- Tips:
- Here is a link to the Apply Process.
- If you are applying for a new Linux account, please choose a username that will make it very obvious which student it belongs to -- such as first initial and last name. Mine, for example, is ckelly
- If someone would like to volunteer, we can have an actual in-class demo of the apply process.
- Tips:
- Access to the Linux system:
- On a Mac or Linux system, you should be able to access the system via the command line:
ssh your username@users.cs.umb.edu
(Replace "your_username" with your actual username)
(May have to replace "users" with users1, users2, or users3.) - For a Windows system, you can download, install, and use a command line utility such as this: PuTTY. On that page, there is a link to a download page, where you would acquire the appropriate version of putty.exe -- depending on whether your Windows installation is 32-bit or 64-bit.
- Moreover, many recent versions of Windows 10 operating system (as of Autumn 2018) actually have their own built-in OpenSSH utilities, which would allow you to use ssh from the command line just as you would on Mac or Linux
- On a Mac or Linux system, you should be able to access the system via the command line:
- In addition, there are many other utilities out there -- for all kinds of systems -- that will allow you to access the Linux system via a graphical user interface. Examples include: WinSCP (for Windows) and FileZilla (Windows, Mac, Linux). If you choose FileZilla, make sure you download the client version -- not the server version.
- For whichever program you use, your hostname will be users.cs.umb.edu and username will be, well, your username. If the program asks for a port, try 22; if that doesn't work, let me know.
- Once you actually have some way to access the CS Department's servers via the command line, you can easily create your .umb_email file in the following manner:
cd ~/classname
mkdir homework
(Replace classname with whatever this class is: "cs110", "it114", etc.)
- Tips:
- JDK versions may be obtained from the following directory, on users.cs.umb.edu: /nobackup/faculty/ckelly/jdk8_versions
- Make sure you get a version that is compatible with your operating system.
- Download the JAR file for DrJava, which you can get from this link: HERE. The nice thing about this program is you should be able to run it just by opening the JAR file, regardless of your actual operating system.
- If you are unable to get the Java compiler and Java runtime working on your own computer, you can test your code out here or here to ensure that it compiles and runs as expected.
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There are a number of IDEs out there that could meet your needs, though they all have both advantages and disadvantages. I will list a few here:
- Hide Table:
- Hide Table:IDE Advantages Disadvantages DrJava - It is more lightweight, in the sense that it takes up much less computer resources (memory, processor, etc.)
- It offers you a limited amount of visual cues when writing your code, such as multicolored text and highlighting segments of code.
- It helps you a little bit with basic formatting issues, such as sometimes guessing and indenting for you when you press Enter.
- There is an "interactions pane", where you can enter smaller amounts of Java code -- so you can test it out without having to write, compile, and run a whole program.
- Does not "help too much", which is an advantage because it forces you to be more aware of what you are doing as you program.
- The set up process may be a bit troublesome in some ways, such as making sure DrJava and the JDK can "talk" to one another.
- It is not as well documented online, as are some other tools.
Eclipse - Offers a lot more functionalities, which will likely prove useful if you get into more advanced Java coding.
- Is a professional-level tool, so experience with Eclipse may a benefit, if you ever apply for a tech internship/position that uses this or a similar IDE.
- Comes with its own compiler, which may save you the trouble of having to set up the JDK on your computer.
- Instantaneous error highlighting, where it will show you if you have introduced a compiler error. (This may be especially useful if you are the type to write a lot of code before remembering to check for errors.)
- Is good at helping you organize your different code files.
- Can speed up workflow in nifty ways, such as automating the creation of new Java code files and offering suggestions when you start to type code.
- Is more demanding on your computer's memory and CPU.
- The sheer range of options may be intimidating.
- In some ways, it may hamper your learning by doing too much of the work for you, denying you the chance to learn those things by doing them yourself.
No IDE The tools are simpler, in the sense that you do not have the learning curve often associated with a standard IDE. In this case, it would be a simple matter of writing the code file in a text editor, invoking the compiler, and running the resulting program with the JVM. - Requires you to use three different programs: the text editor, the compiler, and the JVM.
- You have to manually indent each line of code yourself.
- If you get compiler or runtime errors -- which tend to associate errors with specific lines of code -- it will be more tedious to locate the offending code.
- Text editors tend to be extremely simple, lightweight applications, and they rarely (if ever) offer anything catering to the needs of a coder.