Previously on CS399J...
My largest class ever. More than 50 people had signed up.
Phew! And they had a lot to say...
- What do you wish you had known before taking this
course?
- I wish I had known about networking and computer
security to learn this course better.
- Nothing really, I felt that I've got an knowledge of
what I expected. I fell that using references I can build onto
what I have learned.
- I wish I would have known that we need somewhat strong
programming. Those assignments are hard (not too hard) but I
need to spend lots of time for that. Luckily, I didn't take
hard classes this term, but if I did, I might not follow this
class.
- Java, gui programming so I could show off
- I wish I had a better command of UNIX and its shells
- Knowing the very basics of Java would have helped. One
of my biggest problems early on was how to set up paths for
packages and compiling.
- A little more about network programming, but really this
course covered all the basics so CS 161/162 probably would have
been sufficient.
- UNIX :( Not knowing it really screwed me throughout the
course.
- I was well-prepared for this course.
- Basics of networking, RMI
- If I knew a little more about networking my grasp of what
is going on in the .net API, and what can be done with it might
be a little less tenuous.
- Nothing before the class, but I kept forgetting to study
for the quizzes. I wish I hadn't.
- The beginning stuff. I wish I had some
rudimentary concept of an API & how to use other's
code.
- More basics about UNIX and more about networking
- Why monkeys smell funny? The course level was good, and
it built nicely so my previous knowledge was adequate.
- How to use Ant and JUnit
- I don't know how to answer this...the course provided
everything needed.
- Well Dave...I think you know this already! I wish that I
was familiar with the UNIX environment! However, struggling
through it for the first time is a key step in learning
something. Thank you for allowing me to struggle through
it.
- How to use Javadocs.
- Nothing. Couldn't think of anything.
- Many many UNIX commands.
- Java. :) Where to find a good parking sport at 5 PM on
campus.
- At first I think about the quizzes, but about 1/2 of them
is not even Java related subject so it is OK. Especially the
1st quiz. I had not programmed for a while so a little bit
shock.
- That I could have taken the class sooner. I really
enjoyed the course, learned a lot, and wish that there were more
like it offered at this university!
- How to debug Java programs. I know how to use gdb
but...
- More about networking
- Object oriented programming methods
- More about the Java classes
- Little background about Java before taking this course.
Then I don't have spend time to read Java book.
- How to program in Java, write Java applications and the
GUI
- I honestly can't think of anything. My previous
experience/education in programming and light Java experience
prepared me more than adequately.
- I wish I had known a little Java language to/in order
prepare for the class.
- Java APIs and how to really use them
- How to use Ant
- How to read Javadocs. How to compile Java code.
- UNIX. Basic background of networking.
- Nothing much, it's pretty straightforward
- Besides Java? That the programs are time consuming and
not to take a heavy work load. I was warned, though.
- A little bit of Java and XML
- Many people had different ideas about Java. I took this
class to experience it myself. I now know a little about Java
to compare with language I knew! I wish hat I had knowledge
about network before so I could have better understanding about
it!
- There's going to be an oral part on the final?
- I wish I had known XML language
- Who the one-armed man was who killed the doctor's wife
- My father's name! Daddy?
- What is the most important thing you have learned in
CS399J?
- The most important thing I have learned in CS399J is
learn coding in Java. Also use Java language to write XML file.
Especially, currently we're learning something really
interesting is Java network.
- Java...didn't know anything when I started.
- All of the lecture that we did. I didn't know about
Java, before I took this class, even though Java is a similar
(not same) to C, they are some difference that I should
know.
- Java, I liked the networking the most.
- Program to the interface
- The Java language I think
- The importance of getting the early stages of a large
project done correctly and on time. Also design and
planning.
- How to program in Java
- Implementing threads in a micromouse robot simulation
program I wrote would have helped the UI -- so maybe how to
implement different threads is the most important thing -- but
there's probably something more useful I'm not thinking
about.
- OOP, actual OOP, not what you attempt to do with C++
- This is a really powerful language: This language is
almost like the concrete instantiation of everything which has
been learned or done in the last 40 years of CS. If you learn
an API you learn something bout a general field as
well.
- Using classes & data abstraction
- The versatility -- I would have assumed that Java does
what some of the other languages do, but it appears to encompass
them all.
- How to program in Java
- Java in general. Probably interfaces.
- Good object oriented programming skills.
- Probably the examples of how/what you consider
"programming to the interface"
- Well, the XML information is very interesting. I really
am interested in all of it. Since I had never programmed in
Java before, it was all very new and exciting. I will have to
look more closely at Java security.
- Programming to the interface
- Learned XML and DOM structure. I thought this was very
useful in creating databases.
- How to work with jar files
- See above [parking spot]. Seriously, the most important
thing is probably a sense of understanding Java: of knowing that
I've been exposed to the basic concepts.
- How to program in Java and learn about OOP
- An overall understanding of the Java language and OOP. I
have had OOP concepts brought up in other courses. However,
unit this course I did not fully understand the usage and
relevance.
- Sorry, but this is really just another language class.
Aside from some interesting bits about Java this class didn't
teach me anything "important". A better question would have
been "...the most interesting thing..."
- That Java is now my favorite programming language
- Learning to use Java APIs, which makes programming in
Java really productive
- How to program in Java & understand how Java work with
server/client
- The most important thing I have learned in CS399 about
inheritance in Java and XML. Also about the server. But I was
behind in the class. Then I have to catch up.
- How powerful object-oriented programming is. How useful
Java can be! Networking, program to the interface, code
reuse.
- How adept Java is at handling objects
- The most important thing I learned from this class is
Java language, specifically security topic. I could say
networking.
- Object oriented programming
- Java Rocks!
- Working with other people's code
- Programming in Java
- Java sockets, network programming, serializable
- Differences between this and C++. The basics of the lang
and anything else that will help me through compilers.
- Programming in Java
- I know how to write program in Java programming language.
I had more experiences in debugging programs. I learn a NEW
language!
- Java
- The most important thing I have learned networking
working with Java.
- Java ins & outs. I have a much better understanding of
object-oriented programming.
- A better understanding of OOP (or was it POOP? I'm
confused.)
- If you could give one piece of advice to someone taking this
course in the future, what would it be?
- The advice to someone who will take this class in the
future is they should get to know/or learn some networking and
operating system before taking this course. It will be
helpful for them.
- Don't take other heavy programming classes at the same
time, you'll end up spending more time than necessary on the
Java assignments, just because they are fun.
- I would say that he should not take any time-consuming
class because he will spend lots of time for this.
- Keep up with the projects
- Watch out for the XML assignment that one seems to be the
hardest so far.
- Go to class you schmucks! :)
- Start on the POA right away. Begin programming early and
submit early. Be courteous and helpful to others.
- Make sure you know UNIX!
- Make sure you sign up for the email list. Otherwise you
may miss advance notice on quiz questions.
- Start your programs ASAP
- Test anything that could go wrong, start early on
programs.
- Because the workload -- study his code
- Have more knowledge about UNIX and networking
- Take it before you take compilers. Stay up on the
homeworks, they can easily bury you.
- Do some of the tutorials online -- at least get some sort
of Java programming under your belt.
- Have a good idea of how to do robust command line
parsing.
- Well...Maybe once...the lecture was going like
light-speed and I was like...Hmmm...But it was really
good for the most part. Oh year...For in the in-class
projects...maybe some setup notes or I don't know. I think you
PDF format slides are awesome. I like the way you put 4 slides
on a page...so I'm not flipping through 1000's of pages to find
information.
- To hack all the example code to make it work for what
they need.
- Ask a lot of questions over mailing lists. This helps A
LOT!
- It's a very fun class!
- Know/learn UNIX
- It is flexible in compare to other classes. I was warned
before taking this class that it is very heavy but I think it is
not that bad.
- "Sign up for this course!"
- Start assignments as early as possible and test them
until the computer bleeds.
- Look first at Dave's code and understand it before coding
your projects
- I would like to advise them to start working early on
their programming assignments.
- Head start on the program
- If I give advice to another student about this class, I
tell them they need to read Java book and understand syntax and
the way Java work. That way it much easy for them when they
start doing the program.
- "You're making the right choice."
- Start assignments as soon as they are given, some things
can take longer than you expect to get working.
- I would say take this class and apply to their career or
reference, because it helps a lot if that person learns more
about web.
- You'll be busy
- Keep up with the projects
- Read the notes before asking questions. Start projects
early.
- You need a lot of time for this course. Projects will be
assigned almost every week.
- Always give a courtesy flush after eating polish sausage
and beer the night before it in a public restroom.
- Spend time reading reference material
- Keep up on the programs...and beware of the extra hard
quizzes and final.
- Start the project early and don't wait to the last minute
to start.
- Listen to lectures and read it over again. Spend time in
doing projects!
- Have a good programming background
- I will tell that person spend a lot of time for the
homework.
- Pack your kleenex, this class is intense. You'll
laugh, you'll cry, you'll come out of it as a much more
productive member of society.
- What made you stay in this course?
- I want to learn more & deeply in Java. And also there
are some interesting topics are XML and networking which I
really want to learn.
- Need to be full time, couldn't drop out even if I wanted
to...which I didn't. It was fun!
- Well, I could make this because I have time (I am part
time in this term).
- Interesting topic and good teacher
- I need 8 credits to graduate, and am taking 8 credits.
Java is also a useful skill to know.
- Nothing really made me want to leave.
- All the grades I was getting on my projects. :)
- Wanting to learn Java. Your light-hearted, humorous
approach to teaching.
- I wanted to learn more about Java.
- Surprisingly enough it was a fun class
- It was really enjoyable. I liked it.
- I enjoyed the programs.
- I want to be Mr. Smarty Pants about everything
- The desire to learn Java
- Wanted to learn Java. Want to graduate before I'm 30 :)
Seriously, I should be a doctor.
- It's quaint charm.
- It was fun and exposed me to Java topics I wouldn't have
looked into otherwise.
- Well...your encouragement helped a lot. I certainly felt
overwhelmed for the most part and you showed incredible patience
and willingness. You are one of the first instructors I have
had that does things exactly as I would -- you actually want the
student to learn something. Somewhere...that gets lost by most
professors.
- The jokes & stories that are told.
- The materials were relevant and applicable.
- I wanted to learn as much as possible about Java
programming.
- I'm using Java at work
- I enjoy the programming part and want to learn new
programming language.
- I enjoy your teaching style, humor, and found the
assignments beneficial.
- Honest answer: I want my degree. Best answer: It's more
fun than the Psy class I have to take.
- Very instructive and fun
- It is really fun class. I like the subject matter and the
instructor's teaching methods.
- Server and client network stuff
- I want to learn new language. Also I need it for
compiler. New learn language always the best thing every
student wish.
- The materials are very interesting and the instructor is
smart and also fun at the same time.
- It taught valuable skills in OOP and Java and it was
really fun.
- I would say because I need this course because this will
help me for my career and understand or even for my
skills.
- I'd like to graduate before 65
- The cool teacher
- It's fun and not too hard. Enjoy learning a new
language.
- It is too far to go back now. (The last project is very
difficult, by the way.)
- It was enjoyable and I needed the credits
- I was held at gun point! Wanted to learn the
language/material. Unlike most of the courses in
college.
- The lecture is fun and useful, plus we have quiz
everyday
- I learned good stuff & have fun in doing project. The
class environment is also fun! The instructor had a sense of
humor!
- Need the credit, it was easy.
- I think Java is the powerful language so, which made me
stay in this course.
- Other than I need the credits to graduate, Dave is a
snappy dresser!!
- The course material and the instructor
Still not convinced? There are plenty more comments.
David Whitlock