4 replies to this topic

[Embodier]

I'm new around here and hope to spend some time reading, helping and getting helped as much as possible. My introduction is here.

I start my first programming class on Wednesday and have really been looking forward to it. The book we will be using is Java Concepts by Cay Harstmann, 5th edition.

I'm a little behind on math and know thats a key part of programming. I had a chance to challenge my next course to help me get closer to where I need to be. I went ahead and took the course because I figured I could use the practice.

I have been reading ahead in my book and when I have free time I try to come up with little basic programs that use some of the things I have read so far.

Is there any advice any of you more verteran Java programms have for getting me through my first semester of Java with an A?

[WingedPanther]

I wouldn't call myself a veteran Java programmer, but as with any language: do lots of problems.

Also, feel free to ask any math questions you run into. I'll be happy to try to help out.

[Embodier]

WingedPanther said:

I wouldn't call myself a veteran Java programmer, but as with any language: do lots of problems.

Also, feel free to ask any math questions you run into. I'll be happy to try to help out.

I may hit you up on that.

I had to take intro to algebra last semester, my first semester of college, due to my placement testing. It ended up being very easy for me. I now have intermediate algebra and after looking at the book it looks a lot more of the same so I shouldn't have many issues.

I however do have a class in computation that uses a little calc from what I understand...I had calc and trig years ago and did fine but I have forgotten it all.

[G_Morgan]

Any concepts you see on your course, knock them together in your language. I'd say this for any part of the course, especially when you start doing algorithms and data structures.

You won't get confused about how to perform rotations in an AVL tree if you have knocked together a simple version yourself.

In doing this not only will you learn about more general aspects of your course but will be strengthening your knowledge of the language in the process.

[Arkie]

begin reading some java beginners books (java for students etc) and code examples yourself. Experience is the best teacher.

I have around 3+ years Java/j2ee, field of expertise is J2EE (EJB,JSP, servlets, security, application servers, databases and what not)