One of my biggest hurdles I have come across since taking on Java is really getting my head wrapped around the OOP (object oriented programming) idea. Most of my previous experience wtih visual basic and php was procedural programming. Because of this, my mind is stuck thinking in those terms.
All the e-books I have been going over describe OOP as something that “should” be easy to grasp. A class is a classification of an object. An object is a noun, like a dog, that can be described attributes or fields: four legs, two ears, two eyes, brown, tail, etc. A method is how that dog interacts with other objects: playFetch(), catchFrisbee(), peeOnLeg(), etc.
Okay, so that seems pretty simple. I get these things. However, I don’t see how the hell I can relate that methodology to creating an application for LDAP or even a simple calcualtor for Marine Corps Cutting Scores (the score that gets us promoted).
Luckily, the internet has a plethora of information and I found it on a Stanford student’s website. Jos Claerbout wrote the paper back in 1999. It isn’t on the intricacies of Java. Since OOP is a method or style or paradigm of programming, it doesn’t change as much over time so the age of the document is less relevant than its style.
Mr. Claerbout’s paper is called Don’t fear the OOP. He uses a trashy western novel as his focus to describe OOP. Each idea is presented in “pretty” colors. If in green, the idea is discussed in terms any literate human could understand. If in yellow, it is a bit more programmatical but still not full fledged “programming talk”. And, if in red, it is all about the code. I can’t say I have ever read a paper that used these styles of teaching but it works. It has been a great reference to put me over that edge so I can get beyond the rut I’ve been stuck in.
The internet really is a great place…
Tags: java, OOP
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July 29th, 2008 at 4:23 am
Well, speaking as someone who was around during it’s infancy - I agree. It is so amazing when you try to grasp how much info is really out there.
I was teaching a class about the use of the internet search engines the other day. I was amazed to see that the current estimate of Google’s size/scope is that they are using approx 450,000 servers at any one time! Almost incomprehensible. Of course, their servers are mostly used CPUs. But imagine servicing all of them…
And the number of pages available on the web: A low, conservative estimate (based on some Dutch studies) puts the number of pages that can be accessed at around 50,000,000,000 (that’s Billion). Accessing one page a minute (not really possible) would take you about 100 years to look at only 50,000,000 (Million) of them.
Truly an amazing change in all our lives. Go to Google and type in Teaspoons in a quart: it will answer. It is now able to anticipate what you are looking for by the question you ask!!
Whoo. I need a nap after all that….
Hurry home, bud. We miss you.
Dad & Wendy
July 30th, 2008 at 2:25 am
Hey Andy,
I ran into Carrie Buckel today. She left DCS over a year ago to have a child and has come back one day a week. She asked about you. Of course she didn’t know your circumstances so I filled her in. She sends all her best.
Dad
August 1st, 2008 at 2:21 am
When we were at the hospital to see Angelic for the first time, you were listening to music on a new toy you had. Remember, Hunter was fixated on it? What was it called and who makes it?
Dad
August 4th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
OK, maybe one of these will start some dialog:
It is not hard to live through a day, if you can live through a moment. What creates despair is the imagination, which pretends there is a future, and insists on predicting millions of moments, thousands of days, and so drains you that you cannot live the moment at hand.
-André Dubus
“In this age, which believes that there is a short cut to everything, the greatest lesson to be learned is that the most difficult way is, in the long run, the easiest.”
-Henry Miller
“Hope” is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I’ve heard it in the chillest land
And on the strangest sea,
Yet never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
Composition date: 1861
-Emily Dickinson
You won’t go far or fast - if you’re always hanging your head down. What would Grandma June have to say??
Dad
August 8th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Hey Andy!
Just wanted to let you know we are here reading your Blog. I just upgraded my blog to Wordpress 2.51, trying to get 2.6 upgrade automagically from Fantastico at Bluehost.com, does not seem to be and option and I am not ready to upgrade it on my own….yet.
Hope to see you soon!
Uncle Johnny, Auntie Phuong, Johnny and Jeffrey
August 16th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Hello and HAPPY BIRTHDAY How did you spend your B-DAY ? Hope to see your wife and daughter this weekend. I just left a message with her. Natalie and I have been here in Chelan since the end of July and we have a couple more weeks till back to school YIPPEEEE Natalie has conquered the 2 wheel bike riding !!! Hugh for her . ALso she has conquered her fear of waterslides. Weldon bought the season pass to slide waters and so we have been up a couple times and that is all it took. TIMING ! She loves the water and loves slides but never together. I am busy with projects around the house here and just being with my daughter, ITS FAB !!! Weldon had skin cancer removed from his head a couple weeks ago and had some staples in his head. They are out now and you would never know. The doctor did a great job. I tell people that he had his head adjusted. We are all good and look forward to the big party when you get back. I heard about the dvd video you made for Rose, can’t wait to see it. Love you lots