging, code version control, automated build and continuous integration systems
• understanding of functional programming constructs
• the ability to write code that exploits the networking facilities of Java.