Programming Assignment Checklist: Hello World

Questionnaire

Part of this assignment is to fill out the following brief questionnaire.

Goals

Regardless of the operating system that you choose, the goal of Assignment 0 is to make sure that you can:

• Find relevant material from the course web page and booksite.

• Edit, compile, and execute a Java program.

• Submit your assignment electronically via the course web page.
  Note: you won't be able to submit an assignment until you are registered in SCORE for a precept.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a checklist? The programming assignment specifies the general programming assignment. The checklist contains supplemental information, and you are expected to read it prior to submitting your work. Some examples include: links to any preliminary code, reference solutions, a readme.txt template, hints, and frequently asked questions.

What preparation do I need to complete this assignment? Read Section 1.1 and Section 1.2.

It's the first week of class. Do I really need to start reading the text? Yes. Getting off to a good start will save you alot of energy in the long run. If you don't understand something, email or visit your preceptor for assistance. Don't be bashful about asking for help.

I don't understand all of the jargon in HelloWorld.java. Should I drop the course? Absolutely not! We'll explain this in the first or second precept. Do the readings and and bring any lingering questions to the first precept.

What's the difference between the textbook and the booksite? Reading a book and surfing the web are two different activities: This booksite is intended for your use while online (for example, while programming and while browsing the web); the textbook is for your use when initially learning new material and when reinforcing your understanding of that material (for example, when reviewing to prepare for an exam). Also, some of the booksite is still under construction, so there are gaps.

Do I have to use DrJava? No, feel free to use any development environment you like.

How should I read in user input? Use command-line arguments as specified in the assignment and described in Section 1.2. You will receive a significant deduction for not following directions. We will learn about other ways to handle input in Section 1.5.

The template readme.txt file doesn't view properly in Notepad? Use DrJava instead. Be careful to save the file as readme.txt and not as a Java file. Do not use a word document editor such as Microsoft Word which will save the file in a different format.

What's Moodle? Moodle is the system you will use to submit assignments and check grades.

When I login to Moodle, my browser asks me whether I should accept a "security certificate." How should I proceed? Accept it permanently. We need to establish a secure connection so that you can submit assignments and check grades with reasonable privacy.

When I submit HelloWorld.java, the system does not seem to check off that I have submitted it. Why not? Be sure the file is named HelloWorld.java. The capitalization and .java extension are important. Also, be aware that DrJava creates backup files with a .java~ extension, so be sure that you don't submit these. If you use Windows, we recommend configuring your system to unhide the filetype extensions.

How do I use the "Run Script" button? Click it. Note that it activates only after all of the required files have been submitted.

The great circle distance formula seems to lose accuracy when the two points are nearby. Why? The formulas are exact for a sphere. What you are observing is the result of rounding error from computing with floating-point numbers. Stay tuned for the Scientific Computing lecture. Here are some more accurate formulas for computing the great circle distance.

Submission

Submission. All assignments submissions are electronic. Here are some guidelines.

• Use the web-based submission system. We do not accept email or hardcopy submissions.

• The assignment (and submission form) specifies exactly which filenames to use. These names are case-sensitive (even if your operating system is not case-sensitive). Do not deviate from these instructions in any way. We begin grading your submissions by running an automated script. You will lose a substantial number of points if you don't follow these instructions.

• Do not submit .class files. Our grading script automatically compiles your .java files.

• After you have submitted all of the required files, be sure to hit the Run Script button. You risk losing a substantial number of points if you do not do so (and correct any compilation errors).

• Be sure that every file you submit includes your name, login, and precept number.

• The readme.txt file is a narrative description of the work you did on your program. This is the first thing the grader will read. Each week, we'll provide a template readme.txt file. Be sure to answer any questions that are contained in the template readme.txt file. The readme.txt file must be a text file—Microsoft Word .doc or .docx formats are unacceptable.

Formatting.

• Format your code consistently. Use 4 spaces for each indentation level. (If you followed our instructions, DrJava will already be configured to do this.) DrJava can automatically re-indent your code: highlight a block of code and hit the Tab key.

• Do not use hard tabs. (If you are using DrJava, you are all set.) Different systems and tools display and print hard tabs differently. Hard tabs are obsolete: in ancient times, they were used for data compression. Modern text editors support soft tabs, which automatically substitute spaces for tabs.

• Do not exceed 80 characters per line. Long lines are hard to read and will annoy your grader. Use line breaks as needed. This rule also applies to the readme.txt file.

Enrichment

Here's the ACM Hello World Page. It contains everyone's first program in over 200 programming languages.