Software and Programming I (Level 5)

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 5
• Convenor: Dr Panagiotis Charalampopoulos
• Assessment: problem-solving exercises: coursework (30%), in class assessment (20%) and coursework with a project assignment (50%)

In this module we discuss the basic procedural and object-oriented features of the Java programming language. You will learn how to edit, compile and run small Java programs.

Indicative syllabus

• Primitive data types and operators in Java
• Branching and looping statements, variable scope
• Arrays: the enhanced for loop, basic array algorithms and using arrays with methods
• Objects and classes; creating objects and constructors; manipulating objects and methods
• Access modifiers: public and private
• Passing objects as references; reference this
• The qualifier final for constants
• Instance and class variables and methods
• Packages
• Inheritance

By the end of this module you will be able to:

• understand and explain advanced object-oriented features of the Java programming language, including inheritance, polymorphism and encapsulation
• utilise primitive data types, operators, branching and looping statements, and variable scope to develop complex Java programs
• design and implement Java programs using arrays, objects, classes and packages, incorporating access modifiers and the final qualifier
• analyse more complex algorithms, applying advanced problem-solving strategies
• evaluate different approaches and select the most efficient solutions for a specific problem
• edit, compile and run Java programs using standard tools (IDE and compiler), including the use of packages and class libraries
• develop Java applications that utilise inheritance, polymorphism and encapsulation to solve real-world problems.