UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
School of Computer Science
Java Just in Time: a first course in programming
Java: Just in Time
Preview page
At last -- a first programming in Java course that is truly aimed at students who have not programmed before! (It has an entry point for those who have.)
- Using neither the confusing `objects first' approach, nor the confidence destroying `objects late' ordering, students are instead taken gently from their natural `task oriented' view of problem solving, through the basics of programming and then *soon* on to objects.
- Every programming and Java concept is introduced, Just in Time, in the context of one of more than a hundred program examples, so motivation is never lacking. Even when objects are introduced, readers immediately see their benefit, and thus happily augment their `task oriented' view with the `object oriented' one.
- Programming skill, being at least 51% confidence, is built in manageable layers by undertaking over one hundred pieces of coursework.
- Other learning enhancing aspects include coffee time questions, end of chapter collected concepts, no use of non-standard library code, and independence of any confidence-entrapping learning environment.
John Latham has been teaching first programming since 1982 using various languages and styles, and this course has been running since 2004 at The University of Manchester, UK.
Main links
(Java: Just in Time) | |
Under development... | Email me if you want something which isn't here yet! |
Pedagogy | Why and how you should use this book: it has been carefully crafted to follow a specific and possibly unique set of principles. |
Book contents | Chapter list, Sample pages, Chapter and section structure |
Coursework | Coursework questions and file structure |
Supporting material | Collected concepts, Lecture slides, Examples index, Some example code |
Supporting tools | Java animator, Eclipse plugin. |
Additional chapters | Further chapters, e.g. advanced GUIs., testing theory, more algorithm design paradigms |
Publisher | College Publications's web site. |
Buy it on Amazon | Retail price is only 17.50 UKP, for 660 pages! |
Errata and revisions | Text changes since first printing (January 2011). |
Book production | How the book was made, using shell scripts and LaTeX! |
JTL's home page |