• Java text     other Java texts
• Iclickers
• Matlab text
• USB storage devices
• DrJava

The text for programming in Java

The main text for CS100J is Multimedia Introduction to Programming Using Java, by Paul and David Gries. This is a paper text together with a CD, called ProgramLive, which is "livetext". It comes on a CD and has over 250 recorded lectures, with synched animation. The text for each lecture is readily available (and you could print them out). The availability of recorded lectures makes it easy for you to listen to material as often as and whenever you wish. Moreover, some concepts are made far more understandable using recorded lectures rather than printed material.

If you buy this text used, make sure it has a CD in the sleeve in the back inside cover and that the sleeve has an adhesive-backed piece of paper on it that gives the serial number. Don't buy a used book that does not have the CD and serial number.

In addition, the livetext has an extensive glossary, a hypertexted index, lab material, and much more. Make heavy use of it! Finally, the livetext comes with a workbook, which we will reference from time to time.

The text is available only in the Cornell bookstore. Previous versions of the ProgramLive CD are out of date and are not used in this course.

Listen-to-Watch the CD ProgramLive often.

Other Java texts

You may use any other text that you wish as a reference, although with Course text and accompanying CD, another text should not be necessary. Here is a sample of conventional texts:

• Cai Horstmann, Big Java.John Wiley, 2002. (Horstmann has some other books that you might use.)
• Nino/Hosch, Introduction to Programming and Object Oriented Design using Java. John Wiley, 2002.
• Lewis/Loftus, Java Software Solutions: Foundations of Program Design (3rd edition). Addison-Wesley, 2000.

The Engineering Library (Carpenter) maintains a number of books on reserve, including the required and optional textbooks for this course.

IClickers

Each student is expected to buy an iclicker from the Cornell Bookstore (they may be sold back at the end of the semester). You should bring the iclicker to every lecture. It will be used in discussions to determine how well you are understand what is being done, in quizzes, and perhaps even for attendance —the latter only if attendance drops noticeably.

We expect that the use of iclickers will contribute to your learning the material and to your participation in lectures.

USB storage devices

You may need a USB storage device, often called a "storage key". This USB storage device will hold anywhere from 50MB to 1GB. It looks like a fat pencil and can fit in your pocket. If you don't have one, in the ACCEL lab, you can email yourself the files at the end of the lab.

You need some way to save your work that you do in the labs because:

• No personal files may be left on CIT's public machines.
• CIT frequently cleans out files on the public machines.

So, you must store your files on your own disks.

REMEMBER: Back up your work regularly to protect yourself in case something is lost, e.g. the night before the due date.