Java Technology and Development

A five-day hands-on overview of the Java language and environment

Audience

Programmers, Technical IT Managers, World-Wide Web Administrators and Developers, other IT Personnel and Consultants.

Overview

The Java programming language attracts enormous interest throughout the on-line community. IT professionals are also recognizing the importance of such technologies. This course will provide an understanding of what Java is, its history, how it works and is used, its application areas, industry support, competing technologies, and so forth.

The course includes a number of practical exercises spread over the five-day period.

Objective

The aim of this course is to provide a proper description and overview of Java as a programming language and distributed system technology. At the end of the course the student will have a sufficient understanding of Java to enable him or her to undertake software development using Java in various situations, including the development of executable content for the World-Wide Web and the construction of stand-alone applications.

Note: Java is strongly derived from C so knowledge of C or C++ is needed for this course.

Day One: The Java Language

An Overview of Java

An examination of why Java is the sensation it is; where it came from and what it can do:

• history
• comparing Java to other languages
• buzzwords: simple, object-oriented, distributed, robust, secure, architecture neutral, portable, interpreted, high-performance, multithreaded, and dynamic.

The Basic Java Language

An overview of the more straightforward of Java’s features together with a brief comparison of Java with its ancestors: C/C++:

• tokens
• reserved words
• types and data values
• operators
• garbage collection

Java Tools

A look at Sun’s Java Development Toolkit (JDK):

• why choose the JDK?
• JDK for Windows95/NT4:
  • appletviewer
  • javac
  • javah
  • java
  • javadoc
  • javap
  • jdb
  • rmic
  • jar
  • javakey

A quick look at some other tools:

• IBM VisualAge for Java
• Microsoft Visual J++

Programming Java Applications

Writing standalone applications in Java:

• program structure and environment
• application versus applet
• a whole new phylum: aglets, servlets, beans

More Basic Java

More data types:

• arrays
• strings

The flow of control:

• if, switch, for, while, do
• labeled statements

Some of the changes Java 1.1 has brought to the language:

• desktop colors
• internationalization
• deprecated features
• ‘blank’ finals
• anonymous arrays
• type wrappers

Day Two: More Java Language/Java Applets

Object-Oriented Programming with Java

An examination of the features that make Java an Object-Oriented language:

• classes and objects
• constructors and object finalization
• methods, overriding and parameter passing
• initializers
• inheritance and the IS-A/HAS-A relationships
• accessing run-time type information
• encapsulation: packages visibility modifiers and techniques
• abstract classes
• interfaces

The New Java 1.1 Object-Oriented Features

Java 1.1 introduced a number of features that substantially increased the power and flexibility of the language:

• reflection
• inner classes:
  • nested top-level classes
  • member classes
  • local classes
  • anonymous classes
• instance initializers

More Java Language

An examination of the ways in which Java promotes creating robust software:

• exceptions
• using and understanding threads:
  • the Runnable interface
  • synchronization: mutual exclusion and critical sections
  • conditions

Java Applets

Java and executable content on the World-Wide Web:

• applet capabilities
• the <APPLET> tag
• responsive applets
• dual-purpose applets and applications

Day Three: User Interfaces & Java’s Abstract Windowing Toolkit

An AWT Overview

A look at the basic concepts underlying Java’s “window on the world”:

• the Abstract Windowing Toolkit (AWT):
  • aim
  • fundamental organization

Using Java for simple graphics programming:

• primitive graphics tools
• sounds in applets

Multimedia and Interactivity

Multimedia is one of the driving forces behind Java:

• color handling
• fonts
• images
• animation and double buffering

More AWT

The building blocks of a Java User Interface:

• components:
  • button
  • checkbox
  • scrollbar
  • menu
  • label, text area and text field
  • canvas
• containers:
  • panel
  • frame
  • window
  • dialog
• event handling
• layout managers

AWT Enhancements

The enhancements and changes that Java version 1.1 introduced:

• a new event model
• delegation
• listeners and adapters
• lightweight components
• printing
• data transfer; copy and paste; drag and drop

Java Foundation Classes

• Java 2D
• model-view-controller paradigm
• ‘swing’ components
• drag & drop

The Stream Zoo

A look at some of the many classes for handling input/output:

• standard streams
• “mix & match” capabilities
• files
• random access streams
• tokenizers
• serialization and externalization
• writer classes

The Java Utility Classes

An overview of the classes supplied to remove the need for developers to have to “reinvent the wheel”:

• type wrappers
• vector
• enumeration
• hashtable
• property
• random, stack, date, bitset
• Java Collection Classes

Day Four: Advanced Java Programming

Java Beans

An introduction to the Java-based component software infrastructure:

• why Java beans?
• properties:
  • simple
  • indexed
  • bound
  • constrained
• events
• methods
• the BeanInfo class

Security

An examination of why and how Java claims to be a secure programming environment for the World-Wide Web:

• the sandbox
• the bytecode verifier
• the class loader
• the security manager
• hostile attacks
• code signing
• access control lists

Java Database Connectivity

A look at interfacing Java with SQL-based relational databases:

• the DriverManager class
• drivers
• connections
• statements
• SQL Utility classes
• ResultSet handling
• metadata

Native Code

A look at the facilities that exist to allow Java to interact with other programming environments:

• Java Native Interface
• Java invocation API

Day Five: Distributed Systems Using Java

Java features aimed at making the development of distributed systems easier:

• URL
• URLConnection
• sockets:
  • clients
  • servers
• Remote Method Invocation
  • naming
  • clients
  • servers
  • stubs & skeletons
  • security
• Servlets
• Enterprise Java Beans
• Java and CORBA

The Future

An overview of some of the exciting developments currently happening in the Java world, such as JDBC, the “100% Java” initiative and the Network Computer.

 

The new internet-focussed software architectures now on the drawing boards of the World-Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and the major vendors are being planned around a triumvirate of standards-oriented XML-based technologies: SOAP, the Simple Object Access Protocol; WebServices; and UDDI, the Universal Description Discovery and Integration system. These new technologies are fated to become ever more important as they slowly assume the role of underpinning major initiatives such as Microsoft’s .NET and grow to provide the foundation for much of what HP, IBM and the various members of the open source community are intending to provide for the next iteration of the Internet.

This session will provide an overview of the new business-to-business technologies that are being promulgated for what some cynics have called “basically a more object-oriented, somewhat buzzword-compliant upgrade to CGI” and others have more charitably called the “grown up internet.”

 

 

About The Course
This is an intensive two-day course designed to provide attendees with sufficient knowledge to incorporate JavaScript into their toolbox of useful technologies. The course is aimed at developers who want to apply JavaScript to their browser-based projects, and also for those who need to know how the language and its environment is developing to be applicable in a more widespread context.

Who Should Attend
Basic programming experience using a modern programming language such as C, C++, Visual Basic, or Java is required. A rudimentary understanding of object oriented concepts is also useful.

Participants should also be familiar with, and be able to construct basic web pages using ‘raw’ HTML, rather than via higher-level tools such as Macromedia Dreamweaver or Microsoft FrontPage.

Objectives
This course will provide participants with the ability to:

1. Understand the history, purpose and utility of JavaScript as a web technology
2. Become familiar with the features of the JavaScript language
3. Know how when and where to use JavaScript most effectively
4. Form a perspective on industry support and future issues related to the development of JavaScript
5. Develop more capable web-based applications using this inexpensive technology option
6. Use JavaScript outside of its traditional browser-based confines

Please note: this course is not intended to be a “JavaScript How-To” and does not focus purely on using JavaScript as a technology integrated into a web browser.

Topics
The following key topics will be covered over the two day period:

1. Introduction to JavaScript (including an overview of concepts, industry standards, the purpose of the language, comparisons with other similar technologies, multi-tiered and thin client applications, etc.)
2. JavaScript and the various browser environments (including the browser object/instance model, event handling, etc.)
3. JavaScript techniques (including form validation, graphics, localisation, security, etc.)
4. Integrating JavaScript with other technologies such as Java, various W3C recommendations, and the Windows Scripting Host
5. Industry support (including browser support, development tools and products, versioning, etc.)

The course includes a number of practical exercises and case studies designed to highlight the features and application of JavaScript in a variety of situations.

 

Description
This three-day workshop will present an overview of XML—the World-Wide Web Consortium’s eXtensible Markup Language. XML is viewed as a key technology that is pushing the Internet ‘forward’ and enhancing its capacity to support e-commerce and foster a viable on-line marketplace. XML is not just about the Internet however, it has many applications in the wider business arena—it is being touted as the standard infrastructure underlying next-generation middleware systems—and is finding its way into many products and portions of the enterprise. For example, Microsoft has incorporated support for XML into Internet Explorer and its Office 2000 product suites. XML is also strongly supported by organizations such as IBM, Oracle, Sun, Netscape, Hewlett-Packard and Adobe.

Course Objectives
Participants will examine the concepts behind XML, the standardization activity occurring in the XML community and also look at how to apply XML with particular reference to deploying XML on the World-Wide Web. The workshop will also examine a number of XML-related technologies. Participants will also gain an understanding of how XML can be used to resolve many common data-exchange problems. Through various exercises, they will also gain a hands-on working knowledge of that flavour of XML currently supported by Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.

Audience
This workshop is suitable for programmers working on Internet or Intranet applications, other developers who need to know how XML will affect their work and people interested in the exchange of data between disparate systems.

All modules have a strong practical component, which enables each participant to learn from hands-on experience and from others while working alone or in small teams. Participants will also receive a full copy of supporting notes, designed to complement the instruction and workshops. Participants should have some prior knowledge of programming and the older, but more widespread, HTML technology.

Outline of Contents
Day 1

• Introduction
• Markup languages
• Introducing XML
• Application areas for XML: information management; searching; database integration; messaging, etc.
• XML structure and syntax
• The Document Type Definition (DTD)
• XML as data: data types and namespaces

Day 2

• Formatting XML: CSS and XSL
• Extensible Query Language (XSL) Patterns
• Linking with XML: Xlink and Xpointer

Day 3

• XML Document Object Model (DOM)
• Simple API for XML (SAX)
• XML Gallery (SMIL/HTML+TIME, SVG/VML, MathML, WML, etc.)

 

Audience
Users of the UNIX operating system who want to develop more in-depth administration skills, World-Wide Web site developers and administrators who are interested in hosting their site under UNIX, other IT personnel and consultants who need to understand UNIX system administration.

Overview
The popularity of the UNIX operating system has increased steadily over the last decade or so. The system’s stability and scalability has led to it becoming the system of choice for enterprise-level applications such as hosting mail and World-Wide Web servers and providing database services. At the same time, the growing acceptance of popular, freely available derivations such as Linux and FreeBSD means that UNIX is reaching out to the desktop as never before.

The growth of UNIX means that skilled administrators are in great demand.

Objectives
At the end of this course, the participant will have:

• gained a working knowledge of UNIX configuration, maintenance and tuning
• developed skills to enable him/her to automate many of the day-to-day aspects of running a UNIX system
• developed skills sufficient to enable him/her to administer a UNIX-based user community
• become aware of some of the various security issues surrounding UNIX
• gained the ability to solve system-related problems as they occur
• obtained an appreciation of the widespread UNIX administrator’s community and of the resources that are available to support him/her

Sample Course Overview
The system administration course will cover the following topics.

Day 1
Introduction

• UNIX history, current status and future
• versions of UNIX
• UNIX architecture and design
• UNIX administration features and foibles
• the system administration task

Configuring the Kernel

• why configure?
• detecting, selecting and describing devices
• system parameters
• testing and recovery from errors
• dynamic configuration

Examining the Bootup Process

• stages
• booting single-user
• boot-time options and configuration scripts

Day 2
Adding Disks/Devices and Dealing With Filesystems

• taking a hardware inventory
• filesystem types
• the UNIX view of devices
• formatting disks
• making a filesystem
• checking filesystem integrity

User Management

• UNIX user facilities
• adding and removing users
• accounts and groups

Accounting and Security

• setuid and setgid executables
• checking the security of an installation
• UNIX accounting facilities
• quota management

Day 3
Backing Up and Restoring Files

• backup strategies
• UNIX tools

Periodic Activity

• UNIX’s cron and at commands

Printer Management

• installing local and remote printers
• print queue management

Day 4
Monitoring and Maintaining a Unix System

• syslog
• CPU and memory performance
• installing applications
• man page maintenance

Automation of Administrative Tasks

• writing shell scripts
• PERL

Network Configuration

• TCP configuration
• NFS and NIS
• PPP for dialup connections

Network Security

• firewalls
• S/Key authentication
• TCP Wrappers
• SSL
• checking system integrity

Day 5
Interworking UNIX

• file sharing with SAMBA

Hosting a World-Wide Web Server

• Apache

The X Window System

• client/Server architecture
• system-level
• user-level configuration

Miscelleny
Wrapup