The purpose of this assignment is to introduce you to programming in Java and familiarize you with the mechanics of preparing and submitting assignment solutions. Your goal this week is to learn to use DrJava for editing, compiling, and executing programs.

Hello, World.  The purpose of this step is to set up your computer for developing Java programs.

• Working at home. If you want to work on your home computer, follow the step-by-step instructions for your operating system: Windows, OS X, or Linux. If you're on the Princeton network, then you can download the files faster via our ftp server. If you are familiar with your operating system, you should be able to finish this part on your own. If you are hesitant, bring your laptop to Friend 017. The lab is staffed in the evenings with knowledgeable TAs who can assist you. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

• Working in a public cluster. If you prefer to work in one of the OIT public clusters follow the instructions for Windows or Mac OS X (depending on which you will be using), but skip the steps that involve installing software because Java and DrJava are already installed. If you are hesitant, work in Friend 017. The lab is staffed most evenings with knowledgeable TAs who can assist you. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Programming.  Your job is to write four short programs on your own. We'll assume that you've already created, compiled, and executed HelloWorld.java by following the instructions in the previous part of the assignment.

1. Modify UseArgument.java to make a program HiFour.java that takes four names as command-line arguments and prints out a proper sentence with the names in the reverse of the order given, so that, for example,

   % java HiFour Alice Bob Carol Dave
   

   outputs

   Hi Dave, Carol, Bob, and Alice. 
   

2. Boolean and integer variables. Write a program Ordered.java that reads in three integer command-line arguments, x, y, and z. Define a boolean variable isOrdered whose value is true if the three values are either in strictly ascending order (x < y < z) or in strictly descending order (x > y > z), and false otherwise. Print out the variable isOrdered using System.out.println(isOrdered).

   % java Ordered 10 17 49
   true
   
   % java Ordered 49 17 10
   true
   
   % java Ordered 10 49 17
   false
   

3. Floating-point numbers and the Math library. The great circle distance is the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere if you are constrained to travel along the surface. Write a program GreatCircle.java that takes four command-line arguments x1, y1, x2, and y2 (the latitude and longitude, in degrees, of two points on the surface of the earth) and prints out the great-circle distance between them (in nautical miles) using the following formula derived from the spherical law of cosines:

   

   This formula uses degrees, whereas Java's trigonometric functions use radians. Use Math.toRadians() and Math.toDegrees() to convert between the two.

   % java GreatCircle 40.35 74.65 48.87 -2.33      // Princeton to Paris 
   3185.1779271158425 nautical miles  
   

4. Type conversion.   Several different formats are used to represent color. For example, the primary format for LCD displays, digital cameras, and web pages, known as the RGB format, specifies the level of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) on an integer scale from 0 to 255. The primary format for publishing books and magazines, known as the CMYK format, specifies the level of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) on a real scale from 0.0 to 1.0.

   Write a program RGBtoCMYK.java that converts RGB to CMYK. Read three integers red, green, and blue (not all zero) from the command line, and print the equivalent CMYK values using these formulas:

   

   Hint. Math.max(x, y) returns the maximum of x and y.

   % java RGBtoCMYK 75 0 130       // indigo
   cyan    = 0.423076923076923
   magenta = 1.0
   yellow  = 0.0
   black   = 0.4901960784313726
   

Writeup.  With each assignment you must submit a text file named readme.txt that is a narrative description of your work. We provide a readme.txt that you should use as a template. Download this file and answer all questions in the space provided. You will need to read the COS 126 Collaboration Policy in order to answer the related questions in your readme file.

Questionnaire.  Part of this assignment is to fill out the following brief questionnaire.

Browsing the course website.  The next part of the assignment is to browse the COS 126 website. The address is:

http://www.princeton.edu/~cos126

Submitting the assignment.  The final part of the assignment is to submit HelloWorld.java, HiFour.java, Ordered.java, GreatCircle.java, RGBtoCMYK.java, and readme.txt via the Web submission system called Dropbox. To do this, click the Assignments link from the course website; click the Submit link for that assignment; and (if you aren't already logged in) login using your OIT NetID and email password. Upload the required files, and click the Check All Submitted Files button. Your programs should compile without errors or warnings; if not, fix the problem and resubmit the appropriate files. Remember that every file you submit needs to have your name, netID, and precept number.

Getting help. If anything is unclear, don't hesitate to drop by office hours or email us. We also recommend reading the checklist, which provides some clarifications and answers to frequently asked questions.