It is a great idea learning how to program with java.
I will continue with great interest the lessons.
I have a rsmedia and I wanted to learn how to manage it very well
Thank you
"Learn Java with RS Media" Introduction and Class Schedule
Categories: Java and the RS Media
![[article image]](/imagelib/contentitem/12018/12018-w150h150.jpg)
Welcome
Welcome to the Java Lessons of RoboDuke, the Javarian. I am RoboDuke, an RS Media robot made by WowWee and purchased at Java One in May, 2007 (more info). I currently reside at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, Virginia where I will be used to teach the wonders of Java Programming to students of all ages. I got my name through a contest sponsored by the local Java User’s Group. Duke (my namesake, the Java mascot) and I are new to RoboCommunity. Stop by my profile page and say hi. My sidekick, Diane Wolff, has been teaching Java since the dark ages, and is currently working on grants from HP and Verizon for using Java to program hand held devices like cell phones and Blackberries (did you know that I use the same version of Java - JavaME - as a cell phone?). Together, we will open up the wonders of Java for you!
We will be using the book Head First Java by Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates (Buy Now from Amazon.com) so grab yourself a copy if you have not already done so. The software that we will be using is called NetBeans (a free development tool for Java by Sun Microsystems). My sidekick Diane has written some instructions for downloading and installing the Netbeans software. NOTE: Microsoft Word 2003 or higher required.
There is a new section of RoboCommunity called the Java RS-Media Central Command. This is the command center for all Java and RS Media activities on RoboCommunities, including my class. Here, you will find all course lessons posted, tutorials and practice problems utilizing the Head First book, and much much more. Each lesson will be represented in its own article on the site (like this one). Diane and I plan on posting a new lesson every two weeks, so keep your eyes peeled. You can work through the material at your own pace. We will use the "Comments" section of each article to post official discussion for that topic. Also, make sure you familiarize yourself with the Java and RS Media discussion forum, which is packed with useful and interesting information on Java and the RS Media. Don't hesitate to post more general questions there as well.
If you want to post code or a sample program related to the topic, do so by choosing the “Preformatted” text option in the comment editing box on RoboCommunity, and pasting your code into the comment. (We are working on implementing a file attachment utility, but that may not be available until sometime in December).
We know that you come from a variety of backgrounds, from the programming novice to the officially-certified Java dude. Everyone is welcome to join the class, and everyone is welcome to contribute questions, ideas, sample programs and cool code. Please let us know if you need more examples, explanations, or samples. Our goal to turn everyone into a Java guru and a RS Media programmer!
Tentative Class Schedule
| Module | Date Posted | Book Chapters | Topics Covered |
| 1 | Nov 26th | 1-2 | Java from 10,000 feet. Introduction to Objects and Classes. Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Quick Tip on Naming |
| 2 | Dec 8th | 3 | Primitive and reference variables | Quick Tip: ints & doubles | Quick Tip: Scanner Class Problems |
| 3 | Dec 26th | 4 | Methods, methods and more methods |
| 4 | Jan 13th | 5 | Review of constructs. Methods in depth and Program Design |
| 5 | Jan 29th | 6 | The Java API |
| 6 | Feb 13th | 7 | Why is inheritance so cool? |
| 7 | Feb 20th | 8 | Polymorphism and interfaces |
| 8 | Mar 5th | 9-10 | Lifecycle of objects and statics |
| 9 | Mar 19th | 11 | Exception handling |
| 10 | April 2nd | 12-13 | GUI, GUI, and more GUI |
| 11 | April 16th | 14 | File I/O, serialization |
| 12 | April 30th | 15 | Multi-threaded and network applications |
| 13 | May 7th | 16-17 | Data Structures and code deployment |
| May 6-9 | MEET AT JAVA ONE! | ||
| --- | Midlets and JavaME. Sun Java Robot Extension and RS Media APIs |
We can continue with other topics if you like such as more hand held programming, server-side Java, Java certification, etc. The schedule is still tentative, and I'm sure will be more and more dynamic as the weeks and months roll on. Give us your feedback early and often.
Look forward to having you in class.
-RoboDuke (and Diane)
Read more in: Java and the RS Media
About the Author
November 24, 2007 11:57 PM
December 4, 2007 1:42 PM
hi i just order my rs media and will recive it in about a week. along with Head First Java by Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates. and would like to try to learn java. will try to catch up.
December 5, 2007 3:19 PM
Hi, great class! I have been looking for some Java tutorial using Eclipse and what better way to learn. I just picked up a RS Media this week and just found this class. I have had some Java lessons a few years ago but this is a great way to refresh and get some practical experience. Looking forward to it! Helmut
December 6, 2007 6:51 AM
Hi All,
Have been reading the first 2 chapters in the book and my head is spinning a bit at the moment.
It is fun though, and last night I sat down and wrote the program on Diane's birds (with lots of help by looking at the samples, I mean lots). Scratched my head for a while but how fun when it worked!! Love it.
Question: Are we going to send our code for the program we make to Diane or RoboDuke at the end of the lessons as jar files, so we can get feedback on what we do wrong or where we should do it differently? I guess a program can be written in many ways so I think it is probably important that we don't get used to bad habits. (Habits that may seem good to me, but are not if you know what I mean).
Can't remember seeing any notes regarding this.(I am tired so I may have missed it except a hint in the video)
To those of you who have not started yet, this is very fun indeed! I feel like a little kid in an endless playground at the moment. Just need lots of time..so I can learn how to play.
All the best,
Kind regards
OzMan
December 6, 2007 7:42 AM
You can pick from four choices. The first is to certainly send it to RoboDuke and Diane (dwolff@vw.vccs.edu) and they will be more than happy to look at it! Or any extra ones above and beyond that you would like to write. Also - in every next lesson, there is will be answers and discussions about the suggested programs from the previous one. Third- the Breeze session for each lesson will go through those suggested problems from the previous lesson. And also-we would be HAPPY to do an interactive Breeze session and verbally discuss these and anything else you might have questions about. Diane and RD
RobosapienV2-4mem8
Member
- member since: 03/02/2007
- rank: 3 of 1664
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December 6, 2007 11:12 AM
Hi, Is the book essential for this course?
People yearn after this robotic dream, but you can't strip your life of all meaning, emotion and feeling and expect to function.
Robotic madness http://robosapienv2-4mem8.page.tl/
December 6, 2007 12:23 PM
I do refer to pages and the lessons follow the text, so I think you would miss quite a bit without the reading. It is a killer cool book and not very expensive on amazon.com.
December 8, 2007 12:16 AM
Hello
I have some questions:
1. - there will be some book in Spanish that is good me to take the lessons of Java.
2. - I could serve any book of Java and Neatbeans in Spanish.
3. - I have knowledge of Visual Basic they could serve me.
Thank you for their answers
December 8, 2007 3:55 AM
I teach college and have never been asked that question. Yes VB will help. Anyone know a good Spanish Java book? Diane
Robostuff
Member
- member since: 06/12/2007
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December 9, 2007 5:02 PM
Thanks for the Breeze sessions, they help immensely! They make the training a breeze, couldn't resist.
December 12, 2007 10:19 PM
I would like to join, though I may not be at my computer at times. Do I have to be very active in order to take classes?
I would like to join.
milw
Moderator
- member since: 03/10/2007
- rank: 5 of 1664
- 11 articles authored
- 12 blog entries posted
- 57 forum threads started
- 1160 comments
December 12, 2007 10:35 PM
No, you don't have to be very active. It's more 'do as much as you are comfortable with', and 'ask questions about whatever you don't understand'. If you go to RoboDuke's blog, you can go down the the first post and start getting your environment set up; then work through the problems and read the book. We're aiming to post lessons about every 2 weeks, and Lesson 2 was just posted on the 8th, so we're still early on! Also, come and join the Java Class group here (it's a new feature of RoboCommunity so we're still getting used to it). We'll try to keep class-related discussions there, so it's easier for RoboDuke (and us) to find!
Welcome to the class, and I hope you enjoy what we're doing!
cheers- Scott
Visit my Roving RoboReporter blog!
December 13, 2007 8:23 AM
Is it too late to join the class?
I'm new to JAVA and will be using Eclipse, IDE of choice at my day job, but do not have any exposure to RS Media. Should I use NetBeans to make it easier to keep-up?
milw
Moderator
- member since: 03/10/2007
- rank: 5 of 1664
- 11 articles authored
- 12 blog entries posted
- 57 forum threads started
- 1160 comments
December 13, 2007 8:39 AM
hi JavaHead, welcome! We're currently using Eclipse but will be getting into NetBeans further along in the course. (and by the way, it is not too late, it is never too late!). You can find the lessons by going to the Blogs page (tab at the top of every page here), and please join the RoboDuke Java Class group by going to the Groups tab at the top. I've also scattered links to these places among various messages, but the tabs are always there for you.
Enjoy, and don't hesitate to ask questions in the Class group!
cheers- Scott
Visit my Roving RoboReporter blog!
December 18, 2007 8:39 PM
Diane and RoboDuke
Hello
Question: you provided the Java Robot Extension and RS Media APIs in May
RoboDuke
Member
- member since: 11/21/2007
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December 19, 2007 6:51 AM
Not certain what you mean by "you provided". Wde are hoping to get copies by then but are at the mercy of Sun and Wowwee. Not certain where that stands at this point....
RoboDuke, the Javarian -- your guide to tomorrow's world of Java and robotics.
December 21, 2007 2:30 PM
im getting a rs media for xmas .help is this for dinosaur like me .been fan of robots all my life idea of having a friend forever ect every film ive watched .
it has allways intrested me teach bot to do things ,what is posible? i did a computer course as a kid on a bbc computer type in digits code ect . got a stick man up waving lol ,but thats where i left it im 32 had a little time on comp ,but not great .im a quick learner tho i am a tech for ford so always learnig do you think its for me im going to find the book have a look hope i can under stand it
RoboDuke
Member
- member since: 11/21/2007
- rank: 54 of 1664
- 1 articles authored
- 11 blog entries posted
- 1 forum threads started
- 14 comments
December 22, 2007 10:16 AM
Worth a shot! Programming is fun and you may get hooked on that as well. And I am here to help. RD
RoboDuke, the Javarian -- your guide to tomorrow's world of Java and robotics.
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