1. The Mental Landscape

When you begin a journey, it’s a good idea to have a mental map of the terrain you’ll be passing through. The same is true for an intellectual journey, such as learning to write computer programs. In this case, you’ll need to know the basics of what computers are and how they work. You’ll want to have some idea of what a computer program is and how one is created.

Since you will be writing programs in the Java programming language, you’ll want to know something about that language in particular and about the modern, networked computing environment for which Java is designed.

[ 1. The Mental Landscape । Programming Using Java ]

As you read this chapter, don’t worry if you can’t understand everything in detail. (In fact, it would be impossible for you to learn all the details from the brief expositions in this chapter.) Concentrate on learning enough about the big ideas to orient yourself, in preparation for the rest of the book. Most of what is covered in this chapter will be covered in much greater detail later in the book.

More topic of this chapter:

1.1. The Fetch and Execute Cycle: Machine Language

1.2. Asynchronous Events: Polling Loops and Interrupts

1.3 The Java Virtual Machine

1.4 Fundamental Building Blocks of Programs

1.5 Objects and Object-oriented Programming

1.6 The Modern User Interface

1.7 The Internet and the World-Wide Web

Quiz on Chapter 1

One of the components of a computer is its What is a CPU and what role does it play in a computer?

Explain what is meant by an “asynchronous event.” Give some examples.

What is the diﬀerence between a “compiler” and an “interpreter”?

Explain the diﬀerence between high-level languages and machine language.

If you have the source code for a Java program, and you want to run that program, you will need both a compiler and an What does the Java compiler do, and what does the Java interpreter do?

What is a subroutine?

Java is an object-oriented programming language. What is an object ?

What is a variable? (There are four diﬀerent ideas associated with variables in Java. Try to mention all four aspects in your answer. Hint: One of the aspects is the variable’s name.)

Java is a “platform-independent language.” What does this mean?

What is the “Internet”? Give some examples of how it is used. (What kind of services does it provide?)

1. The Mental Landscape । Introduction to Programming Using Java