CS 1401 Assignment #1

Due Date: correspondingly, Thursday, September 8, 2005, or Friday, September 9, 2005, before the beginning of your lab section.

The goals of this assignment are:

• Practice problem solving techniques
• Get started using BlueJ
• Learn how to comment your programs

Problem 0: Starting BlueJ
The first thing you will need to do is to open a tool that will help you create your Java programs. For this semester, this tool is BlueJ. Look for the BlueJ icon either on your desktop or the Start Menu and launch BlueJ.

The first time you launch BlueJ, a window called BlueJ Launcher will ask you to select a Java version. For this, you need to do the following:

• Click on the Advanced button at the bottom left of the window. The window will expand to show more information.
• Click on the Search drives for all Java versions ... button at the middle right of the window.
• If an error dialog appears, press the Cancel button.
• BlueJ Launcher will start looking for the available Java versions on the computer. Eventually, a version of Java will appear in the top area of the window.
• Select this version of Java and click on the Launch BlueJ button. BlueJ will now start running.

Problem 1. Your First Program (5 points)
Follow the TA's instructions to create a new BlueJ project in your own drive (H:). It is recommended that you create your programs in this drive since only you have access to it, so you won't be at risk of someone else stealing your work (and that can lead to trouble).

• Follow the TA's instructions to import a Java class program from the Z drive to your new BlueJ project.
• Follow the TA's instructions to open the imported program in the BlueJ editor.
• At the top of your add some comments that provide a description. This description will contain your name, e-mail address, lab time, date, assignment number and teaching assistant. You should include this header on every Java program and class you create. Your teaching assistant will explain you how to add comments.
• Follow the TA's instructions to compile and run the program you modified.
• Follow the TA's instructions to print out the program you modified. You will have to enable printing on your account before printing with BlueJ, but you will get help doing that.
• Follow the TA's instructions to be able to locate where your Java files are. It is important for you to know where BlueJ places your files for future reference.

Problem 2. Book Exercise (5 points)
Page 6 of your textbook presents three phases for creating a program. For this exercise, you will practice working with the Problem-Solving Phase.

Using the three steps of the Problem-Solving Phase, try to solve the problem presented in Figure 1.13 on page 24 of your book. You should not try to write a program. Rather, write out what you do to follow the three steps of the Problem-Solving phase applied to the problem.

Problem 3. Book Exercise (5 points)
Using the steps of the Problem-Solving phase, work on problem 2 on page 38 of your textbook.

Problem 4. Drawing Algorithm (5 points)
Using the steps of the Problem-Solving phase write an algorithm that will help anyone draw the picture below without that person being able to see it.

Make sure that you are specific enough so that there are no misunderstandings or extra additions to the drawing. Try having someone outside of class (a friend or family member) go through the steps and see how they perform.

Note: You can use descriptions such as draw a triangle or make a circle but not descriptions such as draw a rocket or like a sky-scraper.

Deliverables
A printout of all of your classes with your name and modifications on them. Your TA will instruct you.