• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
programming forums Java Mobile Certification Databases Caching Books Engineering Micro Controllers OS Languages Paradigms IDEs Build Tools Frameworks Application Servers Open Source This Site Careers Other Pie Elite all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
Marshals:
  • Campbell Ritchie
  • Jeanne Boyarsky
  • Ron McLeod
  • Paul Clapham
  • Liutauras Vilda
Sheriffs:
  • paul wheaton
  • Rob Spoor
  • Devaka Cooray
Saloon Keepers:
  • Stephan van Hulst
  • Tim Holloway
  • Carey Brown
  • Frits Walraven
  • Tim Moores
Bartenders:
  • Mikalai Zaikin

Looking for advice and guidance

 
Ranch Hand
Posts: 33
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Since everyone here is so smart and helpful I thought this would be the perfect place to ask this.
Anyway...taking a programming class is kind of new to me, and my previous class was much more forgiving(the java programs were easier to write, there was a lot less emphasis on how the code was written, and the quizzes were all done online or open book/note when we had to write programs for the quiz)...this Java 2 class however is kicking my butt and I have to get a B in it, but I'm on the bubble and the final is going to make or break me. I really don't want to have to take this class again, but I'm at a loss for how to study really. This term we don't have a book, the teacher prints out his slideshows and gives us copies of sample code. Based on my quizzes my biggest problems are reading code and writing it. Any suggestions on how to practice this? For example he'll give us crazy loops that we have to figure out the output for. I guess I'm so used to the compiler that it's hard for me to think these things through without being able to test them. Also with writing code I usually have to use a lot of references, it's hard for me to remember the words I need to use, probably because I've gotten by copying and pasting for a lot of my programs.
Thanks for any advice/study help you can give me.
 
Ranch Hand
Posts: 198
Oracle Java Linux
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Christina, nothing can replace hard work.. just practice hard and you will do it...
If you don't have book then you have Google with you...

Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking....

keep faith in your self...Best of luck !!
 
Greenhorn
Posts: 12
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
1. Before writing a program, think ONLY in terms of objects.
2. Nothing replaces pen and paper. plan out a pseudo code to follow
3. translate the program to paper.

I think problems with primitives or syntactic errors are easily solvable. The problem is getting the thinking process out on paper the problem. Designing classes(Object oriented view) is the caveat.

Specifically for Java I would definitely recommend
1. Kathy Sierra's book SCJP 6 (good head start)
2. Joshua Bloch's Effective Java (better way of looking at things)

As a whole
1. Headfirst design Patterns book is good.
2. Introduction to Algorithms.
 
Java Cowboy
Posts: 16084
88
Android Scala IntelliJ IDE Spring Java
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
That sounds like a challenge.

Even for experienced programmers going through a program step by step in your head to figure out what the program does can be very hard. It just takes practice to learn to do that well. Don't hesitate to ask for help on the forums here!

Good luck with the course!
 
With a little knowledge, a cast iron skillet is non-stick and lasts a lifetime.
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic