Java Programming Course - Lesson 1.

1: Introduction to Programming and Java

Learning Objectives:

- Understand the basics of programming languages.

- Learn the history and features of Java.

1.1.1: Overview of Programming Languages

Topics:

- What is a Programming Language?

- A programming language is a way to communicate with computers. It's like giving instructions to a

computer to perform tasks.

- Types of Programming Languages:

- Procedural Languages:

- Explanation: These languages follow a set of instructions in a step-by-step manner.

- Real-World Example: Imagine you are baking a cake. The recipe tells you step-by-step what to

do: mix ingredients, pour into a pan, bake, etc. In a procedural language like C, you write

instructions for the computer to follow step by step.

- Object-Oriented Languages:

- Explanation: These languages use objects to represent data and methods to represent actions.

- Real-World Example: Think of a car. A car has properties like color and model, and actions like

drive and stop. In Java, you create a Car object with these properties and actions.
 Java Programming Course - Lesson 1.1: Introduction to Programming and Java

- Functional Languages:

- Explanation: These languages focus on mathematical functions and avoid changing states.

- Real-World Example: Imagine solving a math problem. Each function gives a result based on

the inputs without changing anything else. In Haskell, you write functions that take inputs and return

outputs without altering other data.

- Scripting Languages:

- Explanation: These languages are used for writing small programs (scripts) to automate tasks.

- Real-World Example: Think of a robot that automatically cleans your house. In JavaScript, you

write scripts to automate tasks like filling out forms on a web page.

Activities:

- Class Discussion: Compare procedural, object-oriented, and functional languages. Why might a

programmer choose one over another? Think of examples from everyday technology, like websites,

apps, or games.

1.1.2: History of Java

Topics:

- Origin of Java:

- Explanation: Java was created by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995. It

was initially designed for interactive TV but evolved into a general-purpose programming language.
 Java Programming Course - Lesson 1.1: Introduction to Programming and Java

- Key Milestones:

- 1995: Java 1.0 released.

- 1998: Java 2 introduced new features like Swing (for graphical user interfaces) and the

Collections Framework.

- 2004: Java 5.0 introduced Generics (for stronger type checking) and more.

- 2011: Java 7 with new language features and performance improvements.

- 2014: Java 8 introduced Lambda expressions (for writing functions more easily) and the Stream

API (for processing data).

- Ongoing updates to the present day.

Activities:

- Reading Assignment: Read about the history of Java and write a short summary of its evolution.

- Group Activity: Research key milestones in Java?s development and prepare a short presentation.

Include examples of how Java is used in real-world applications, such as Android apps or web

servers.

1.1.3: Features of Java

Topics:

- Simple:

- Explanation: Java is designed to be easy to learn and use.

- Real-World Example: Java?s syntax is clear and readable, making it easy to understand and

write code. Think of writing a simple instruction like "Turn on the light."
 Java Programming Course - Lesson 1.1: Introduction to Programming and Java

- Object-Oriented:

- Explanation: Everything in Java is represented as objects.

- Real-World Example: In a school, you might have Student objects with properties like name and

methods like study and takeExam.

- Distributed:

- Explanation: Java is designed for network applications.

- Real-World Example: Java powers many web applications that run on servers and handle

multiple users simultaneously, like online shopping websites.

- Interpreted:

- Explanation: Java programs run on any machine with the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

- Real-World Example: A Java application can run on Windows, Mac, or Linux without modification,

just like how a USB drive works in different computers.

- Robust:

- Explanation: Java emphasizes error checking and handling.

- Real-World Example: Java?s strong error handling helps prevent crashes in important systems

like online banking, where reliability is crucial.

- Secure:

- Explanation: Java has built-in security features.

- Real-World Example: Java?s built-in security features make it ideal for developing secure

applications, like online payment systems.

 Java Programming Course - Lesson 1.1: Introduction to Programming and Java

- Portable:

- Explanation: Java programs run on any platform without modification.

- Real-World Example: Java applications, like a chat app, can be used on various devices without

changes to the code.

- High Performance:

- Explanation: Java is efficient through Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation.

- Real-World Example: Java?s performance is suitable for real-time games, where fast response

times are important.

- Multithreaded:

- Explanation: Java supports multiple tasks simultaneously.

- Real-World Example: In a video player, Java can handle playing the video while downloading

subtitles at the same time.

- Dynamic:

- Explanation: Java adapts to an evolving environment.

- Real-World Example: Java can dynamically load new features and updates in an application,

similar to how a smartphone updates its apps without a complete reinstall.

Activities:

- Research Task: Find real-world examples of Java features. For instance, explore how Java is used

in Android development or large-scale enterprise systems.

 Java Programming Course - Lesson 1.1: Introduction to Programming and Java

- Presentation: Prepare a short presentation on one Java feature, explaining why it is important and

giving a real-world example.

Lesson Plan

Lesson Duration: 1.5 Hours

Introduction (10 minutes):

- Introduce the lesson objectives.

- Provide an overview of the lesson content.

Lecture (30 minutes):

- Explain what programming languages are and the different types.

- Discuss the history of Java and its key milestones.

Interactive Discussion (20 minutes):

- Discuss the differences between procedural, object-oriented, and functional languages.

- Talk about how Java has evolved over time.

Break (10 minutes):

- Take a short break.

Activity Session (30 minutes):

- Reading Assignment: Summarize the history of Java.

 Java Programming Course - Lesson 1.1: Introduction to Programming and Java

- Group Activity: Research and present key milestones in Java?s development with real-world

examples.

Summary and Q&A (10 minutes):

- Summarize the key points.

- Answer any questions.

Homework:

- Research and write a brief summary of Java?s evolution.

- Prepare a presentation on one of Java?s features with a real-world example.

Resources

1. Textbook: "Java: The Complete Reference" by Herbert Schildt.

2. Online Tutorials: Oracle Java Tutorials.

3. Articles: Articles on Java?s history and features from Oracle and other credible sources.

Example Code: "Hello, World!" in Java

public class HelloWorld {

public static void main(String[] args) {

System.out.println("Hello, World!");

}
 Java Programming Course - Lesson 1.1: Introduction to Programming and Java