J A V A   ~ ~  J a v a S c r i p t
programming JAVA sundials sun dials
Java Script  
programs for sundials

GRAPHICAL AND TEXT:    hDialG   vDialG
vDecG use vDecG Sh in calendarCurves



from Illustrating Shadows ~ Java Script is
interpreted by web browsers and such things,
it is not compiled. The logic for these
programs is discussed in Programming Shadows,
here, it is free, so enjoy it.
JAVA ~ using NetBeans     (not Java Script)
Java (as opposed to Java Script, is compiled to an intermediate code which can be run on almost any
machine.

free system available from... Sun... see url below

One of the simplest ways to have success is to use an IDE (integrated development environment) such as NetBeans

http://www.netbeans.info/downloads/index.php

and NetBeans requires the JDK and one of the download options is to include both the JDK and the IDE.  NOTE: The SDK (software development kit) has
been replaced with JDK.

Once you have the free NetBeans and its required JDK, install them. They are both needed.

Then download these notes on how anyone can write a JAVA program. I have put the code in these notes for a graphic display for a PC based application.
These notes are no longer in teh old file, they are part of the big Programming Shadows book you get with the CD or online download.

Simon's JAVA notes                  

These use my PBE model of programming, see below.   This has excellent screen images of NetBeans as code is developed, shows how to do graphics and
buttons etc on the same window, and has the source  code for the h-dial using graphics, as well as some critical notes not mentioned in the java books.   
Updated Jan 16, 2008 Updated April 14, 2013

Simon's hDial program                         Folders: hDialJava                          in: hDialJava.zip
This is the complete library structure for the h-dial producing graphic output and assumes you have NetBeans and its JDK.  

Simon's h  and v Dial program             Folders: hvDialJava                         in: hvDialJava.zip
This is the complete library structure for the h-dial and v-dial producing graphic and tabular output and assumes you have NetBeans and its JDK. Builds on
the hDial program.

Simon's h, v, and vDec Dial program   Folders: hvdDialJava                       in: hvdDialJava.zip
This is the complete library structure for the h-dial and v-dial producing graphic and tabular output and assumes you have NetBeans and its JDK. Builds on
the hDial program.
___________________________________________________________________

PBE model of programming  ~ ~ ~ (programming by example)

There are several books that are helpful, one is "JAVA In Easy Steps" by Mike McGrath, and is based on a text based non graphical development
environment, called the "command line". Steam engine stuff. Another includes an SDK on a CD and is "Programming With JAVA in 24 Hours" by Rogers
Cadenhead, this gets into graphical IDEs. The SDK (software development kit), renamed JDK (JAVA development kit) is required whether you want to do
non graphical nurd type programming using antiquated UNIX ideas, or, whether you want to use a WYSIWYG system, one that graphically hels you see
what you want, and makes your life easier by generating code for the uer interaction "forms", and stubs for the associated code.

This section continues the "PBE" philosophy, namely "Programming By Example". Having started programming in 1966, and having written code for BAL,
PL/I, RPG, COBOL, ALGOL, APL, FORTRAN, C, BASIC, C++, and for operating systems from mainframe DOS, MFT, MVT, VS1, MVS, GCP (under VM),
UNIX, and various PC operating systems, I have become jaded enough to wade right in and see what works, rather than read several hundred pages of text
that mix the language with the object oriented concepts with the development system. PBE it is.

JAVA is strictly typed, so work has to be done to explicitely convert FLOAT to DOUBLE and so on. Similarly going between text and numeric present
challenges.These types of problems are in my opinion a function of poor original language design, and its revisionism, and thus a growth that is
programmer driven rather than driven by language architects. There is no reason whatsoever for any modern language not to provide consistent predictable
methods for converting data between types.

Do not misunderstand me, JAVA excels in being multi platform and in allowing web or computer based applications. It is strongly typed (converting
between data types is a hemrod), it is event driven as is Visual Basic, and it is very object oriented.

Enough of my rantings on the state of programming today, I feel that 45 years programming (some part time but paid commercial programming, while I
flew for the airlines) give me the privilege of commenting. Here, for those who got the book, CD, or online download, are my
JAVA notes which have
extensive details of pure Java programming along with classes and methods, as well as similar programs in Java Script using functions not classes.

But I do encourage the language designers to properly design languages up front, to properly define their language, to allow for logical open ended
architecture, while providing meaningful language specifications, meaningful language examples, and stop having versions every few weeks, and thus
obsoleting code written the previous year. The modern language community, the people who design a language, would do well to see how things were
done 40, 30, and 20 years ago. Based on the feedback that I get, I do not believe I am alone in believing there is a need for more predictable language
development, and effective (not more) documentation usable by the average person.
 
programming JAVA sundials sun dials
programming JAVA sundials sun dials
programming JAVA sundials sun dials
JAVA ~ using Eclipse                  (not Java Script)

free system available from... Sun... see url below

One of the simplest ways to have success is to use an IDE (integrated development
environment) such as Eclipse. Simpler than NetBeans, and it also has available a
GUI system called jIgloo that like Eclipse, works first time.

http://eclipse.org/

Eclipse supports AWT for graphics, as well as jIgloo for forms based applications. The
ZIP file here has useful startup notes on Eclipse, jIgloo, and also has FROM SCRATCH
the hDial depicted to the right.