Constructs and Compilation
> Click or hit Control-Enter to run the code above
The do-while Loop
Remember the while loop?
while (condition) {
// do something
}It also has a friend:
do {
// do something
} while (condition);What’s the difference?
> Click or hit Control-Enter to run the code above
Switch Statements
Remember the if statement?
if (conditionA) {
// do something
} else if (conditionB) {
// do something else
} else if (conditionC) {
// ...
}It too has a friend:
switch (variable) {
case A:
// do something
case B:
// do something else...
}Switch Statements
switch is more limited than if-else, but also more flexible:
-
It only works for testing primitive types and
Strings -
But you can match multiple
cases in a singleswitchstatement -
Execution starts at a matching
casestatement and continues until abreakstatement is reached
> Click or hit Control-Enter to run the code above
Questions on Imperative Programming?
Compilation and Execution
(And now, a small digression.)
So far we’ve been letting you admire the magic that happens when you execute Java code. But what is actually happening?
-
As a computer scientist, part of your job is to be curious about how things work!
-
This will also help clear up a few things that may have been confusing to you up until this point…
-
It’s also quite interesting…
-
…but note that I am not going to go into detail here 1. Ask on the forum if you want to know more!
When You Run Java Code
Roughly speaking, when you run your Java code—on our playground, on PrairieLearn, or in Android Studio—the process works like this:
-
Compilation: your Java source code is compiled to a simpler representation called Java bytecode by the Java compiler (
javac).-
Errors that occur at this stage are called compilation errors.
-
If your code doesn’t compile, it doesn’t run.
-
-
Execution: the bytecode from Step 1 is then executed by a program called the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) (
java).-
Errors that occur at this stage are called runtime errors.
-
> Click or hit Control-Enter to run the code above
> Click or hit Control-Enter to run the code above
> Click or hit Control-Enter to run the code above
Compiler Errors v. Runtime Errors
Java and many languages that followed it have tried to transform runtime errors into compiler errors. Why?
-
You compile your code before it runs: and so before you have to demo it to a client, or before you deploy it to hundreds of users.
-
Catching errors at this stage is critical.
> Click or hit Control-Enter to run the code above
Java Compilation: javac
The Java compiler transforms Java source code into Java bytecode.
On many machines it is a program called javac.
(Quick demo.)
Java Execution: java
The Java Virtual Machine executes Java bytecode.
On many machines it is a program simply called java.
(Quick demo.)
Bytecode v. Machine Code
-
Many compiled languages compile into instructions that an actual CPU or processor can execute—we call this machine code.
-
Java does not—it compiles into bytecode that is then run by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), a piece of software.
-
Why?
Write Once, Run Anywhere ™
(I will do my best to avoid a truly Wallacian stem-winder of a digression here, since this is a truly fascinating story.)
-
Different computer processors use different instructions—this is still true today, but was even more true when Java was being designed
-
(This is kind of like them speaking different languages.)
-
-
So if I take a program that was compiled for an
x86processor and try to run it on anARMprocessor, it won’t work -
But if I take a Java program that was compiled into Java bytecode I can run it anywhere…
-
…as long as that computer has the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
-
(This is the difference between the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and the Software Development Kit (SDK). The SDK includes
javac, the JRE does not.)
As Computers Get Faster…
compilers also get faster, leading to important and useful changes in language design.
// Wait, what black magic is this?
var integerValue = 5;-
Java 10 introduced local variable type inference
-
Which means that you do not need to specify the type for local variables if the compiler can determine what it should be
Java 10 Type Inference
You can use this feature now using IntelliJ and on our PrairieLearn homework problems—but only in some slide playground examples.
var sum = 0;
for (var i = 0; i < array.length; i++) {
for (var j = 0; j < array[i].length; j++) {
sum += array[i][j];
}
}> Click or hit Control-Enter to run the code above
Let’s Talk main
public class Example {
public static void main(String[] unused) {
System.out.println("How did I get here?");
}
}We saw a main method in the demo and we’ll start using it in upcoming in-class
examples.
But what is it?
Everything Has To Start Somewhere
public class Example {
public static void main(String[] unused) {
System.out.println("And this is it!");
}
}-
When Java runs your program, execution has to start somewhere.
-
If a class has a
mainmethod Java can execute that class and begin the process of running a program. -
So every Java application starts in
mainsomewhere.
But What About unused?
public class Example {
public static void main(String[] unused) {
System.out.println("And this is it!");
}
}But why is main passed an array of Stringss (that we sometimes ignore)?
Questions on Compilation?
Hang In There
This is a tough week, but you can do it. Don’t give up!
Midterm Review
When should we review for the imperative programming midterm?
-
Option 1: midterm review Friday
-
Option 2: midterm review next Monday
Announcements
-
Friday I’ll be doing one James Scholar interview session, here in Lincoln Hall after class (starting around 11AM). If you want to interview me for your project this is your chance.
-
Friday/Monday we will begin discussing objects, Monday/Friday will be midterm review
-
Office hours for MP1 continue—please get started, since it will help you prepare for the midterm exam next week
-
Next week we will hold our first midterm exam: a one-hour quiz worth 2% of your grade that cannot be dropped