CMSI 186: Homework Assignment #0

Learning Outcomes: Students will (1) perform basic operations on their command line (terminal) application; (2) create repositories on GitHub; (3) perform basic operations with Git on the command line; (4) install and use a text editor; and (5) use the command line to compile and run Java programs.

Stuff to Get You Started [Setting Up Your Environment]

This is homework number zero, because as we all know, good computer scientists ALWAYS start counting at zero.

Learning outcomes — For this homework, you will ensure that your development environment is set up and working properly. Thus, you should accomplish the following activities:

  1. If you're going to be using computers other than those in the Keck Lab, get Java installed and working properly on your various devices; ask for as much assistance as you need from the TAs or instructors in the Keck Lab
  2. If you're going to be using computers other than those in the Keck Lab, get one of the text editors from the syllabus page installed, working, and configured to your taste [syntax colors, indentation, etc.]
  3. Create a text file, save it, and re-open it to ensure you are working ONLY with text, none of that fancy character stuff; if you have any doubt, try using it to type in a Javascript program that you know works, like a script that alerts something enclosed in double-quotes, then copy it and paste it into the JavaScript runner
  4. If you don't have one already, create a GitHub account for yourself; name it however you want, but remember that this account is likely going to be used for your entire LMU career [and possibly later] so a judicious naming of the account might be something to consider [like first initial, last name or some favorite non-profane nickname – some things like GeekPerv are probably sub-optimal]
  5. Read the documentation and find out how to create a repository [also called a repo] in your project to hold all your homework assignments for the semester; then create a project and name it CMSI-186_Projects. Please name it EXACTLY that, otherwise I won't be grading your submissions this semester
  6. Addition for Spring 2020 and later: you can also name your repo CMSI-186_<name> where <name> is some form of your name. For example, you might name your repo CMSI-186_Bob if your first name is Bob.
  7. Read the documentation and find out how to create a directory [or sub-directory, also called a folder] in your project, named homework00; please name it EXACTLY that, otherwise I won't be grading this homework submission
  8. On your local computer change to the new homework00 directory and use the editor you installed in step 2 to create [i.e., edit] a file called Greeter.java.
  9. Put in the contents as we walked through in class [on day two]. Save the file, then using the command line, compile and run the program Greeter that was discussed in class; make sure the output is what you expect.
  10. Back in the browser, open your GitHub repo, change to the homework00 folder, then click the upload files button to get the upload screen. Drag and drop the file Greeter.java to the upload area to stage the file. [You can do multiple files, but you won't need to for this exercise.]
  11. Scroll down to the bottom of the web page, enter a short commit message, then click the big green commit changes button to commit the Greeter.java program to your homework00 directory for evaluation.
  12. Pat yourself on the back for completing the assignment!

Notes:

  1. In step 5, the GitHub area you are now using is officially known as a repository and informally as your git or your repo, so don't freak out when you see those words used. When a task or instruction says commit to your repository or commit to your git or even just commit, it just means you are uploading the data to your GitHub area.
  2. There are three ways to go about managing your repo. You can use the browser-based method, which I will be using most of the time in class. You can also use a GUI-based desktop version which I usually use to download your submissions for evaluating them; you can get it for free from Git. There is also a command line way, which one of our stellar TAs will be giving a class on during the first or second week.

Submission Guidelines: Make a sub-directory in your repository as mentioned above, called homework00 and commit your Greeter.java source code into it. DON'T FORGET TO ADD A COMMIT COMMENT!