Core Java Programming Developer's Workshop

Course subjects

Module 1: The Java Platform
Introduce the Java platform and its architecture, including the Java Standard Edition, JVM responsibilities, and the lifecycle of a Java program. Students will also explore garbage collection and learn about Compact Source Files & Instance Main Methods for simplified program entry points.

• Introduce the Java Platform

• Explore the Java Standard Edition

• Discuss the lifecycle of a Java Program

• Explain the responsibilities of the JVM

• Executing Java programs

• Compact Source Files & Instance Main Methods

• Garbage Collection

Module 2: Using the JDK
Walk through the JDK file structure and how to compile and run Java programs from the command line. This lesson emphasises documentation, code reuse.

• Explain the JDK's file structure

• Use the command line compiler to compile a Java class

• Use the command line Java interpreter to run a Java application class

• Documentation and Code Reuse

• Lab: Exploring MemoryViewer

• Lab: The SwingSet demo

Module 3: Using the IntelliJ IDE
Learn the basics of IntelliJ IDEA, including projects, modules, and running applications. Students practice with IntelliJ IDEA and gain experience navigating modern Java IDE workflows.

• Introduce the IntelliJ IDE

• The Basics of the IntelliJ interface

• IntelliJ Projects and Modules

• Creating and running Java applications

• Tutorial: Working with IntelliJ (Community Edition)

Module 4: Writing a Simple Class
Understand the structure of a simple Java class, defining variables, creating instances, and implementing a main method. Students also learn about Java keywords, reserved words, and object references.

• Write a Java class that does not explicitly extend another class

• Define instance variables for a Java class

• Create object instances

• Primitives vs Object References

• Implement a main method to create an instance of the defined class

• Java keywords and reserved words

• Lab: Create a Simple Class

Module 5: Adding Methods to the Class
Dive deeper into classes by writing accessor methods, constructors, and using this for clarity. This lesson also introduces annotations, deprecation, and reinforces best practices through a hands-on lab.

• Write a class with accessor methods to read and write instance variables

• Write a constructor to initialise an instance with data

• Write a constructor that calls other constructors of the class to benefit from code reuse

• Use the this keyword to distinguish local variables from instance variables

• Introducing annotations

• Deprecating classes and methods

• Lab: Create a Class with Methods

Module 6: Object-Oriented Programming
Explore the principles of OO programming through real-world examples. Students learn how objects, classes, methods, and messages interact, building a strong conceptual foundation.

• Real-World Objects

• Classes and Objects

• Object Behavior

• Methods and Messages

• Lab: Define and use a New Java class

• Lab: Define and use Another Java Class (optional)

Module 7: Language Statements
Practice Java language constructs including operators, loops, and conditional logic. Special focus is placed on Switch Expressions, the yield keyword, and Pattern Matching with Primitive Types introduced in Java 25.

• Arithmetic operators

• Operators to increment and decrement numbers

• Comparison operators

• Logical operators

• Return type of comparison and logical operators

• Use for loops

• Switch Expressions

• Switch Expressions and yield

• Primitive Types in Pattern Matching (instanceof and switch)

• Lab: Looping (optional)

• Lab: Language Statements

• Lab: Switch Expressions

Module 8: Using Strings and Text Blocks
Work with the String class and related utilities, compare String, StringBuffer, and StringBuilder, and practice text handling with Text Blocks and Unicode support.

• Create an instance of the String class

• Test if two strings are equal

• Perform a case-insensitive equality test

• Contrast String, StringBuffer, and StringBuilder

• Compact Strings

• Text Blocks

• Unicode support

• Lab: Fun with Strings

• Lab: Using StringBuffers and StringBuilders

Module 9: Fields and Variables
Clarify variable scope and distinguish between instance, method, and block variables. Students also learn about static and final fields, as well as default values.

• Discuss Block Scoping Rules

• Distinguish between instance variables and method variables within a method

• Explain the difference between the terms field and variable

• List the default values for instance variables

• Final and Static fields and methods

• Lab: Field Test

Module 10: Specialising in a Subclass
Examine inheritance by extending classes, overriding methods, and using instanceof. Students learn Pattern Matching for instanceof and explore Flexible Constructor Bodies added in Java 25 for improved subclass initialisation.

• Constructing a class that extends another class

• Implementing equals and toString

• Writing constructors that pass initialisation data to parent constructor

• Using instanceof to verify type of an object reference

• Overriding subclass methods

• Pattern matching for instanceof

• Safely casting references to a more refined type

• Flexible Constructor Bodies

• Lab: Creating Subclasses

Module 11: Using Arrays
Introduce arrays, covering declaration, allocation, initialisation, and variable argument methods.

• Declaring an array reference

• Allocating an array

• Initialising the entries in an array

• Writing methods with a variable number of arguments

• Lab: Creating an Array

Module 12: Records
Learn how Records serve as immutable data carriers. Students define records, write canonical and compact constructors, and build lightweight domain objects.

• Data objects in Java

• Introduce records as carrier of immutable data

• Defining records

• The Canonical constructor

• Compact constructors

• Lab: Records

Module 13: Java Packages and Visibility
Understand packages, imports, accessibility levels, and modularity. This module highlights Module Import Declarations from Java 25, which simplify modular code.

• Use the package keyword to define a class within a specific package

• Discuss levels of accessibility/visibility

• Using the import keyword to declare references to classes in a specific package

• Using the standard type naming conventions

• Introduce the Java Modular System

• Visibility in the Java Modular System

• Module Import Declarations (simplifying module dependencies)

Module 14: Utility Classes
Explore wrapper classes, autoboxing, enums, static imports, and the Date/Time API. Students practice formatting, enumerations, and text handling.

• Introduce the wrapper classes

• Explain Autoboxing and Unboxing

• Converting String representations of primitive numbers into their primitive types

• Defining Enumerations

• Using static imports

• Introduce the Date/Time API

• LocalDate / LocalDateTime etc.

• Apply text formatting

• Using System.out.printf

• Lab: Enumerations

• Lab: TextBlocks

• Lab: Working with Dates (optional)

Module 15: Inheritance and Polymorphism
Delve into polymorphism, type casting, and overriding rules. Students see how inheritance supports reusable, flexible designs.

• Write a subclass with a method that overrides a method in the superclass

• Group objects by their common supertype

• Utilise polymorphism

• Cast a supertype reference to a valid subtype reference

• Use the final keyword on methods and classes to prevent overriding

• Lab: Salaries - Polymorphism

Module 16: Interfaces and Abstract Classes
Contrast abstract classes and interfaces, and learn when to use each. Students implement both, gaining clarity on contracts and polymorphic design.

• Define supertype contracts using abstract classes

• Implement concrete classes based on abstract classes

• Define supertype contracts using interfaces

• Implement concrete classes based on interfaces

• Explain advantage of interfaces over abstract classes

• Explain advantage of abstract classes over interfaces

• Lab: Interfaces

Module 17: Sealed Classes
Learn how Sealed Classes and Interfaces restrict and control inheritance hierarchies. Students also see how sealed types integrate with pattern matching.

• Introduce sealed classes

• The sealed and permits modifier

• Sealed interfaces

• Sealed classes and pattern matching

• Lab: Sealed Classes

Module 18: Pattern Matching
Explore modern Pattern Matching in Java, including switch expressions, sealed classes and record patterns.

• Pattern Matching in switch statements

• Pattern Matching and sealed classes

• Record Patterns

• Lab: Pattern Matching

Module 19: Introduction to Exception Handling
Cover the basics of Java's exception hierarchy, and practice writing try/catch blocks to handle runtime errors.

• Introduce the Exception architecture

• Defining a try/catch blocks

• Checked vs Unchecked exceptions

• Lab: Exceptions

Module 20: Exceptions
Deepen exception handling with custom exceptions, try-with-resources, suppressed exceptions, and enhanced null-safety features.

• Defining your own application exceptions

• Automatic closure of resources

• Suppressed exceptions

• Handling multiple exceptions in one catch

• Enhanced try-with-resources

• Helpful NullPointerException(s)

• Lab: Exceptional

• Lab: Helpful Nullpointers (optional)

Module 21: Building Java Applications
Learn the build process, standard project layout, and dependency management. Students practice with Maven.

• Explain the steps involved in building applications

• Define the build process

• Introduce build scripts

• Explain the standard folder layout

• Resolving project dependencies

• Tutorial: Importing code Using Maven

Module 22: Introduction to Generics
Understand the purpose of generics, parameterised types, bounded wildcards, and best practices for type-safe collections.

• Explain the purpose of generics in Java

• Identify the risks of using non-generic collections

• Describe how to define and use generic classes

• Implement generic methods in Java

• Distinguish between raw types and parameterised types

• Apply type parameter naming conventions in generic code

• Demonstrate the use of bounded types and bounded wildcards

• Lab: Working with Generics

Module 23: Introducing Lambda Expressions and Functional Interfaces
Introduce functional programming concepts in Java, focusing on lambda expressions, functional interfaces, and utility methods.

• Identify the core differences between functional and object-oriented programming

• Explain the purpose and structure of functional interfaces in Java

• Demonstrate how to implement functional interfaces with lambda expressions

• Utilise utility methods that accept functional interfaces as parameters

• Optimise lambda expressions for clarity and conciseness

• Use generic functional interfaces for flexible code reuse

• Lab: Lambdas

Module 24: Collections
Review the Collection API, collection types, and iteration. This module includes newer collection features like Sequenced Collections.

• Provide an overview of the Collection API

• Review the different collection implementations (Set, List and Queue)

• Explore how generics are used with collections

• Examine iterators for working with collections

• Sequenced Collections

• Lab: Create a simple Game using Collections

Module 25: Using Collections
Apply sorting, comparators, and lambdas to collections. Students work with Sequenced Sets and practice collection manipulation.

• Collection Sorting

• Comparators

• Using the Right Collection

• Lambda expressions in Collections

• Sequenced Sets

• Lab: Using Collections

Module 26: Streams
Shift from imperative to declarative programming using the Stream API. Students learn filtering, finding, and collecting elements effectively.

• Understanding the problem with collections in Java

• Thinking of program solutions in a declarative way

• Use the Stream API to process collections of data

• Understand the difference between intermediate and terminal stream operations

• Filtering elements from a Stream

• Finding element(s) within a Stream

• Collecting the elements from a Stream into a List

• Lab: Working with Streams

Module 27: Collectors
Practice advanced collection operations, grouping, and statistical aggregation using the Collectors utility class.

• Using different ways to collect the items from a Stream

• Grouping elements within a stream

• Gathering statistics about numeric property of elements in a stream

• Lab: Collecting