Module: Integrated development environments

Introduction to integrated development environments and Eclipse.

Learning Outcomes

Understand the benefits of IDEs

You understand the benefits of an IDE and why it is cost-effective despite the learning curve.

Acquire capability with the Eclipse IDE

You develop capability with the Eclipse IDE that enables you to develop software efficiently and effectively.

Readings

Introduction to IDEs

ROI of IDEs, basic capabilities, our class standard IDE.

screencast 13 min

Eclipse tricks, Volume 1

Real estate optimization, the Go Into package explorer command, split screen mode

screencast 7 min

Eclipse configuration guide

Installation, the ICS-SE formatter, Web Tools extension, Word-Wrap, Checkstyle, editor configuration, file associations, refresh using native hooks

Eclipse Workbench User Guide

Editors and views, projects, resources, files, searching, and perspectives

Eclipse Java Development User Guide

Java projects, browsing, creating classes, renaming, moving and copying, navigation, searching, running, debugging.

Why can't programmers program?

“Like me, the author is having trouble with the fact that 199 out of 200 applicants for every programming job can’t write code at all.”

You can't teach height: measuring programmer competance via FizzBuzz

“If you’re hiring someone to sing, it’s reasonable to have them sing at the interview.”

Experiential Learning

A08: Install Eclipse

Verify that you can install Eclipse on your laptop.

A09: FizzBuzz in Eclipse

Verify that you can solve FizzBuzz using Eclipse

Assessments

Java, Eclipse, and writing capability

Outcomes assessed: Acquire capability with the Eclipse IDE, Create high quality technical writing

This assessment verified that students could implement a trivial Java program using the Eclipse IDE and write up their experiences in an appropriate manner.

Discussion:

  • All students were able to implement the (trivial) system.
  • Two of the students wrote an excellent posting.
  • Four of the students wrote postings with significant grammatical problems or without useful insight.