Network or classroom stand-a-lones

[Robert Crouch]

We are setting up to teach Intro JAVA and have to make a decision about whether or not to network the computers in the lab. PRO-- file sharing and printing-- CONS - classpath problems ( like always) ----

I have fears that once I get configured into the school system's network - nothing can be changed. So I might not be able to alter the autoexec . bat file to allow for a change in classpath - or does someone have a network solution?

C++ was taught using stand alone computers and floppy disks for backups. Network would make several things easier - but perhaps at the risk of not being able to configure the language to run at all?!!!

All suggestions will be appreciated.
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[Paul Santa Maria]

(Assuming Windows) - why not just make a convention of having three standard .bat files in each folder (with one folder per class project):

1. env.bat: Sets PATH, CLASSPATH, etc
2. c.bat: Compiles
3. r.bat: Executes

Furthermore, I'd suggest that "env.bat" define the following three environment variables:

set JAVA_ROOT=c:\...
PATH=%JAVA_ROOT%\bin;...
set CLASSPATH=.;%JAVA_ROOT%\lib;...

That way, students would typically only have to change one line ("set JAVA_ROOT") in one file (env.bat) for the entire session (a "session" being either in the classroom, or at home).

Just a thought .. PSM