CSC 551: Web Programming Spring 2004

Java Overview
Design goals & features platform independence, portable, secure, simple, object-oriented,
Programming models applications vs. applets vs. servlets intro to applets libraries, comments, classes, inheritance applet tag in HTML applet parameters
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Java
Java was developed at Sun Microsystems, 1995
originally designed for small, embedded systems in electronic appliances initial attempts used C++, but frustration at limitations/pitfalls recall: C++ = C + OOP features the desire for backward compatibility led to the retention of many bad features

desired features (from the Java white paper):

simple platform independent dynamic distributed object-oriented architecture neutral interpreted multi-threaded robust portable high-performance secure

note: these are desirable features for any modern language thus, Java has become very popular, especially when Internet related also, Sun distributes free compilers (JDK) and open source

Language features
simple
syntax is based on C++ (familiarity easier transition for programmers) removed many confusing and/or rarely-used features e.g., explicit pointers, operator overloading, automatic coercions added memory management (reference count/garbage collection hybrid)

object-oriented
OOP facilities similar C++, all methods are dynamically bound pure OOP everything is a class, no independent functions*

robust
lack of pointers and memory management avoids many headaches/errors libraries of useful, tested classes increases level of abstraction arrays & strings are ADTs, well-defined interfaces
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Language features (cont.)

platform independence
want to be able to run Java code on multiple platforms neutrality is achieved by mixing compilation & interpretation 1. Java programs are translated into byte code by a Java compiler byte code is a generic machine code 2. byte code is then executed by an interpreter (Java Virtual Machine) must have a byte code interpreter for each hardware platform an Applet is a special form of Java application byte code is downloaded with page, JVM is embedded in browser no implementation dependent features (e.g., size of primitive types is set) byte code will run on any version of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) faster than traditional interpretation since byte code is "close" to native code still somewhat slower than a compiled language (e.g., C++)

architecture-neutral

portable

high-performance
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Language features (cont.)

distributed
extensive libraries for coping with TCP/IP protocols like HTTP & FTP Java applications can access remote URL's the same as local files

multi-threaded
a thread is like a separate program, executing concurrently can write Java programs that deal with many tasks at once by defining multiple threads (same shared memory, but semi-independent execution) threads are important for multi-media, Web applications

secure
Java applications do not have direct access to memory locations memory accesses are virtual, mapped by JVM to physical locations downloaded applets cannot open, read, or write local files JVM also verifies authenticity of classes as they are loaded Sun claim: execution model enables virus-free*, tamper-free* systems

Java programming models

Java applications are stand-alone programs
must be compiled into Java byte code by Java compiler, then distributed executed by an interpreter (Java Virtual Machine)

Java applets provide for client-side programming

compiled into Java byte code, then downloaded as part of a Web page executed by the JVM embedded within the Web browser unlike JavaScript, Java is full-featured with extensive library support Java and its APIs have become industry standards the language definition is controlled by Sun, ensures compatibility Applications Programming Interfaces standardize the behavior of useful classes and libraries of routines

Java servlets provide similar capabilities on the server-side

alternative to CGI programs, more fully integrated into Web server
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Java applets
important point: Java applets & applications look different!
if you want to define a stand-alone application, make an application requires public static void main function, similar to C++ main if you want to embed the code in a Web page, make an applet requires public void paint, public void init, can define dual-purpose programs, but tricky

as with JavaScript, security is central

when a Java applet is downloaded, the bytecode verifier of the JVM verifies to see if it contains bytecodes that open, read, write to local disk a Java applet can open a new window but they have Java logo to prevent them from being disguised as system window (e.g., to steal passwords) a Java applet is not allowed to connect back to other servers except the host this secure execution environment is called sand box model

First Java applet

import java.awt.*; import java.applet.*; /** * This class displays "Hello world!" on the applet window. */ public class HelloWorld extends Applet { public void paint(Graphics g) { g.drawString("Hello world!", 10, 10); // writes starting 10 pixels over & down } }

libraries: Java provides extensive library support in the form of classes

libraries are loaded using import (similar to #include in C++) java.awt: contains Abstract Window Toolkit (for GUI classes & routines) java.applet: contains the applet class definition

comments: // and /* */ work the same as in C++

also have /** */ which denote documentation comments (can be used to generate docs)
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First Java applet

import java.awt.*; import java.applet.*; /** * This class displays "Hello world!" on the applet window. */ public class HelloWorld extends Applet { public void paint(Graphics g) { g.drawString("Hello world!", 10, 10); // writes starting 10 pixels over & down } }

class definitions in Java

similar to C++ (but no semi-colon at end)
can contain instance variables (data fields) & methods(member functions) precede class & method definitions with public to make available to all programs

there are no stand-alone functions in Java* must be stored in a file of same name with .java extension
e.g., HelloWorld.java
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First Java applet

import java.awt.*; import java.applet.*; /** * This class displays "Hello world!" on the applet window. */ public class HelloWorld extends Applet { public void paint(Graphics g) { g.drawString("Hello world!", 10, 10); // writes starting 10 pixels over & down } }

all applets inherit from the Applet class (in java.applet)

default methods include:
init(): called when page is loaded to create/initialize variables

by default, does nothing paint(Graphics g): called to draw (after init) or redraw (after being obscured) here, the paint method is overridden to display text on the applet window
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Embedding an applet in HTML

to include an applet in a Web page, use either
APPLET tag (deprecated)
CODE specifies applet name, HEIGHT and WIDTH specify window size text between the APPLET tags is displayed if unable to execute (e.g., Java not enabled)

OBJECT tag
preferred for HTML 4, but not universally supported
<html> <!-- Dave Reed
hello1.html 3/20/04 -->

<head> <title>Hello World Page</title> </head> <body> <p> <applet code="HelloWorld.class" height=100 width=100> You must use a Java-enabled browser to view this applet. </applet> </p> </body> </html>

view page in browser

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HTML & applets

<html> <!-- Dave Reed hello2.html 3/20/04 --> <head> <title>Hello World Page</title> </head> <body> <p> <div align="center"> <table border=1> <tr><td> <applet code="HelloWorld.class" height=200 width=200> You must use a Java-enabled browser to view this applet. </applet> </td></tr> </table> </div> </p> </body> </html>

an applet can be embedded within HTML elements just like any other element useful for formatting and layout

view page in browser

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Parameters in HTML
<html> <!-- Dave Reed hello3.html 3/20/04 --> <head> <title>Hello World Page</title> </head> <body> <p> <div align="center"> <table border=1> <tr><td> <applet code="HelloWorld1.class" height=35 width=300> <param name="name" value="Chris"> <param name="age" value=20> You must use a Java-enabled browser to view this applet. </applet>

can specify parameters to the APPLET when it is embedded in HTML

each parameter must have its own PARAM tag inside the APPLET element specifies parameter name and value

</td></tr> </table> </div> </p>

</body> </html>

view page in browser

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Applet parameters
import java.awt.*; import java.applet.*; /** * This class displays a message based on parameters. */ public class HelloWorld1 extends Applet { public void paint(Graphics g) { String userName = getParameter("name"); int userAge = Integer.parseInt(getParameter("age")); String message1 = "Hello " + userName + "."; String message2 = "On your next birthday, you will be " + (userAge+1) + " years old."; g.drawString(message1, 10, 10); g.drawString(message2, 10, 30); } }

can access parameters passed in from the HTML document

getParameter accesses the value of the parameter (must know its name)

if the parameter represents a number, must parseInt or parseFloat

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