ICA-CP: 8/28/09 - Our First Program

Good morning!

We have a lot to do today! First, we are doing usability testing of your candy algorithm from last class. We'll do a Pair Programming exercise. Then, the last half of the class, you will write your first Java computer program in class.

Be sure to read the Definition of an Algorithm blog entry. Remember, we will be having a quiz on each Spartan day. Guess what will be in the first quiz???


Pair Programming
Here is the wikipedia definition of Pair Programming: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pair_programming. We will consider these questions in our debrief:

• How did you feel when you were drawing solo vs. drawing in a pair?
• What do you notice is the same or different about the solo and pair drawings?
• Which of the drawing are more artistic or more orginal - the solo or pair drawings?
• Did you find yourself concentrating more or less during pairing?
• Was it more fun to draw alone or in a pair?
• What did you like and what didn't you like about drawing alone or in a pair?
• What was it like not knowing what your pair would draw next?
• Did you find yourself mirroring your pair? (For example, your pair draws an ear and than you draw an ear).
• Do you think that people get better at pairing over time?
• How do you think the simulation differs from real-world pair programming?

Our First Program
Traditionally, the first program that every programmer writes when learning a new language is "Hello World." All the program does is to print Hello World on the screen. But, in order for that to happen, several steps must be taken.

For your reference, here is an explanation of the Hello World program in Java -- line by line. It is a short, but powerful, program. The link: http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/getStarted/application/index.html

You will do three versions of the program today. The first version will print:

Hello World!

The second version will print:

Hello
World

The third version will display "Hello World from [your name]" with one word on each line as shown in the example below:

Hello
World
from
Debbie


Congratulations on your first Java programming today!

P.S. If you are one of the three people who missed getting the 5 points for reading the blog and writing the secret word on a piece of paper with your name, here's you chance for a make-up. Today's secret word is: Java! Get it to me on a piece of paper during the first 5 minutes of class.