Java Programming: Principles of Software Design

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

Introduction

### Course Review: Java Programming: Principles of Software Design on Coursera **Course Overview** "Java Programming: Principles of Software Design" is a comprehensive course offered on Coursera that empowers learners to tackle real-world problems using Java—a language renowned for its versatility and robustness. The course emphasizes not only coding skills but also the critical principles of software design. It’s designed for those who wish to dive deeper into Java programming through a logical, structured approach, culminating in practical projects such as analyzing earthquake data and creating a predictive text generator. By the conclusion of the course, participants will gain proficiency in various essential programming paradigms, particularly in utilizing sorting algorithms, implementing interfaces, and harnessing the power of multiple classes and ArrayLists for enhanced program organization. ### What You'll Learn The course is structured into distinct modules, each building on the last to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of Java fundamentals: 1. **Welcome to the Course**: An introductory module providing an overview and guidance on available resources, setting a collaborative tone for the learning journey. 2. **Earthquakes: Programming and Interfaces**: This module focuses on utilizing real earthquake data. Learners will dive into writing programs using multiple classes, implementing ArrayLists, and employing filtering techniques to extract meaningful insights from the data. 3. **Earthquakes: Sorting Algorithms**: Participants will explore different sorting algorithms, comparing their efficiencies. The hands-on approach allows learners to implement selection and bubble sorts while also leveraging Java’s built-in Collections.sort for optimal performance. 4. **N-Grams: Predictive Text**: This module delves into generating random text based on given input. It introduces concepts crucial to understanding predictive text systems, allowing learners to tackle real-world applications of text generation and develop their own .equals methods for complex data types. 5. **Java: Tools and Libraries for Everyone**: The course wraps up by familiarizing learners with essential Java tools beyond the basic environment. Participants will learn about writing main methods in various programming environments, manage exceptions, and utilize important libraries for better program functionality. ### Key Skills Developed Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to: - Implement and utilize sorting algorithms effectively to enhance program functionality. - Develop multi-class programs that exhibit advanced logical structure and design. - Filter and organize data using Java-specific interfaces and collections. - Create predictive text generators, implementing character and word frequency methods. - Transition seamlessly between different programming environments while leveraging Java libraries efficiently. ### My Recommendation I wholeheartedly recommend "Java Programming: Principles of Software Design" for beginners and intermediate Java programmers looking to strengthen their software engineering skills. The course is designed with a hands-on approach, encouraging learners to engage with practical projects that demonstrate real-world applications of the theoretical concepts taught. The instructors are knowledgeable, providing clear explanations that make complex topics more approachable. Additionally, the community support through forums adds an invaluable layer of interaction, allowing learners to troubleshoot and share insights with peers. If you're passionate about learning Java and wish to elevate your programming capabilities while understanding the software design principles that underpin effective coding, this course is an excellent choice. You'll not only enhance your resume with in-demand programming skills but also foster a mindset geared towards logical problem-solving and innovative software solutions. Take the leap into the dynamic world of Java programming today!

Syllabus

Welcome to the Course

Welcome to “Java Programming: Principles of Software Design”! 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 hear an overview of this course and be introduced to the supporting resources available.

In this module, we will introduce a data set containing details about earthquakes around the world. You will learn how to pull this data into a program, search through the data, and filter the data based on desired criteria. By the end of this module, you will be able to (1) write programs that include multiple classes and ArrayLists of class types, (2) find the maximum value in an ArrayList, (3) use a Filter interface to search through data, (4) implement interfaces with method signatures, and (5) combine several filters together.

In this module, you will continue using real earthquake data to explore several sorting algorithms. You will learn how to implement a selection sort and a bubble sort, then be introduced to a Java method Collections.sort, which sorts with much greater efficiency. By the end of this module, you will be able to (1) implement several sorting algorithms from scratch, (2) use efficient pre-existing sorting classes, (3) modify a class’s compareTo method to choose the criteria by which objects of that type are ordered, and (4) write classes that implement the Comparator interface to create interchangeable sorting criteria.

In this module, you will explore some of the underlying concepts of predictive text. The first lesson will introduce random character generation and then how to train the character selection based on an input text. The second lesson will extend this concept to complete words. By the end of this module, you will be able to: (1) base random text generation on the frequency of characters in a training text, (2) collect a set of characters that occur in a text after randomly chosen initial character(s) to create a semi-random text, (3) extend the predictive text generation to use whole words, and (4) implement your own .equals method to compare complex data types.

As you reach the end of this series, you may wish to extend your Java experience to tools beyond those provided here. This module will cover some of the Java basic information that is needed to program without BlueJ or the edu.duke library. After completing this module, you will be able to: (1) write a main method to start a Java program in any programming environment, (2) use the “static” keyword to modify fields, (3) find alternative editors to use with Java, (4) use exceptions to debug your program and make it more robust, and (5) reference Java libraries that are necessary to read files without the edu.duke library.