Java... Where to start? » BUG Community

Mar 23, 2008 1:49pm

MetalCube 3 posts

Ok… Ive been looking into programming for some time… but I really never got anywhere. Lots of people have told me to get into Java and now that Ive found a practical reason for learning it (Bug) I want to learn. Anyway…. If anyone can answer these questions that would be great.

- Which do I choose (Go to Sun Developer and then go to Downloads.) ?

-Any good tutorial sites?

-Any Books.

-How do I keep up to date with a new IDE (Tutorial for Version X and I have Version Y)

Thanks in advance!

Mar 23, 2008 8:58pm

finsprings 268 posts

You want Java SE (Standard Edition), and you want the JDK (development kit) rather than the JRE (which is just the runtime). You can get JDK 1.6 Update 5 from http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/?intcmp=1281.

There are instructions on obtaining and installing Eclipse, and then adding the Dragonfly SDK for the Bug on the Bug wiki at: http://bugcommunity.com/wiki/index.php/Install_Eclipse_%26_Dragonfly_SDKs

Java as a language is pretty mature now, and most updates are backwards compatible, so if you buy a book and a new version comes out, the book will still be mostly applicable. Plus, if you're just getting into programming, the sort of things that are likely to change in Java aren't likely to impact you until you get into it a little deeper anyway.

Effective Java (http://www.amazon.com/Effective-Java-Second-2nd/dp/0321356683/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206319850&sr=1-6) is a pretty good tour of Java without getting too verbose.

You could also look at Sun's Java tutorials online at:
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/java/index.html

Hope that helps. Once you get all the tools together, download a few of the sample applications from Bugnet and look through their code to get yourself familiar with how they work. If you have questions I'm sure their respective authors and/or the forum will be happy to help clarify things for you.

Mar 24, 2008 7:15pm

MetalCube 3 posts

That helped a ton. Thanks!

Just one last question. What is the difference between the Java SE and the Eclipse thing. (I get that the Dragonfly SDK is for the BUG stuff, but I dont have one yet.)

Mar 24, 2008 8:01pm

finsprings 268 posts

Java SE is "Java Standard Edition" (as opposed to Java Enterprise Edition, which – trust me – you want to avoid right now). That gives you the compiler (javac) and the runtime (java) programs, plus all the standard libraries, for printing to the screen, making socket connections, and so forth.

Eclipse is an IDE (Integrated Development Environment). Microsoft’s Visual Studio would be another example of an IDE that you may have heard of.

So, basically, the Java download gives you basic command-line tools to compile and run Java applications. Eclipse has a graphical user interface and includes an editor that understands Java, so it can help you with typos and so on. It also includes a debugger so you can step through your code.

Dragonfly is buglabs’ extension to Eclipse that adds the VirtualBug for testing your applications, access to Bugnet to upload your apps and download other peoples, plus all the bug-specific libraries.

Mar 24, 2008 10:07pm

MetalCube 3 posts

thanks agian… and if anyone wants to post tutorials for just stuff… Feel Free!
:D

Mar 24, 2008 11:42pm

finsprings 268 posts

I’d suggest you download and install it all and have a play around with it. If you get stuck, ask the forums.

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Mar 23, 2008 1:49pm MetalCube 3 posts	Ok… Ive been looking into programming for some time… but I really never got anywhere. Lots of people have told me to get into Java and now that Ive found a practical reason for learning it (Bug) I want to learn. Anyway…. If anyone can answer these questions that would be great. - Which do I choose (Go to Sun Developer and then go to Downloads.) ? -Any good tutorial sites? -Any Books. -How do I keep up to date with a new IDE (Tutorial for Version X and I have Version Y) Thanks in advance!
Mar 23, 2008 8:58pm finsprings 268 posts	You want Java SE (Standard Edition), and you want the JDK (development kit) rather than the JRE (which is just the runtime). You can get JDK 1.6 Update 5 from http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/?intcmp=1281. There are instructions on obtaining and installing Eclipse, and then adding the Dragonfly SDK for the Bug on the Bug wiki at: http://bugcommunity.com/wiki/index.php/Install_Eclipse_%26_Dragonfly_SDKs Java as a language is pretty mature now, and most updates are backwards compatible, so if you buy a book and a new version comes out, the book will still be mostly applicable. Plus, if you're just getting into programming, the sort of things that are likely to change in Java aren't likely to impact you until you get into it a little deeper anyway. Effective Java (http://www.amazon.com/Effective-Java-Second-2nd/dp/0321356683/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206319850&sr=1-6) is a pretty good tour of Java without getting too verbose. You could also look at Sun's Java tutorials online at: http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/java/index.html Hope that helps. Once you get all the tools together, download a few of the sample applications from Bugnet and look through their code to get yourself familiar with how they work. If you have questions I'm sure their respective authors and/or the forum will be happy to help clarify things for you.
Mar 24, 2008 7:15pm MetalCube 3 posts	That helped a ton. Thanks! Just one last question. What is the difference between the Java SE and the Eclipse thing. (I get that the Dragonfly SDK is for the BUG stuff, but I dont have one yet.)
Mar 24, 2008 8:01pm finsprings 268 posts	Java SE is "Java Standard Edition" (as opposed to Java Enterprise Edition, which – trust me – you want to avoid right now). That gives you the compiler (javac) and the runtime (java) programs, plus all the standard libraries, for printing to the screen, making socket connections, and so forth. Eclipse is an IDE (Integrated Development Environment). Microsoft’s Visual Studio would be another example of an IDE that you may have heard of. So, basically, the Java download gives you basic command-line tools to compile and run Java applications. Eclipse has a graphical user interface and includes an editor that understands Java, so it can help you with typos and so on. It also includes a debugger so you can step through your code. Dragonfly is buglabs’ extension to Eclipse that adds the VirtualBug for testing your applications, access to Bugnet to upload your apps and download other peoples, plus all the bug-specific libraries.
Mar 24, 2008 10:07pm MetalCube 3 posts	thanks agian… and if anyone wants to post tutorials for just stuff… Feel Free! :D
Mar 24, 2008 11:42pm finsprings 268 posts	I’d suggest you download and install it all and have a play around with it. If you get stuck, ask the forums.