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Re: Absolute beginner question

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Helpful person wrote:
> On Mar 21, 2:36 pm, Patricia Shanahan <p...@acm.org> wrote:
>> Helpful person wrote:
>>> I have done a lot of programming in the past including a limited
>>> amount of object oriented programming.  I have never used Java and
>>> wish to learn this language/environment.  A search on line has taken
>>> me to the NetBeans site.  There they suggest installing the "Java
>>> Development Kit (JDK)" and the "NetBeans IDE".
>>> I am quite capable of teaching myself from books and online
>>> information.  However, is this the best way to start?
>> ...
>>
>> I suggest writing a few Java programs using whatever approach you are
>> most used to. If you have done a lot of command line and text editor
>> programming, I would start that way. If you are used to using an IDE,
>> then start by installing NetBeans or Eclipse.
>>
>> Once you get to the point of having more than a couple of classes, you
>> should switch to an IDE, even if you are not used to one.
>>
>> Patricia
> 
> Patricia, thanks for the reply.  Maybe I should give more
> information.  I have previously written complex programs using
> Fortran, an antiquated language and of little use today.  I have also
> used Visual Basic, an excellent alternative (for the non C programmer)
> and close to object orientated.  I have experience creating objects,
> classes, collections etc. with an amateur's attempt at programming
> "correctly".

Have you used Visual Studio? If so, I recommend going straight to an IDE.

> 
> I'm not sure what using an IDE entails.  Are you suggesting that I
> should not yet move to this stage?  I'm certainly happy to start right
> at the beginning if this helps me to understand better, even though it
> can be frustrating.

Use of an IDE is generally orthogonal to Java understanding. It is a
trade-off between an initial learning curve, and tools that make
managing complex project easier. An IDE will save you time by doing
things like displaying the documentation for a method whenever you hover
on a call to it.

Patricia

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Thread

Absolute beginner question Helpful person <rrrlllfff@gmail.com> - 2012-03-21 11:24 -0700
  Re: Absolute beginner question Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2012-03-21 11:36 -0700
    Re: Absolute beginner question Helpful person <rrrlllfff@gmail.com> - 2012-03-21 12:06 -0700
      Re: Absolute beginner question glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2012-03-21 19:35 +0000
      Re: Absolute beginner question Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2012-03-21 12:37 -0700
        Re: Absolute beginner question Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2012-03-21 12:39 -0700
      Re: Absolute beginner question markspace <-@.> - 2012-03-21 14:07 -0700
  Re: Absolute beginner question Helpful person <rrrlllfff@gmail.com> - 2012-03-21 17:52 -0700
  Re: Absolute beginner question Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2012-03-22 21:06 -0700
    Re: Absolute beginner question Gene Wirchenko <genew@ocis.net> - 2012-03-22 22:19 -0700

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