Chap 01ed8

Introduction to Computers and
Java
Chapter 1
JAVA: An Introduction to Problem Solving & Programming, 8th Ed. By Walter Savitch
ISBN 0134462033 © 2018 Pearson Education, Inc., Hoboken, NJ. All Rights Reserved
Objectives
• Overview of computer hardware and software

• Introduce program design and object-oriented
programming
• Overview of the Java programming language
• (Optional) introduce JavaFX and graphics basics
Outline
• Computer Basics
• Designing Programs
• A Sip of Java
• Graphics Supplement
Computer Basics: Outline
• Hardware and Memory
• Programs
• Programming Languages and Compilers
• Java Byte-Code
• Graphics Supplement
Hardware and Software
• Computer systems consist of hardware and

software.
• Hardware includes the tangible parts of computer
systems.
• Software includes programs - sets of instructions for the
computer to follow.
• Familiarity with hardware basics helps us
understand software.
Hardware and Memory
• Most modern computers have similar components

including
• Input devices (keyboard, mouse, etc.)
• Output devices (display screen, printer, etc.)
• A processor
• Two kinds of memory (main memory and auxiliary
memory).
The Processor
• Also called the CPU (central processing unit) or the

chip (e.g. Pentium processor)
• The processor processes a program’s instructions.
• It can process only very simple instructions.
• The power of computing comes from speed and
program intricacy.
Memory
• Memory holds
• programs
• data for the computer to process
• the results of intermediate processing.
• Two kinds of memory
• main memory
• auxiliary memory
Main memory
• Working memory used to store

• The current program
• The data the program is using
• The results of intermediate calculations
• Usually measured in megabytes (e.g. 8 gigabytes of
RAM)
• RAM is short for random access memory
• A byte is a quantity of memory
Auxiliary Memory
• Also called secondary memory

• Disk drives, CDs, DVDs, flash drives, etc.
• More or less permanent (nonvolatile)
• Usually measured in gigabytes (e.g. 50 gigabyte
hard drive)
Bits, Bytes, and Addresses
• A bit is a digit with a value of either 0 or 1.

• A byte consists of 8 bits.
• Each byte in main memory resides at a
numbered location called its address.
Main Memory
• Figure 1.1
Storing Data
• Data of all kinds (numbers, letters, strings of

characters, audio, video, even programs) are
encoded and stored using 1s and 0s.
• When more than a single byte is needed, several
adjacent bytes are used.
• The address of the first byte is the address of the unit of
bytes.
Files
• Large groups of bytes in auxiliary memory are called

files.
• Files have names.
• Files are organized into groups called directories or
folders.
• Java programs are stored in files.
• Programs files are copied from auxiliary memory to
main memory in order to be run.
0s and 1s
• Machines with only 2 stable states are easy to

make, but programming using only 0s and 1s is
difficult.
• Fortunately, the conversion of numbers, letters,
strings of characters, audio, video, and programs is
done automatically.
Programs
• A program is a set of instructions for a computer to

follow.
• We use programs almost daily (email, word
processors, video games, bank ATMs, etc.).
• Following the instructions is called running or
executing the program.
Input and Output
• Normally, a computer receives two kinds of input:

• The program
• The data needed by the program.
• The output is the result(s) produced by following
the instructions in the program.
Running a Program
• Figure 1.2
• Sometimes the computer and the program are considered to be

one unit.
• Programmers typically find this view to be more convenient.
The Operating System
• The operating system is a supervisory program that

oversees the operation of the computer.
• The operating system retrieves and starts program
for you.
• Well-known operating systems including: Microsoft
Windows, Apple’s Mac OS, Linux, and UNIX.
Programming Languages
• High-level languages are relatively easy to use

• Java, C#, C++, Visual Basic, Python, Ruby.
• Unfortunately, computer hardware does not
understand high-level languages.
• Therefore, a high-level language program must be
translated into a low-level language.
Compilers
• A compiler translates a program from a high-level

language to a low-level language the computer can
run.
• You compile a program by running the compiler on
the high-level-language version of the program
called the source program.
• Compilers produce machine- or assembly-language
programs called object programs.
Compilers
• Most high-level languages need a different compiler

for each type of computer and for each operating
system.
• Most compilers are very large programs that are
expensive to produce.
Java Byte-Code
• The Java compiler does not translate a Java

program into assembly language or machine
language for a particular computer.
• Instead, it translates a Java program into byte-code.
• Byte-code is the machine language for a hypothetical computer (or
interpreter) called the Java Virtual Machine.
Java Byte-Code
• A byte-code program is easy to translate into machine
language for any particular computer.
• A program called an interpreter translates each byte-code
instruction, executing the resulting machine-language
instructions on the particular computer before translating the
next byte-code instruction.
• Most Java programs today are executed using a Just-In-Time or
JIT compiler in which byte-code is compiled as needed and
stored for later reuse without needing to be re-compiled.
Compiling, Interpreting, Running
• Use the compiler to translate the Java program into

byte-code (done using the javac command).
• Use the Java virtual machine for your computer to
translate each byte-code instruction into machine
language and to run the resulting machine-language
instructions (done using the java command).
Portability
• After compiling a Java program into byte-code, that

byte-code can be used on any computer with a
byte-code interpreter and without a need to
recompile.
• Byte-code can be sent over the Internet and used
anywhere in the world.
• This makes Java suitable for Internet applications.
Class Loader
• A Java program typically consists of several pieces

called classes.
• Each class may have a separate author and each is
compiled (translated into byte-code) separately.
• A class loader (called a linker in other programming
languages) automatically connects the classes
together.
Compiling and Running a Program
• Figure 1.3
A Sip of Java: Outline
• History of the Java Language
• Applications and Applets
• A First Java Application Program
• Writing, Compiling, and Running a Java
Program
History of Java
• In 1991, James Gosling and Sun Microsystems

began designing a language for home appliances
(toasters, TVs, etc.).
• Challenging, because home appliances are controlled by
many different chips (processors)
• Programs were translated first into an intermediate
language common to all appliance processors.
History of Java
• Then the intermediate language was translated into the

machine language for a particular appliance’s processor.
• Appliance manufacturers weren’t impressed.
• In 1994, Gosling realized that his language would be

ideal for a Web browser that could run programs
over the Internet.
• Sun produced the browser known today as HotJava.
Applications and Applets
• Two kinds of java programs: applications and

applets
• Applications
• Regular programs
• Meant to be run on your computer
• Applets
• Little applications
• Meant to be sent to another location on the internet and
run there
• Deprecated by Oracle and not supported by many web
browsers today in favor of HTML5 and JavaScript
A First Java Application
• View sample program Listing 1.1
• class FirstProgram
Sample
Sample
screen
screen
output
output
Some Terminology
• The person who writes a program is called the

programmer.
• The person who interacts with the program is called
the user.
• A package is a library of classes that have been
defined already.
• import java.util.Scanner;
Some Terminology
• The item(s) inside parentheses are called

argument(s) and provide the information needed by
methods.
• A variable is something that can store data.
• An instruction to the computer is called a
statement; it ends with a semicolon.
• The grammar rules for a programming language are
called the syntax of the language.
Printing to the Screen
System.out.println (“Whatever you want to print”);
• System.out is an object for sending output to the

screen.
• println is a method to print whatever is in
parentheses to the screen.
Printing to the Screen
• The object performs an action when you invoke or call

one of its methods
objectName.methodName(argumentsTheMethodNeeds);
Compiling a Java Program or Class
• A Java program consists of one or more classes, which

must be compiled before running the program.
• You need not compile classes that accompany Java
(e.g. System and Scanner).
• Each class should be in a separate file.
• The name of the file should be the same as the name
of the class.
Compiling and Running
• Use an IDE (integrated development environment)

which combines a text editor with commands for
compiling and running Java programs.
• When a Java program is compiled, the byte-code
version of the program has the same name, but the
ending is changed from .java to .class.
Compiling and Running
• A Java program can involve any number of classes.

• The class to run will contain the words
public static void main(String[] args)
somewhere in the file
Programming Basics: Outline
• Object-Oriented Programming
• Algorithms
• Testing and Debugging
• Software Reuse
Programming
• Programming is a creative process.

• Programming can be learned by discovering the
techniques used by experienced programmers.
• These techniques are applicable to almost every
programming language, including Java.
Object-Oriented Programming
• Our world consists of objects (people, trees, cars,

cities, airline reservations, etc.).
• Objects can perform actions which affect themselves
and other objects in the world.
• Object-oriented programming (OOP) treats a program
as a collection of objects that interact by means of
actions.
OOP Terminology
• Objects, appropriately, are called objects.

• Actions are called methods.
• Objects of the same kind have the same type and
belong to the same class.
• Objects within a class have a common set of methods and
the same kinds of data
• but each object can have it’s own data values.
OOP Design Principles
• OOP adheres to three primary design

principles:
• Encapsulation
• Polymorphism
• Inheritance
Introduction to Encapsulation
• The data and methods associated with any

particular class are encapsulated (“put together in a
capsule”), but only part of the contents is made
accessible.
• Encapsulation provides a means of using the class, but it
omits the details of how the class works.
• Encapsulation often is called information hiding.
Accessibility Example
• An automobile consists of several parts and pieces

and is capable of doing many useful things.
• Awareness of the accelerator pedal, the brake pedal, and
the steering wheel is important to the driver.
• Awareness of the fuel injectors, the automatic braking
control system, and the power steering pump is not
important to the driver.
Introduction to Polymorphism
• From the Greek meaning “many forms”
• The same program instruction adapts to mean
different things in different contexts.
• A method name, used as an instruction, produces results
that depend on the class of the object that used the
method.
• Everyday analogy: “take time to recreate” causes
different people to do different activities
• More about polymorphism in Chapter 8
Introduction to Inheritance
• Figure 1.4
Introduction to Inheritance
• Classes can be organized using inheritance.

• A class at lower levels inherits all the
characteristics of classes above it in the hierarchy.
• At each level, classifications become more
specialized by adding other characteristics.
• Higher classes are more inclusive; lower classes are
less inclusive.
Inheritance in Java
• Used to organize classes

• “Inherited” characteristics do not need to be
repeated.
• New characteristics are added.
• More about inheritance in chapter 8
Algorithms
• By designing methods, programmers provide

actions for objects to perform.
• An algorithm describes a means of performing an
action.
• Once an algorithm is defined, expressing it in Java
(or in another programming language) usually is
easy.
Algorithms
• An algorithm is a set of instructions for solving a
problem.
• An algorithm must be expressed completely and
precisely.
• Algorithms usually are expressed in English or in
pseudocode.
Example: Total Cost of All Items
• Write the number 0 on the whiteboard.

• For each item on the list
• Add the cost of the item to the number on the whiteboard
• Replace the number on the whiteboard with the result of
this addition.
• Announce that the answer is the number written on
the whiteboard.
Reusable Components
• Most programs are created by combining
components that exist already.
• Reusing components saves time and money.
• Reused components are likely to be better
developed, and more reliable.
• New components should designed to be reusable
by other applications.
Testing and Debugging
• Eliminate errors by avoiding them in the first place.

• Carefully design classes, algorithms and methods.
• Carefully code everything into Java.
• Test your program with appropriate test cases
(some where the answer is known), discover and fix
any errors, then retest.
Errors
• An error in a program is called a bug.
• Eliminating errors is called debugging.
• Three kinds or errors
• Syntax errors
• Runtime errors
• Logic errors
Syntax Errors
• Grammatical mistakes in a program

• The grammatical rules for writing a program are very
strict
• The compiler catches syntax errors and prints an
error message.
• Example: using a period where a program expects a
comma
Runtime Errors
• Errors that are detected when your program is

running, but not during compilation
• When the computer detects an error, it terminates
the program and prints an error message.
• Example: attempting to divide by 0
Logic Errors
• Errors that are not detected during compilation or

while running, but which cause the program to
produce incorrect results
• Example: an attempt to calculate a Fahrenheit
temperature from a Celsius temperature by
multiplying by 9/5 and adding 23 instead of 32
Software Reuse
• Programs not usually created entirely from scratch

• Most contain components which already exist
• Reusable classes are used
• Design class objects which are general
• Java provides many classes
• Note documentation on following slide
Software Reuse
Description of class
Scanner
Package
names
Class names
Graphics Supplement: Outline
• A Sample JavaFX program

• Drawing Ovals and Circles
• Size and Position of Figures
• Drawing Arcs
JavaFX
• JavaFX is a set of packages that allow Java programmers
to create graphics and media applications
• 2D, 3D games
• Visual effects
• Touch-enabled applications
• Successor to AWT and Swing for making graphical
applications
• In JavaFX you add scenes to the stage. A canvas is an object

that you can draw shapes on.
A Sample JavaFX Application
• View sample program Listing 1.2
• class HappyFace
Sample
Sample
screen
screen
output
output
A Sample JavaFX Application
• The start method is the starting method for a

JavaFX application, not the main method
• The first four lines of the start method set up a
canvas on a scene for you to draw simple graphics
Screen Coordinate System
• Figure 1.6
Screen Coordinate System
• The x-coordinate the the number of pixels

from the left.
• The y-coordinate is the number of pixels from
the top (not from the bottom).
Drawing Ovals and Circles
• The strokeOval method draws only the outline

of the oval.
gc.strokeOval(100, 50, 90, 50);
• The fillOval method draws a filled-in oval.
gc.fillOval(100, 50, 90, 50);
• The strokeOval and fillOval methods take

four arguments.
• The first two arguments indicate the upper-left corner of an
invisible rectangle around the oval.
• The last two arguments indicate the width and height of the
oval.
• A circle is just an oval whose height is the same as its
width.
• Figure1.7 The Oval Drawn by gc.strokeOval(100,

50, 90, 50)
Size and Positions of Figures
• Sizes and positions in a JavaFX program are given

in pixels.
• Think of the display surface for the applet as
being a two-dimensional grid of individual pixels.
Drawing Arcs
• The strokeArc method draws an arc.

strokeArc(100, 50, 200, 200, 180, 180,
ArcType.OPEN);
• The strokeArc method takes seven arguments.
• The first four arguments are the same as the four
arguments needed by the strokeOval method.
• The next two arguments indicate where the arc starts,
and the number of degrees through which is sweeps.
• 0 degrees is horizontal and to the right.
• The last argument indicates if the arc is open or closed
Specifying an Arc
Specifying an Arc
Summary
• You have completed an overview of computer

hardware and software.
• You have been introduced to program design and
object-oriented programming.
• You have completed an overview of the Java
programming language.
• You have been introduced to JavaFX and graphics
basics.

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Introduction to Computers and

• Overview of computer hardware and software

• Computer systems consist of hardware and

• Most modern computers have similar components

• Also called the CPU (central processing unit) or the

• Working memory used to store

• Also called secondary memory

• A bit is a digit with a value of either 0 or 1.

• Data of all kinds (numbers, letters, strings of

• Large groups of bytes in auxiliary memory are called

• Machines with only 2 stable states are easy to

• A program is a set of instructions for a computer to

• Normally, a computer receives two kinds of input:

• Sometimes the computer and the program are considered to be

• The operating system is a supervisory program that

• High-level languages are relatively easy to use

• A compiler translates a program from a high-level

• Most high-level languages need a different compiler

• The Java compiler does not translate a Java

• Use the compiler to translate the Java program into

• After compiling a Java program into byte-code, that

• A Java program typically consists of several pieces

• In 1991, James Gosling and Sun Microsystems

• Then the intermediate language was translated into the

• In 1994, Gosling realized that his language would be

• Two kinds of java programs: applications and

• The person who writes a program is called the

• The item(s) inside parentheses are called

System.out.println (“Whatever you want to print”);

• System.out is an object for sending output to the

• The object performs an action when you invoke or call

• A Java program consists of one or more classes, which

• Use an IDE (integrated development environment)

• A Java program can involve any number of classes.

public static void main(String[] args)

somewhere in the file

• Programming is a creative process.

• Our world consists of objects (people, trees, cars,

• Objects, appropriately, are called objects.

• OOP adheres to three primary design

• The data and methods associated with any

• An automobile consists of several parts and pieces

• Classes can be organized using inheritance.

• Used to organize classes

• By designing methods, programmers provide

• Write the number 0 on the whiteboard.

• Eliminate errors by avoiding them in the first place.

• Grammatical mistakes in a program

• Errors that are detected when your program is

• Errors that are not detected during compilation or

• Programs not usually created entirely from scratch

• A Sample JavaFX program

• In JavaFX you add scenes to the stage. A canvas is an object

• The start method is the starting method for a

• The x-coordinate the the number of pixels

• The strokeOval method draws only the outline

• The strokeOval and fillOval methods take

• Figure1.7 The Oval Drawn by gc.strokeOval(100,

• Sizes and positions in a JavaFX program are given

• The strokeArc method draws an arc.