Web Resources

Java

Java was developed by Sun Microsystems for embedded computing. Netscape realized the power of Java to automate web pages and began incorporating a Java Virtual Machine to interpret Java code in there web browsers. The latest version (as of 1-04-04) is Java 1.4.2. The Java language Specification gives a detailed description of the language and basic APIs (e.g. libraries). Additional documentation can be found at Sun's Java(TM) 2 documentation page. Overview (Java 2 Platform SE v1.4.2) gives a detailed description of all the standard classes included in the API. Unraveling Java Terminology is helpful for novice and expert alike.

The latest web browsers support Java 2 but if you use old browsers like Netscape 4.76 you will need to upgrade.

Documentation

• Netscape's DevEdge for Java
  • A White Paper on Java Technology 
  • Java Software Coding Standards Guide
• Sun's Java^TM 2 SE documentation

Very helpful programming resources

• Roedy Green's Java & Internet Glossary
• Java Quick Reference
• Introduction to Programming Using Java by David J. Eck
• Java Examples from The Java Developers Almanac 1.4

Development Environments

The simplest development environment for Windows that I like is

• Sun's  JDK

• TextPad - the text editor for Windows

The following are a free development environments that come highly recommended

• NetBeans IDE - an open source IDE. 

• jEdit - Open Source programmer's text editor

• 

Java(TM) Boutique - has a comprehensive list of  Java Integrated Development Environments (IDEs).

NetBeans

In the past I have used NetBeans 4.0 beta  IDE. NetBeans is written entirely in Java so is a great example of a large Java application.

NetBeans has these features nice features :

• A wizard that helps add Javadoc comments to your code.
• A nice debugger.
• Integrates Jalopy and JUnit and a CVS client.

These are modules for NetBeans:

• Code beautifier - new versions of NetBeans come with Jalopy.
  • Jalopy Java Source Code Formatter Beautifier Pretty Printer
    •  Jalopy - Downloads
• Unit Test Software
  • JUnit, Testing Resources for Extreme Programming
  • NetBeans includes JUnit in the NetBeans Update Center. See JUnit Module Installation Guide  for details. Or get a stand alone version.
  • Test Infected - a good how-to

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These are utilities for file transferring to and from the main Linux sever

• Transferring files to and from the lab
  • secure shell client from www.ssh.com  
• Concurrent Version System (CVS) www.cvshome.org 
  • www.smartcvs.com has a free Java client that runs on multiple platforms

Here are instructions for setting up the smartCVS client

• Start smartCVS
• Specify
  • connection type: Built in SSH-1 (ssh)
  • Give user name: use your Linux user name
  • Server name: cs.dartmouth.edu
  • Repository path /cvsroot
• You must know the name of the module you are checking out. There seems to be no way to browse the modules from SmartCVS, you must log-on to your Linux account and type        

  $ ls /cvsroot
     climb CVSROOT dunkin powerwheels Theseus

  Every subdirectory is a module except CVSROOT.

• Warnings
  •  SmartCVS will not create a subdirectory in a module for you (or list a subdirectroy) if the subdirectory is empty. You must first create a subdirectory in your local version of the module, then create a file in the subdirectory. Then you add the file to the CVS repository using SmartCVS, and then commit the file. In the committing of the file the subdirectory is created on the CVS repository.
  • There seems to be problems with having multiple files with the same spelling but different case (e.g. robot and Robot conflict).
  • You must set up your .cshrc file to make the default group file permission readable, writable and executable so the other members of your team can change files that you originally submit.