Introduction to Programming

What it covers

• Primitive types, control flow, classes/objects, encapsulation, stack vs heap
• Arrays, ArrayList, Set; inheritance, polymorphism, equals()/hashCode()
• Exceptions, debugging, Checkstyle-driven code quality
• I/O (Scanner, files), string manipulation
• Functional Java: streams, lambdas, map/filter
• Basic thread/concurrency programming

Assessment

Two exams, each worth 50%, each needing ≥5.0: a Theoretical Exam (WebLab, closed-book except Javadoc; MC + open + short programming) and a Programming Exam (3h, open-book practical in IntelliJ — lecture slides, Javadoc, and a read-only sandbox allowed, no internet). Non-compiling code auto-fails that exercise; full style points need Checkstyle ≤4 warnings, full test points need ~80% JUnit line coverage. Bonus available from a Week 5 midterm and Week 8 mock exam. Pass mark 5.8 (rounds to 6). Resits run in Quarter 2.

Resources

• Java Full Course – BroCode — recommended primary video course; chapters 1-47 plus 74 (generics), 75 (serialization), 77-78 (threads).
• Java Tutorial – Telusko — comprehensive alternative; OOP in Java – Telusko is the condensed version.
• Worked past exams (old-curriculum CSE1100, still representative): 2017 Theory & Programming, 2018 Programming, TA solving a mock.
• Java API docs — navigating these fast is worth marks in a timed exam.
• Java Pub House podcast — best after this course, during CSE100.

Worth knowing

• Non-compiling code scores zero on that exercise — confirm the build before submitting anything in the programming exam.
• Streams/lambdas and threads are recent (~2022-2024) syllabus additions; pre-2022 papers under-represent them.
• Now gates entry to CSE200 Software Project — on top of the BSA, a fail here blocks Year 2 progression specifically.
• An optional, ungraded entry test at the start of the course is aimed at students with prior programming experience.