Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies

Become a Java wizard with this popular programming guide

Consider Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies your indispensable guide to learning how to program in one of the most popular programming languages—Java! Java is an invaluable language to master, as it's widely used for application development, including Android, desktop, and server-side applications.

Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies is written specifically for newbies to programming. The book starts with an overview of computer programming and builds from there; it explains the software you need, walks you through writing your own programs, and introduces you to a few of the more-complex aspects of programming in Java. It also includes step-by-step examples you can try on your own (and email the author if you need help). As you work through the book, you'll get smart about these Java features:

• Object-oriented programming (OOP), a Java mainstay
• IntelliJ IDEA, an integrated development environment (IDE), that gives you one place to do all your programming, including debugging code
• Loops, branches, and collections
• Variables and operators
• Expressions, statements, and blocks

Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies translates all this foreign programming and computer syntax into plain English, along with plenty of helpful examples and tips. Learning a new language—and coding is definitely its own language—should be a fun endeavor. With this book as your handy interpreter, you’ll be on your way to fluency, speaking the language of coders everywhere!

Barry Burd, PhD holds an MS in Computer Science from Rutgers University and a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Illinois. Barry is the author of numerous For Dummies books, including Java For Dummies and Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with Java Programming 5

Chapter 1: The Big Picture 7

Chapter 2: Setting Up Your Computer 21

Chapter 3: Running Programs 47

Part 2: Writing Your Own Java Programs 71

Chapter 4: Exploring the Parts of a Program 73

Chapter 5: Composing a Program 95

Chapter 6: Using the Building Blocks: Variables, Values, and Types 127

Chapter 7: Numbers and Types 149

Chapter 8: Numbers? Who Needs Numbers? 173

Part 3: Controlling the Flow 197

Chapter 9: Forks in the Road 199

Chapter 10: Which Way Did He Go? 219

Chapter 11: Around and Around It Goes 251

Chapter 12: Circling Back to Java Loops 275

Part 4: The Inside ScOOP 293

Chapter 13: Programming with Objects and Classes 295

Chapter 14: Using Methods and Fields from a Java Class 315

Chapter 15: Creating New Java Methods 347

Part 5: Smart Java Techniques 375

Chapter 16: Piles of Files: Dealing with Information Overload 377

Chapter 17: How to Flick a Virtual Switch 401

Chapter 18: Creating Loops within Loops 423

Chapter 19: Out of Many, One 443

Chapter 20: Oooey-GUI Was a Worm 477

Part 6: The Part of Tens 503

Chapter 21: Ten Useful Classes in the Java API 505

Chapter 22: Ten Bits of Advice for New Software Developers 511

Index 517

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