Transition from C++ to Java

Walt Savitch
University of California,
San Diego
wsavitch@ucsd.edu
Java: even a simple program is
.not simple
public class Program1
{
public static void main(String[] arg)
{
System.out.println("Hello World");
}
}
 Some Similarities between
C++ and Java
• Simple (primitive) types: int, double, char
• Control Structures if-else, switch, while, for
• Arithmetic expressions
• Both have a string type:
C++ string, Java String.
• Arrays
• Both have classes.
• Both have a "main".
 Some Differences between
C++ and Java
• Java has automatic garbage
collection. C++ does not.
• C++ has operator overloading.
Java does not.
• C++ says "function".
Java says "method".
These require no explanation, unless
students already know C++.
 More Differences

• C++ classes can be avoided. Java classes

cannot reasonably be avoided.
• C++ has built in console I/O. Java has no
standard console input (but does have
standard console output.)
• C++ and Java divide a program into pieces
(for separate compilation) in different ways.
These require some explanation.
C++ classes can be avoided.
Java classes cannot
.reasonably be avoided
Every compilation unit in Java is
a class. A program is a class with
a method named main:
public class Program1
{
( public static void main(String[] arg
}
 In Java,
every method is a member of
some class.

You cannot have a

freestanding (global) function
.in Java
 You can fake a "no classes"
program in Java by making all
.methods static

!But don’t do it
A Sample Java Class
public class PetRecord
{
private String name;
private int age;//in years

public PetRecord(String initName,

int initAge)
{
name = initName;
if ((initAge < 0))
System.out.println("Error");
else
; age = initAge
{
public void writeOutput()
{
System.out.println("Name: "
+ name);
System.out.println("Age: "
;(" + age + " years
{

{
C++ has built in console I/O.

Java has no standard console

input

(but Java does have standard

(.console output
C++: has cin, cout, cerr

Java has:
System.out.print and
System.out.println
but NO console input.

Solutions?
 :Solutions
• AP does not require console
input.
• There are classes for console
input that are not part of Java
but written in Java:
e.g., SavitchIn.readInt()
• JOptionPane, simple GUI I/O
 C++ and Java divide a
program into pieces (for
separate compilation) in
.different ways
C++: Traditionally has an
interface (header) file,
implementation file(s),
application (driver) file.

C++: Can confine a program

.to a single file if you want
• Java: A compilation unit is
always a class definition.
• Every class is in a separate file
(except for some special
cases).
• No header files.
• Normally, you have no one file
programs in Java.
 More Subtle Differences
• C++ has pointer types.
– Java has no pointer types .
• Assignment (=) and equality comparison
(==) have minor differences.
• C++ gives a choice of parameter types.
– Java: No choice of parameter types.
• Exception handling can be avoided in C++
– Exception handling is needed for some
fundamental things in Java, e.g. file I/O.
 Java has no pointer types
• But Java does have "pointers".
• In Java class (and array) types are
REFERENCE TYPES.
• A reference is a "pointer". All class
values in Java are handled as
references, but it is all automatic.
• In Java primitive types are just like in
C++.
• In Java a primitive type variable holds
values, just as in C++. int n = 42;
• Java a class type variable contains a
reference ("pointer") to the object
(value).
• However, this is all automatic. There
are no pointer types as such in Java.
PetRecord myDog =
new PetRecord("Fido", 3);
Note that all class objects are created
dynamically.
Assignment (=) and equality comparison
.(==) have minor differences

• On primitive (simple) types, = and ==

are the same in C++ and Java.
• In Java, = and == on classes (or
arrays) are comparing references
("pointers"),
• and you cannot overload (redefine) =
and == in Java.
Assignment (=) and equality comparison
.(==) have minor differences

• If (n = 0) ….
• In C++ this is probably an error with no
error message, assuming you meant to
use ==.
• In Java this generates a compiler error.
• In Java ints neither are nor can they be
type cast to Booleans
 C++: a choice of parameter types.
.Java: no choice of parameter types
• C++: Call-by-value
– void f(int n);
• C++: Call-by-reference
– void f(int& n);
• Other C++ variants:
– void f(const int& n);
– void f(const int n);
 C++: a choice of parameter types.
.Java: no choice of parameter types
• Java all parameters are call-by-value.
• But, it is almost like there are
different parameter types for primitive
types and classes.
Java: no choice of parameter types,
but
• All primitive type
parameters are automatically call-by-value.
public void f(int n)
{...}
• All class types are automatically something very
much like call-by-reference.
public void f(String n)
{...}
 C++: a choice of parameter types.
.Java: no choice of parameter types
• Java Full Story:
• In Java primitive types are just like in C++.
• In Java class (and array) types are REFERENCE TYPES.
• A reference is a "pointer". All class values in Java are
handled as references, but it is all automatic.
• All parameters are call-by-value of a reference.
 C++: a choice of parameter types.
.Java: no choice of parameter types
• Java Full Story:
• In Java all parameters are call-by-value.
• Parameter is a local variable initialized to the value of the
argument.
• Primitive types no surprises.
• Class type (local) variables hold references.
• Class parameters are call-by-value of a reference.
Java: no choice of parameter types
public void change(PetRecord r)
{
r.name = "FooFoo";
}
This really changes its PetRecord argument.
public void change(int n)
{
n = 42;
}
This does not change its in’t argument.
 .Java: no choice of parameter types
public void change(int n)
{
n = 42;
}
This does not change its int argument.
There is no way to write a Java method that has a
parameter for an int variable and that changes
the value of an argument variable.
There is no way to write a Java
method that has a parameter for an
int variable and that changes the
value of an argument variable.
?So, how do you manage to cope
• int n = computeNewValue();
• OR use class objects.
public class Stuff
{
private int n;
....
public void changeTheN(Stuff s)
{
s.n = 42;
}
}
 Exception handling can be avoided in
C++
Exception handling is needed for some
.fundamental things in Java, e.g. file I/O

Solutions:
AP requirements do not include file I/O.
Teach exception handling.
Fake it with "magic formulas"
 AP Exception Requirements
• Covers exceptions as error
messages.
• Does not cover try/throw/catch.
• Does not cover throws clause
(declaring exceptions).
 Exception handling in Java
Fake it with "magic formulas" approach:
public class TextFileOutputDemo
{
public static void main(String[] arg)
throws IOException
{
PrintWriter outputStream =
new PrintWriter(…));
outputStream.println("To file");
public class TextFileOutputDemo
{ //without magic formula:
public static void main(String[] arg)
{
PrintWriter outputStream = null;
try
{
outputStream = new PrintWriter(
new FileOutputStream("out.txt"));
}
catch(FileNotFoundException e)
{…}
outputStream.println("To file");
 Style Comparison C++/Java
Java uses loooong names:
e.g. FileNotFoundException
while C++ uses some abbreviations
Java spelling conventions:
ClassName, variableName, methodName,
LITERAL_NAME
Java has an official commenting style:
javadoc
 javadoc
Extracts an interface from a class definition.
May not need full blown details for AP
course, but be consistent with javadoc.
Comments before method headings:
/**
javadoc comment style.
*/
 Getting a Java Course
Off-the-Ground
Need some "magic formulas," but
Move to real classes quickly.
Do something about console input:
add console input class
use JOptionPane
use magic formulas
 "Magic Formulas"
public class ProgramName
{
public static void main(String[] arg)
{
means "begin".
Use this to explain simple flow of control then
quickly move to classes and explain what this
means.
 Console Input

You need to do something.

Use SavitchIn or some other console
input class or
Use a very messy magic formula or
Explain the formula (still messy) or
Use JOptionPane.
 GUIs
(Graphical User Interfaces,
(i.e., Windowing Interfaces
 GUIs
Not part of the AP requirements.
Applets: Designed to be used over the
internet. Can be used for ordinary
programs, but have some problems and
no easier than regular windowing systems.
"Regular Windowing Systems":
Swing Library is the latest version.
 Java Software
Java is well standardized.
SDK (aka JDK) Java compiler is free.
java.sun.com
Works well with Windows and Unix:
Want Java 2, version 1.4 or higher
(Standard Edition is enough)
Mac users have traditionally had limited
choices, but things are better now.
JJ works with all operating systems.
 Java Software for Mac
Good (free?) Java compiler for Mac OS X
(I’m told):
http://developer.apple.com/java/

Some of the good IDE’s for Mac

Code Warrior, BlueJ.

JJ Works for any operating system.

 IDEs
• Windows:
– TextPad (shareware): www.textpad.com
– use with Sun SDK
– Forte (free): java.sun.com
– Borland: www.borland.com
• Mac:
– BlueJ (free): www.bluej.org
– CodeWarrior: www.metrowerks.com
• JJ: Works with all operating systems.
– www. .LearnJavaNow.org/
 Text Books
Lots to choose from.
For example,
Walter Savitch
Java: An Introduction to Computer
Science and Programming,
Prentice-Hall.