Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/java-programming

Introduction

# Course Review: Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software on Coursera ## Overview In an era where programming is becoming increasingly essential across various fields, the course *Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software* offers a comprehensive introduction to coding in Java. Hosted by Duke University on Coursera, this course is designed for beginners eager to enhance their programming skills and tackle real-world problem-solving tasks. By the end of this course, learners will not only understand the fundamentals of Java but also develop the ability to write, debug, and run programs that handle complex data processing. ## Course Highlights The course is structured into several thoughtfully designed modules, each building upon the last, ensuring a gradual and thorough understanding of Java programming. Here's a brief summary of what you can expect: 1. **Introduction to the Course**: A welcoming start where you meet the instructors and get acquainted with the course layout. This section sets a friendly tone that encourages students to engage actively. 2. **Fundamental Java Syntax and Semantics**: You’ll jump right into coding with your first Java programs. This module lays the groundwork for writing and running your code, highlighting Java's syntax and basic programming constructs through hands-on examples. 3. **Strings in Java**: This module dives into string manipulation—a critical skill for any programmer. By using real-world scenarios, such as analyzing DNA sequences, students learn how to handle and process strings, which is imperative for data representation. 4. **CSV Files and Basic Statistics in Java**: As you progress, you'll encounter CSV files, a commonly used format for data organization. The course teaches how to analyze and manipulate this data using the Apache Commons CSV library, thus preparing learners for data-driven projects. 5. **MiniProject: Baby Names**: The culmination of your learning experience, this module allows you to apply everything you've encountered throughout the course. You’ll work on a project analyzing baby name popularity over decades, integrating various skills acquired, and solidifying your knowledge through practical application. ## Learning Experience The course is well-paced, with clear explanations and a plethora of coding exercises to solidify your learning. The instructors make complex concepts accessible by breaking them down into manageable sections and providing ample opportunities for hands-on practice. The supportive online community adds extra value, allowing learners to discuss challenges, share insights, and encourage each other throughout the journey. ## Who Should Enroll? *Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software* is perfect for anyone looking to enter the programming world, whether you’re completely new to coding or have some programming experience but want to solidify your knowledge in Java. The course is also highly recommended for individuals interested in data analysis, as it equips you with essential programming skills and introduces you to critical data manipulation techniques. ## Conclusion and Recommendation Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone interested in learning Java and developing a solid foundation in programming. The combination of engaging content, practical projects, and a structured learning path make it an excellent choice for beginners. By investing your time in this course, you will emerge with the confidence and skills needed to tackle programming challenges and analyze data effectively. In summary, if you're ready to embark on a rewarding journey into the world of programming, *Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software* on Coursera is the perfect starting point. Happy coding!

Syllabus

Introduction to the Course

Welcome to “Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software”! We are excited that you are starting our course to learn how to write programs in Java, one of the most popular programming languages in the world. In this introductory module, you will get to meet the instructor team from Duke University and have an overview of the course. Have fun!

In this module, you will learn to write and run your first Java programs, including one program that prints “Hello!” in various countries’ languages and another where you will analyze the perimeters and other information of shapes. To accomplish these tasks, you will learn the basics of Java syntax and how to design stepwise solutions with programs. By the end of this module, you will be able to: (1) Download and run BlueJ, the Java programming environment for this course; (2) Access the documentation for the Java libraries specially designed for this course; (3) Edit, compile, and run a Java program; (4) Construct methods, variables, if else statements, and for each loops in Java; and (5) Use Iterables (like DirectoryResource) to run a program that iterates over multiples lines in a document or webpage or multiple files in a directory.

This module begins with a short presentation from Raluca Gordân, an assistant professor in Duke University’s Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, about an important problem genomics scientists encounter regularly: how to identify genes in a strand of DNA. To tackle this problem, you will need to understand strings: series of characters such as letters, digits, punctuation, etc. After learning about Java methods that work with strings, you will be able to find genes within a DNA string as well as tackle other string related problems, such as finding all of the links in a web page. By the end of this module, you will be able to: (1) Use important methods for the Java String class; (2) Use conditionals, for loops, and while loops appropriately in a Java program; (3) Find patterns in the data represented by strings to help develop the algorithm for your program; (4) Understand the importance of designing programs that keep different data processing steps separate; (5) Use the StorageResource iterable for this course to store some data for further processing; and (6) Rely on Java documentation to better understand how to use different Java packages and classes.

A common format for storing tabular data (any data organized into columns and rows) is in comma separated values (CSV) files. In this module, you will learn how to analyze and manipulate data from multiple CSV data files using a powerful open-source software package: Apache Commons CSV. Using this library will empower you to solve problems that could prove too complex to solve with a spreadsheet. By the end of this module, you will be able to: (1) Use the open-source Apache Commons CSV package in your own Java programs; (2) Access data from one or many CSV files using Java; (3) Convert strings into numbers; (4) Understand how to use “null” in Java programs (when you want to represent “nothing”); (5) Devise an algorithm (and implement in Java) to answer questions about CSV data; and (6) Analyze CSV data across multiple CSV files (for example, find maximums, minimums, averages, and other simple statistical results).

This module wraps up the course with a mini project that ties together the different practices, skills, and libraries you have gained across the course! Using data on the popularity of different baby names in the United States from the past several decades, you will be able to compare different names’ popularity over time. While the data we have collected for this course is from the United States, we welcome you to share data from other countries in the course discussion forums. Good luck with the mini project!