1. Set up your Linux account and enroll in this class.
   
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   • 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.
   • Click here for a video illustrating the apply process.
2. Create a file in your Linux root directory called .forward, with your desired forwarding e-mail address as its content.
   
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   • 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 -p 22
           (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 something such as this: SSH Secure Shell Client. (This site has more detailed directions.)
   • 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 PuTTY (for Windows) and FileZilla (Windows, Mac, Linux).
   • 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.
   • One way to do this is to carry out the following steps: Log into your Linux account with command line access, and input the following sequence (pressing enter after each line):
     cd ~
     cat >> .forward
     your username
     Then press Ctrl-D, and that should create the file. To test it, send an e-mail to yourself at your username@cs.umb.edu and make sure it gets forwarded.
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3. Get enrolled in the Google group.
   
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   • Click on the link to the Google group, located in the "Class Info" section at the top of the course page.
   • Then, click on "Subscribe to this group"
   • Follow the subsequent steps, depending on whether or not you already have a Google account
   • When applying, please include a note indicating who you are from my class.
   • Make sure that you sign up to receive either individual e-mails or a "daily digest" option. You are strongly advised against any option that results in you not receiving e-mails because that increases the likelihood of you missing important information!
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4. Download the JDK, and get set up with an editing tool.
   
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   • Download Here
   • Make sure you get a version that is compatible with your machine. (For simplicity, I highly recommend JDK 6!)
   • 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.
   • As far as editing tools go, you at least need a text editor -- even something as simple as Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac). However, it makes your workflow somewhat slower when you have to edit, compile, and run your programs from separate applications. To this end, you are probably better off with an integrated development environment (IDE).
   • If you go to this link, you can use the first 3 videos as a guide to the setup process. It shows you how to download the JDK, compile and run a simple Java program, and get set up with Eclipse. The one caveat I will offer is that you should not follow the presenter's lead when it comes to naming your classes and files. For example, he creates a class called "apples" in a file called "youtube.java"; moreover, he starts the class code with just "class" rather than "public class". In this course, you should instead follow the guidelines I give you: title case for class names and file names that match class names.
   • 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:
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     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.

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5. Answer the following questions:
   • How many of the tasks were you able to complete?
   • What were the main obstacles you encountered, if any?
   • How did you go about attempting to solve these things?
   • What things do you still need help on?

Failing to complete every one of these tasks before turning in the assignment won't necessarily mean a bad grade on this homework. I do, however, need to see evidence of your thought process, strategy, and good-faith effort to do so.