CSCI 1321 (Principles of Algorithm Design II):
Useful Links and Other Resources

(Suggestions for additions to this page are welcome; send to bmassing@cs.trinity.edu.)

Class material

• Object-Oriented Programming with Java. Dr. Lewis's textbook-in-work for this course.
• Practice Problems. These are some (optional) problems you can use to practice your Java skills.
• Project Description. This is an overall description of the project for the course and gives requirements that apply to all assignments.
• API for Project Framework. This describes the framework classes you will be using for your project.
• Screen Editor Help. This describes how to use Dr. Lewis's screen editor program (which you will probably find helpful in doing your project). See the section ``Project tools'' near the end of the Project Description for directions on starting this program, from the command line or from Eclipse.
• Image Editor Help. This describes how to use Dr. Lewis's image editor program (which you may find helpful in doing your project). See the section ``Project tools'' near the end of the Project Description for directions on starting this program, from the command line or from Eclipse.

Java

• Java API Documentation. Everything you wanted to know about all the library classes, arranged in a very usable way.
• Oracle/Sun's Java tutorials. Not as comprehensive as the API, but often better at showing (with examples) how to make use of the library classes. (You may find the information on GUIs and graphics particularly helpful. A good starting point is Creating a GUI with JFC/Swing. If you want to do fancy graphics, try the 2D graphics trail.)
• How to Write Documentation Comments. Information on how to write comments for javadoc, a tool for automatically generating documentation (such as the above API) from comments within Java code.

Tools

• BlueJ. This is an IDE designed for teaching Java, which we will use early in semester. You can run it under Linux on the lab computers with the command bluej. You can also download and install a copy for your own computer; it's open-source software and available free of charge.

• Eclipse. This is the IDE we will be working with later in the semester. You can run it under Linux on the lab computers with the command eclipse. You can also download and install a copy for your own computer; it's open-source software and available free of charge.

• Java Without an IDE. Instructions for writing, compiling, and running Java programs without an IDE such as Eclipse. Also see Tools and Utilities documentation.

• Learn the Linux command line. Basics of using the command line, and beyond.

• More useful links for CSCI-1320 and CSCI-1321. If you did not take CSCI 1320 at Trinity, you should probably review the following:
  • Introductory hints and tips for local access.
  • More about remote access to the CS lab machines.
  • Introductory UNIX hints and tips.
  • Forwarding, sending, and reading mail under UNIX.
  • J. Oldham's tutorials on UNIX files and UNIX file security (old, so some links may be broken, but content is still good).
  • Introductory vi hints and tips. Or type vimtutor in a terminal window.