Coding Camp or College: What is the Right Choice for Skills Improvement?

By Kathy Mercado in General 0 Comment

With the way the world is going, the tech industry is flourishing and every day we wake up to see that some cool innovation has been invented and this only makes you thirst for more of the digital age.

Maybe you’re fresh out of high school, and you’re wondering what the best way to gain the skills needed to break into tech is, do I go to college or a coding camp?

For a long time, the way to go would be to go to college for a computer science degree, or a related degree and then work your way into getting a master’s degree or a Ph.D. These days, however, several alternative programs are being created to help train young people in their various preferred tech fields.

This begs the question, which of them is right for me? Do I go to a coding camp or to college to improve my skills? If you’re wrestling with these thoughts, not to worry! We’re here to help. In this article, we would shed some light on what you need to know to make an informed decision.

College vs. Coding camp: how do I choose?

These are the two main options everyone with an interest in tech considers first. Comparing the two of them is like comparing apples to oranges – each quite different, but has its benefits. The best way to compare would be to weigh them with some important factors such as;

Curriculum

In college, the degree to major in is Computer Science (CS). The curriculum of CS provides an adequate knowledge of computers that covers operating systems, the how’s and why’s. It also provides the soft skills needed to manage people and communicate better in the tech industry. Some CS degree programs include the following; operating system design, programming java, and C++, advanced mathematics, algorithms, and computer science theory. If you have little to no knowledge of these programs, you may want to consider college.

Coding camp, on the other hand, provides the in-depth knowledge of algorithms used in developer-scale apps and the general foundation needed for programming. The focus of coding camps is on tools for developers, coding languages, and practical applications. The curriculum of the coding camp includes; GitHub, JavaScript, Ruby, APIs, Python, etc. Another important deciding factor is your learning style. Do you learn better by taking lectures with a set curriculum and predictable interactive lessons? Then a CS degree in college may be your best bet. However, If you prefer hands-on, practical learning then coding boot camp may be more suitable for you.

Time Factor

The ultimate goal of college is to turn you into a reliable adult. You will have a lot of options to explore and learn about yourself in the process. In college, you get a well-rounded curriculum that includes everything from projects to assignments. The workload may be too much, and you sometimes need to visit Writix.com to get help with your studies. However, college prepares you for your next phase in life. The con is that a computer science degree takes about four years to complete and a master’s degree of about two years. While coding boot camps may take between 2-6 months for completion.

Time factor aside, the curricula of boot camps are limited compared to that of a computer science degree. For in-depth knowledge about foundational computer science concepts and scopes, a degree program in college will be more appropriate.

Cost

In terms of cost, coding camps are considerably cheaper than colleges. The cost of most coding camps ranges between $10000-15000, while tuition at top colleges with CS programs costs about three-four times that amount. The Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT) costs $60,000-70,000 per year, with cheaper colleges costing under $30,000 per year.

Personal Career goal

Another important factor to consider is your personal career goal(s). You need to think long term. In 10-0 years from now, where do you see yourself? If you want to work as a software engineer in multi-million dollar companies like Google or Amazon, you will need a CS degree. However, if you are planning to launch a startup or become a part of one, then coding boot camps may be a suitable option for you.

In essence, the only person that can decide if coding boot camp or college is the best option to develop your skills is YOU! Consider the factors above carefully before making a decision.

Computer Science vs. Programming: What’s the Difference

By William in General 0 Comment

During debates on job options, most students indicate that they are intrigued by technological fields. According to data, employment in this sector is expected to grow much faster than in most areas. Despite evidence showing numerous job opportunities in the field, students and jobseekers are encouraged to research carefully before settling on career paths.

Programming is one of the hottest areas in technology. However, most people are still unable to differentiate between the two. This article simplifies the differences, similarities, and job projections for programming and computer science. It looks at computer science vs. programming in great detail.

Defining Programming

Programming is performing specific computations, often by designing and creating executable programs. Electronic gadgets like smartphones, computers, and tablets need code to operate optimally. Coding allows people to communicate using technological gadgets. These devices display in a way different from humans, and coding is what works as a translator between humans and machines. When you enter your details, the code converts them into numerical arrangements for the gadgets to comprehend.

Programming languages instruct computers to perform given actions. In other words, programming entails creating code, a manual of instructions designating the tasks and information required to complete activities. Computers speedily scan the coding manuals, executing tasks in charge of generating and running a successful website. If you are a student, you can get coding homework help online.

Defining Computer Science

Before looking at the computer programming vs. computer science debate, we need to define some terms. While programming is about creating applications and programs to help people use technology, computer science is much vaster. It entails learning how to develop programs, hardware, and software, as well as ways through which people use technology. Computer science students also learn theory supporting technology use.

While computer science includes coding, not all programmers need a background in computer science. They only need those components of computer science that complement their coding. In other words, you can be great at programming without a solid computer science background.

How Are the Two Different?

A critical difference between computer programming and computer science is in the definition. In its simplest form, computer science can be understood as the process of studying the work and potential of computers. In contrast, coding entails making computers perform activities. The good thing about programming is that you don’t require computer science education to create code. As long as you are willing to put in the hours, you can learn to code within a short time.

Programming is hands-on, unlike computer science which deals with the theoretical elements of computer functioning. It is the process of bringing those theoretical concepts taught in computer science into reality. Computer science specialists research, locate problems, analyze issues, and look for possible solutions. Programmers take those proposed solutions and shape them by creating applications for the interaction between humans and computers.

Another critical difference between computer science and programming is that computer scientists study revolutionary techs like AI, software engineering, and cloud computing. Programmers, on the other hand, focus on generating, designing, drafting, and testing code meant for software applications.

In summary, computer science is relatively theoretical. Coding, in contrast, takes a more practical stance. It involves planning and producing code that runs computer programs.

Coding vs. Computer Science: Similarities

While the two fields have their differences, they have many parts where they converge. For instance, programmers work with computer scientists, supporting each other in teams while developing new tech and programs. The scientists gather the theories, equipment, and data that help enhance systems. Programmers review the information scientists deliver, producing designs that align with the proposals and prerequisites.

It can also be argued that programming or software development is a computer science function. In this sense, it entails using programming languages to develop instructions computer devices understand. Computer science is the root of programming. While they are not the same, computer science lays the foundations upon which programming rests and grows. Remember, anyone can become a programmer without a foundational understanding of computer science.

Another similarity is that both fields offer chances for specialization. For instance, someone in programming can specialize in specific coding languages. Similarly, computer science specialists can specialize in areas of tech that interest them.

While these are two distinct fields, they share several converging points. Computer science serves as a foundation for programming. At the same time, you do not require a background in computer science to become a programmer.

Does Plagiarism Issue Apply To Programming?

By Kathy Mercado in General 0 Comment

When it comes to plagiarism, there are a lot of gray areas. What is considered plagiarism? Is it only stealing someone’s words and passing them off as your own? Or does plagiarism also include stealing someone’s ideas? This is a question that has been debated for years, and there is no clear answer. However, when it comes to programming, the issue of plagiarism becomes even more complicated.

1. What is plagiarism and why is it a problem in the programming world specifically

Plagiarism is the act of taking someone else’s work and passing it off as your own. This can be done with code, comments, or documentation. Plagiarism is a problem in the programming world for several reasons. First, it can lead to errors in code if the programmer doesn’t fully understand the code they’re using. Second, it can result in copyright infringement if the original author of the code hasn’t given permission for their work to be used.

2. How to avoid plagiarism when writing code

When you’re writing code, it’s important to avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s code without giving them credit. This can be a serious problem, as it can lead to legal trouble and damage your reputation. Here are five steps you can take to avoid plagiarism when writing code:

  • Cite your sources and use a plagiarism checker. If you use someone else’s code, make sure to give them credit. Include a comment in your code that includes their name and the URL of the original source. Any plagiarism checker for students can help you avoid accidentally plagiarizing someone’s work, on top of ensuring that you’re citing your sources properly. Plus, it’ll help you avoid any potential legal trouble. This can be quite helpful if you’re not sure how to avoid plagiarism when writing code.
  • Get permission. If you’re going to use someone else’s code in a project, it’s best to get their permission first. This way, they can’t accuse you of plagiarism later on.
  • Don’t modify someone else’s code. If you need to make changes to someone else’s code, it’s best to create a new file with your own modifications. That way, there’s no risk of accidentally copying their original code.
  • Use a style guide. When you’re writing code, it’s important to follow a consistent style. This will help you avoid plagiarism, as it will be clear which parts of the code are your own and which parts are borrowed from someone else.

3. The consequences of plagiarism for programmers

As you already know, plagiarism is a serious offense in the programming world. Not only does it violate copyright laws, but it can also lead to lost wages and even prosecution. Plagiarism occurs when someone copies another person’s code without giving credit. This can happen intentionally or unintentionally. Intentional plagiarism is usually done in an attempt to save time or take credit for someone else’s work. Unintentional plagiarism can occur when a programmer accidentally copies code from another source without realizing it. Either way, the consequences of plagiarism can be severe. Programmers who are caught plagiarizing may be fined, fired, or even prosecuted.

In addition, plagiarism can damage a programmer’s reputation and make it difficult to find future employment. As a result, it is important to always give credit when using someone else’s code and to be careful when copied code from another source.

4. Ways to prevent plagiarism from happening in the first place

First, be sure to keep track of all of your sources. When you are researching a paper, make a list of the books, articles, and websites that you use. This will make it easier to cite your sources later on. Second, take good notes while you are researching. Be sure to include the author’s name, the title of the work, and the page number for each quote or paraphrase that you use.

5. Examples of how plagiarism can occur in programming

In the world of programming, plagiarism can take many forms. For example, a programmer might copy code from another programmer without giving credit. Or, a programmer might use someone else’s code as a starting point for their own project, without making it clear that they have borrowed from another source. Plagiarism can also occur when a programmer takes ideas from another source without giving credit.

In some cases, plagiarism can be difficult to spot, especially if the two sources are similar. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential for plagiarism in programming, so that you can avoid it in your own work.

Wrapping Up

Plagiarism is a serious issue in the programming world, and can lead to lost wages, prosecution, and damage to a programmer’s reputation. There are steps that you can take to avoid plagiarism, such as keeping track of your sources and giving credit where it is due. Make sure you are cautious when it comes to plagiarism!

How do I convert Map to JSON and vice versa using Jackson?

By Wayan in Jackson 0 Comment

In the following code snippet we will convert java.util.Map object into JSON string and convert back the JSON string into Java Map object. In this example we will be using the Jackson library.

To convert from Map to JSON string the steps are:

  • Create a map of string keys and values.
  • Create an instance of Jackson ObjectMapper.
  • To convert map to JSON string we call the writeValueAsString() method and pass the map as argument.
// Converting Map to JSON
String json = null;
try {
    json = mapper.writeValueAsString(colours);
    System.out.println("json = " + json);
} catch (JsonProcessingException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
}

Now, to convert from JSON string back to map we can do it in the following steps:

  • Create a JSON string, in this case we use the one converted from the colours map.
  • Create an instance of Jackson ObjectMapper.
  • Call the mapper’s readValue() method with JSON string and an empty instance of TypeReference as arguments.
// Converting JSON to MAP
try {
    Map<String, String> newColours =
            mapper.readValue(json, new TypeReference<>() {});
} catch (JsonProcessingException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
}

And here is the complete code snippet.

package org.kodejava.jackson;

import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonProcessingException;
import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.type.TypeReference;
import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;

import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;

public class MapToJson {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Map<String, String> colours = new HashMap<>();
        colours.put("BLACK", "#000000");
        colours.put("RED", "#FF0000");
        colours.put("GREEN", "#008000");
        colours.put("BLUE", "#0000FF");
        colours.put("YELLOW", "#FFFF00");
        colours.put("WHITE", "#FFFFFF");

        ObjectMapper mapper = new ObjectMapper();

        // Converting Map to JSON
        String json = null;
        try {
            json = mapper.writeValueAsString(colours);
            System.out.println("json = " + json);
        } catch (JsonProcessingException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }

        // Converting JSON to MAP
        try {
            Map<String, String> newColours =
                    mapper.readValue(json, new TypeReference<>() {});
            System.out.println("Map:");
            for (var entry : newColours.entrySet()) {
                System.out.println(entry.getKey() + " = " + entry.getValue());
            }
        } catch (JsonProcessingException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

Running the code snippet above will print the following output:

json = {"RED":"#FF0000","WHITE":"#FFFFFF","BLUE":"#0000FF","BLACK":"#000000","YELLOW":"#FFFF00","GREEN":"#008000"}
Map:
RED = #FF0000
WHITE = #FFFFFF
BLUE = #0000FF
BLACK = #000000
YELLOW = #FFFF00
GREEN = #008000

Maven Dependencies

<dependencies>
    <!-- https://search.maven.org/remotecontent?filepath=com/fasterxml/jackson/core/jackson-core/2.13.3/jackson-core-2.13.3.jar -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson.core</groupId>
        <artifactId>jackson-core</artifactId>
        <version>2.13.3</version>
    </dependency>
    <!-- https://search.maven.org/remotecontent?filepath=com/fasterxml/jackson/core/jackson-databind/2.13.3/jackson-databind-2.13.3.jar -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson.core</groupId>
        <artifactId>jackson-databind</artifactId>
        <version>2.13.3</version>
    </dependency>
</dependencies>

Maven Central Maven Central

7 Essential Java Books

By Madeline Miller in General 0 Comment

For programmers no matter what your level there’s always something new you can learn, and it’s always handy to have some reference materials on hand. Here are 7 Java books to invest in, some for beginners and some for more advanced programmers.

Head First Java

The ‘Head First’ series are a great mix of visuals and text to make learning feel less of a struggle. ‘Head First Java’ by Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates is very beginner-friendly and has some brilliant real life analogies to help back up the information. It may feel a bit dated; it doesn’t cover anything beyond Java 5.0, but it’s still useful for covering a wide variety of topics like classes, threads, objects and the language features.

Java: A Beginner’s Guide

Another great starting point, ‘Java: A Beginner’s Guide’ by Herbert Schildt covers the basics and provides you with some tests and puzzles to attempt yourself. “The hands-on exercises and quiz sections are invaluable learning tools,” claims programming writer James M. Curtis, Revieweal and UKWritings. This book covers all Core Java concepts and is written in a clear and simple way to make it easy to learn from.

Java for Dummies

The ‘for Dummies’ series are well known to the point of parody but for good reason. ‘Java for Dummies’ by Barry A. Burd is another great resource for beginners that covers the fundamentals from how to create the basic objects to when you should be reusing code. The guide is straightforward and again is a book that mixes text with visuals to help you to learn. This includes screenshots to help explain how Java is executed.

Java: The Complete Reference

This reference book by Herbert Schildt builds on the beginner’s guide and is perfect to turn to when you need to review a topic. It’s good for both beginners and advanced programmers as it dives deeper into topics to help you to become a Java master. The book is also full of discussions and examples that you can learn from and implement into your programming.

Effective Java

No matter what level you are, Joshua Bloch’s ‘Effective Java’ is a must-have. Going beyond the core concepts it examines commonly encountered programming issues with explanations of how to solve them. For beginners, you get the concepts explained and for more advanced programmers you are likely to learn how to write Java code better than before. It is the perfect reference book for those moments where you are just not sure of the next step.

Thinking In Java

We are human and while we may know various languages, including programming ones, we still think in our native language and then translate to the appropriate language. Bruce Eckel’s ‘Thinking in Java’ provides practical examples of programming in a clear way to help you gain a deeper understanding of the language and its quirks. It stays relatively beginner-friendly, but it is useful for more advanced programmers as a way to improve your coding skills.

Clean Code

“If you ask programmers who to turn to in order to become a better Java programmer, they will inevitably point you in the direction of ‘Uncle Bob’ with his videos and book on clean coding,” says Tammie Acree, an editor at Ukservicesreviews and Custom Writing. Robert C. Martin’s, also known fondly as ‘Uncle Bob’, book ‘Clean Code’ is less a reference on the fundamentals and more a book to help you to write better code. Split into three sections, the book takes you through the principles of writing clean code, case studies of code to help you make decisions on where to clean the code and then a list of heuristics that were gathered from creating the case studies. It points out it’s not only worth knowing how to code but to revisit that code often to make sure it’s up-to-date and as effective as it can be.

Java is a fairly easy programming language to get into and has a large number of resources for you to turn to. No matter what your skill level is, there’s always something new you can take away. There are loads of books out there and some fantastic websites you can use, but these seven are what I would consider the essentials for programmers no matter their level.

Should computer programming take priority over math in the high school curriculum?

By Kathy Mercado in General 0 Comment

If we take a look at the world as we know it today, we can easily spot that technology has taken over our lives. It is so deeply intertwined with everything we do that it would be difficult and challenging to give up using it at all.

This, along with the popularity of some of the richest people on the planet, has created a collective wish: to try to be like them or even better. More and more children want to be computer scientists, to invent the next Facebook or Microsoft. And a legit question has appeared.

Should computer programming take priority over the math in the high school curriculum? If students want to learn more about computer science, should we make it a priority over other subjects? Should the high school math curriculum be changed? Let’s find out the answer to these questions.

Should computer science be made a priority over math?

The direct and clear answer to this question is no. Even though many students in high school would love to learn more about computer science, coding, and programming, this does not mean that it should be a priority over math.

Math anxiety is a real thing that is more and more present in our schools. And both students and their parents are trying to find solutions to cope with it easily. In this case, learning computer science might seem more attractive. It seems that it can help you build a nice future career, especially as there are a lot of resources you can access. But these subjects complement each other nicely.

Concepts you study in math will be useful in computer science too. Learning computer science without math will make it more difficult to evolve and build a solid knowledge base. Many high school math questions shed more light on some challenging computer science concepts, such as algorithms. No matter if you do online high school math, or you go to classes, what you learn during these hours will be of tremendous help.

However, learning computer science is just as important as learning mathematics. Let’s see why.

Having an Advantage

Considering the fact that technology is so deeply intertwined with our lifestyles, knowing how to use it is always a plus. But anyone knows how to use a smartphone or smartwatch as they are user-friendly. But what happens if you want to go beyond the traditional user interface? What happens if a nice idea strikes you, and you want to try it and see how it works?

Well, for this you need computer science knowledge. Which can be developed and improved during high school, with an equal emphasis on math too. Having at least the basic knowledge to get started in computer science or build your custom app can prove to be an advantage.

Computer Science Can Be Used to Teach Math

The best math apps for high school have a few modules that help you practice the easiest and most difficult math concepts equally. But sometimes, learning math can feel like a burden. As mentioned above, math anxiety is something common, and it can be triggered by a lot of factors. But what is important is that math just builds upon the previous year.

So, if you haven’t understood the math concepts taught earlier, it would be difficult to advance. Well, this is the case for many students. And computer science can be used to teach math. High school students are more attracted by new technologies, platforms, and apps to use and discover. And because computer science relies on math concepts, it can be used to teach math to students too.

Like this, students can understand the connection of math with real life too. A lot of them think that what they learn during math classes will not be useful later in life. Some even ask themselves how integrals, derivatives, or matrices help them. But if you understand that all these complex concepts are present in computer science in one way or another, learning them might be easier.

Final Words

Many students and people fail to understand that math is present in our everyday life. And as computer science is a much more appealing subject, many think about it taking priority over the math in the high school curriculum. Even though this might sound nice, these two subjects complement each other, and they should be given equal priority.

Jackson for Java. Is it more than JSON?

By Leon Collier in General, Jackson 0 Comment

JSON has been a popular data-interchange format for quite some time now. It is not just simple, but also lightweight, and most programmers find it easy to use. However, JSON can be cumbersome to work with when you need more complex functionality.

That’s where Jackson for Java comes in. Jackson is a powerful JSON library that provides a wide range of features that make working with JSON much easier. In this blog post, we will discuss what Jackson for Java is, how it differs from regular JSON, and how you can use it in your own projects. We will also take a look at the pros and cons of using Jackson for Java so that you can decide if it is the right library for you.

What is Jackson for Java, and what are its Features?

Jackson is a Java library that provides a number of features that make working with JSON much easier. Some of the most notable features of Jackson for Java include:

  • The ability to annotate fields so that they are mapped to specific JSON keys: With Jackson, you can annotate fields in your Java objects so that they are mapped to specific keys in the JSON document. This makes it much easier to work with complex JSON documents. For example, if you have a field in your Java object that is mapped to a “name” key in the JSON document, you can access that field using the @JsonProperty("name") annotation.

  • Support for POJOs (Plain Old Java Objects) and JAXB beans (Java Architecture for XML Binding): Jackson supports both POJOs and JAXB beans. This means that you can serialize and deserialize objects without writing any boilerplate code.

  • A wide range of modules that provide additional functionality: Jackson comes with a number of modules that provide additional functionality. These modules include support for XML, YAML, and CSV formats.

In addition to these features, Jackson also has excellent performance thanks to its use of streaming data processing. This means that it can handle large amounts of data with ease.

JSON vs. Jackson for Java – what’s the difference?

The main difference between JSON and Jackson for Java is that Jackson is a library that provides additional functionality on top of JSON. This includes features such as the ability to annotate fields, support for POJOs and JAXB beans, and the ability to serialize and deserialize objects without writing any boilerplate code.

So, if you need additional functionality beyond what JSON provides, then Jackson is the library for you. However, if you only need the basic functionality that JSON provides, then JSON is a better choice.

How to use Jackson for Java in your Project?

If you want to use Jackson for Java in your project, the first step is to add the library to your project dependencies.

<dependency>
    <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson.core</groupId>
    <artifactId>jackson-databind</artifactId>
    <version>2.9.8</version>
</dependency>

The easiest way to do this is using a dependency management tool such as Maven or Gradle. Once you have added the Jackson library to your project, you can start using it in your code. For example, if you have a field in your Java object that is mapped to a “name” key in the JSON document, you can access that field using the @JsonProperty("name") annotation. Here is an example of how you can convert List object to JSON. Here, we’ll be using the ObjectMapper.writeValueAsString() method.

package net.javaguides.jackson;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonProcessingException;
import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;
import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.SerializationFeature;

/**
* Using Jackson API for list serialization and deserialization
* @author ramesh fadatare
*
*/
public class JacksonListToJson {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws JsonProcessingException {

        // Create ObjectMapper object.
        ObjectMapper mapper = new ObjectMapper();
        mapper.enable(SerializationFeature.INDENT_OUTPUT);

        List < String > progLangs = new ArrayList < > ();
        progLangs.add("C");
        progLangs.add("C++");
        progLangs.add("Java");
        progLangs.add("Java EE");
        progLangs.add("Python");
        progLangs.add("Scala");
        progLangs.add("JavaScript");
        // Serialize Object to JSON.
        String json = mapper.writeValueAsString(progLangs);

        // Print json
        System.out.println(json);
    }
}

You can also use Jackson to serialize and deserialize objects without writing any boilerplate code. This is because Jackson automatically generates the necessary code for you. To do this, you simply need to add the @JsonSerialize and @JsonDeserialize annotations to your Java objects.

If you have some experience on Jackson for Java, you may want to include it in your resume. Now, a resume for a programmer should list programming languages, software, and tools the individual is proficient in. Additionally, project experience and technical skills should be highlighted. A résumé is essentially your career booster so you will need to ensure that it also showcases all your skills and experience. Take time to include every essential detail.

Pros and Cons of Using Jackson for Java

Jackson is a very powerful library that can make working with JSON much easier. There are pros and cons to using Jackson for Java. The main pro is that it’s a very fast and lightweight library, which makes it ideal for large-scale projects. It can also serialize and deserialize Java objects quickly.

However, one potential con is that it can be difficult to reverse certain operations performed by the library, such as converting back from JSON to Java. For example, if you have a Java object with a list of Cat objects, and you want to convert it back to JSON, reversing the process might not be as straightforward as you’d like. In cases like this, you may need to use a different library or write your own code to handle the conversion.

Another potential downside of using Jackson is that because it’s so popular, there may be less flexibility in how you use it. For example, if you want to use Jackson for XML parsing, you may need to use a third-party library such as JAXB.

Overall, Jackson is a very powerful library that can make working with JSON much easier. It has a few potential downsides, but its pros far outweigh its cons.

Comparison of Other Popular JSON Libraries

There are many different JSON libraries available for Java. Some of the most popular include Gson, org.json, and FastJSON. Gson is a library that can be used for converting between Java objects and JSON documents. It can also be used for serializing and deserializing objects. Gson has excellent performance thanks to its use of streaming data processing.

Org.json is a library that provides JSON parsing and generation in Java. It’s simple and easy to use, but it doesn’t provide as much functionality as some other libraries on this list. Here is an example of how to parse JSON string in Java with org.json library.

import org.json.*;

String jsonString = ... ; //assign your JSON String here
JSONObject obj = new JSONObject(jsonString);
String pageName = obj.getJSONObject("pageInfo").getString("pageName");

JSONArray arr = obj.getJSONArray("posts"); // notice that `"posts": [...]`
for (int i = 0; i < arr.length(); i++) {
    String post_id = arr.getJSONObject(i).getString("post_id");
    ......
}

See more examples on this page. FastJSON is a high-performance JSON library for Java. It’s simple to use and provides a wide range of features.

Wrapping Up

Overall, Jackson is the best choice for working with JSON in Java, thanks to its excellent performance and wide range of features. However, there are other great options available, so be sure to choose the library that’s right for your project.

Java Project Ideas To Implement While Being in College

By Kathy Mercado in General 0 Comment

According to the Oracle estimations, Java runs on over 15 billion devices around the world. The TIOBE index defines Java as the 3rd most popular programming language. It’s used almost everywhere where coding is required, from mobile games and business apps to automated tests, etc. The biggest companies in the world, like Google, Apple and Android, use Java as it’s a stable language, showing no signs of going anywhere.

Many employees look for experts in Java, so your skills will be in high demand. Java developers make good money, that’s why your job can be really rewarding. What’s more, Java is beginner-friendly. So if you are afraid of complexity, there is no need to worry.

However, learning Java while still at college can be a challenge. Combining different disciplines at the same time usually feels daunting. What to do in this case? You should ask for academic help. For example, you may buy essays online for college or request assistance with your papers at special companies. Also, a good solution would be using automated online tools, such as plagiarism checkers and citation generators. No matter what kind of help you decide to use, you should prioritize things right. If learning Java is the most important thing at college, put the rest aside.

Java projects for beginners

If you are just starting your big journey in the world of Java, you should consider some project ideas listed below.

Airline reservation system

To gain your first hands-on experience, you can try working on the airline reservation system. Include the following elements to your system: e-ticket operations, online transactions, inventory and fares. Your reservation system must contain such features as reservation and cancellation of the tickets, transaction management, routing functions, quick responses to customers and reports on the daily business transactions.

Course management system

Another thing you can design as a beginner is an online management software application for educational institutions. You must include three main elements into your course management system: administrator, student and instructor modules. Administrator module is used to create accounts for students and instructors, make curriculum and manage the employees. Student module is designed for learners who need to view their coursework, get feedback and submit their assignments. Instructor module allows instructors to log in to their accounts in order to check the projects and provide guidance to students.

Data visualization software

One of the key elements of the modern tech industry is data visualization. In this project, you can learn how to deliver insights hidden in the data precisely and effectively. This is a great chance to become better at stimulating the viewer’s engagement. Note that your project must be not only functional, while conveying ideas effectively, but also aesthetically pleasing. Having data visualization projects in your portfolio will make your resume look much more appealing for employers than others.

e-Healthcare management system

If you want to learn how to provide effective solutions for the medical industry, you should try to work on the e-healthcare management system. What are the key features of this software? First of all, it must establish clear communication between doctors and patients. Secondly, it must accurately analyze hospital resources, such as laboratory equipment, administration, medicines and more. One of the main goals of an e-healthcare management system is to eliminate the problems of missing or incorrect data.

Email client software

If you are interested in email marketing, why not use your skills for developing an email system? Design a project for sending and receiving electronic mail, using Java Mail API. For this software you should use SMTP and POP3 protocols that are easy to understand for beginners. Products like this are in high demand nowadays, so you could benefit a lot from having it in your portfolio.

Electricity billing system

Even being a beginner Java developer, you can create an electricity billing system that will calculate the units consumed within a specified timeframe. In accordance with that information, an electricity billing system calculates the cost of those units. To make your software excellent, you should ensure that it features both a high speed and accuracy. It must also allow for seamless data sharing and high-security controls.

Final thoughts

Studying Java coding can be one of the best academic decisions in your life. This programming language is in high demand on the job market, so you should master your skills as soon as possible. Do it with the help of projects for beginners listed above: airline reservation system, course management system, data visualization software, e-healthcare management system, email client software and electricity billing system.

How do I find Java version?

By Wayan in Lang Package 0 Comment

The simplest way to get the Java version is by running the java -version command in your terminal application or Windows command prompt. If Java is installed and available on your path you can get information like below.

java -version                                     
java version "17" 2021-09-14 LTS
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 17+35-LTS-2724)                       
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 17+35-LTS-2724, mixed mode, sharing)

Using System Properties

But if you want to get Java version from your Java class or application you can obtain the Java version by calling the System.getProperty() method and provide the property key as argument. Here are some property keys that related to Java version that you can read from the system properties.

package org.kodejava.lang;

public class JavaVersion {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String version = System.getProperty("java.version");
        String versionDate = System.getProperty("java.version.date");
        String runtimeVersion = System.getProperty("java.runtime.version");
        String vmVersion = System.getProperty("java.vm.version");
        String classVersion = System.getProperty("java.class.version");
        String specificationVersion = System.getProperty("java.specification.version");
        String vmSpecificationVersion = System.getProperty("java.vm.specification.version");

        System.out.println("java.version: " + version);
        System.out.println("java.version.date: " + versionDate);
        System.out.println("java.runtime.version: " + runtimeVersion);
        System.out.println("java.vm.version: " + vmVersion);
        System.out.println("java.class.version: " + classVersion);
        System.out.println("java.specification.version: " + specificationVersion);
        System.out.println("java.vm.specification.version: " + vmSpecificationVersion);
    }
}

Running the code above give you output like the following:

java.version: 17
java.version.date: 2021-09-14
java.runtime.version: 17+35-LTS-2724
java.vm.version: 17+35-LTS-2724
java.class.version: 61.0
java.specification.version: 17
java.vm.specification.version: 17

Using Runtime.version()

Since JDK 9 we can use Runtime.version() to get Java runtime version. The feature(), interim(), update and patch() methods of the Runtime.Version class are added in JDK 10. These methods is a replacement for the major(), minor() and security() methods of JDK 9.

Below is the code snippet that demonstrate the Runtime.version().

package org.kodejava.lang;

public class RuntimeVersion {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Version: " + Runtime.version());
        System.out.println("Feature: " + Runtime.version().feature());
        System.out.println("Interim: " + Runtime.version().interim());
        System.out.println("Update: " + Runtime.version().update());
        System.out.println("Patch: " + Runtime.version().patch());
        System.out.println("Pre: " + Runtime.version().pre().orElse(""));
        System.out.println("Build: " + Runtime.version().build().orElse(null));
        System.out.println("Optional: " + Runtime.version().optional().orElse(""));
    }
}

Running the code snippet above produce the following output:

Version: 17+35-LTS-2724
Feature: 17
Interim: 0
Update: 0
Patch: 0
Pre: 
Build: 35
Optional: LTS-2724

Here are the summary of outputs running the above code using some JDKs installed on my machine.

Version Feature Interim Update Patch Pre Build Optional
10.0.2+13 10 0 2 0 13
11.0.6+8-LTS 11 0 6 0 8 LTS
12.0.2+10 12 0 2 0 10
13.0.2+8 13 0 2 0 8
14+36-1461 14 0 0 0 36 1461
15.0.2+7-27 15 0 2 0 7 27
17+35-LTS-2724 17 0 0 0 35 LTS-2724

Java and Blockchain – a match made in heaven

By Roman Golovin in General 0 Comment

Java is the foundation of many products. It is no coincidence that this amazing programming language affects the cryptocurrency world (including Bitcoin). But what makes people buy USDT and how blockchain could help our world modernize for good? Let’s find out in this article.

What is blockchain?

Blockchain is an open, distributed ledger that can record transactions between two parties efficiently, in a verifiable and permanent way. Blockchain databases aren’t stored in any single location, meaning the records it keeps are truly public and easily verifiable. The data stored isn’t controlled by any one entity, meaning the system isn’t subject to the whims of any government, corporation or malicious third party.

Benefits of using blockchain

Obviously, what’s the point of discussing the topic, if we will skip the benefits of blockchain?

Decentralized

Blockchain is decentralized meaning it doesn’t have a governing body. No one can single-handedly decide to change how the blockchain project will continue to work, unless they own 51% of the blockchain. Since that is nearly impossible, blockchains are owned by nobody, unless it’s a private blockchain.

Immutable

Immutability is what makes the blockchain so revolutionary. Unlike traditional database records, which are prone to manipulation and deletion due to centralization, blockchain records are unalterable and permanent. Every blockchain transaction is time-stamped and date-stamped, giving it a timestamp of its very occurrence, allowing users to trace the origin and evolution of any data on the chain. It, therefore, enables users to verify information over time, ensuring reliability. If you decide to buy a car with Bitcoin, nobody could ever change that.

Secure

Though it was first used to track bitcoin transactions, blockchain technology has attracted the interest of a variety of industries. Major companies like IBM, Walmart and Maersk are using blockchain to run complex global supply chains with less friction, prevent fraud and reduce waste. Beyond bringing accountability to systems where trust has been an issue, the technology can also help ensure consumer privacy.

Coding skills – not much needed

Since we care about coding, we cannot move on without giving some helpful tips on how to use Java for blockchain.

Let’s implement a block

public class Block {
    private String hash;
    private String previousHash;
    private String data;
    private long timeStamp;
    private int nonce;

    public Block(String data, String previousHash, long timeStamp) {
        this.data = data;
        this.previousHash = previousHash;
        this.timeStamp = timeStamp;
        this.hash = calculateBlockHash();
    }

    // standard getters and setters
}

Then, we need to work on the hashing. Bear in mind it is very sensitive. Any data altercation could be detrimental.

public String calculateBlockHash() {
    String dataToHash = previousHash
            + Long.toString(timeStamp)
            + Integer.toString(nonce)
            + data;
    MessageDigest digest = null;
    byte[] bytes = null;
    try {
        digest = MessageDigest.getInstance("SHA-256");
        bytes = digest.digest(dataToHash.getBytes(UTF_8));
    } catch (NoSuchAlgorithmException | UnsupportedEncodingException ex) {
        logger.log(Level.SEVERE, ex.getMessage());
    }
    StringBuffer buffer = new StringBuffer();
    for (byte b : bytes) {
        buffer.append(String.format("%02x", b));
    }
    return buffer.toString();
}

From what we see, we get a case of SHA-256 (cryptography), and then generate a hash value from our input data. The byte array is a very crucial part here – it is the hash value that we transform later into a hex string (usually, a 32-digit number).

But how to mine a block?

public String mineBlock(int prefix) {
    String prefixString = new String(new char[prefix]).replace('\0', '0');
    while (!hash.substring(0, prefix).equals(prefixString)) {
        nonce++;
        hash = calculateBlockHash();
    }
    return hash;
}

We start by looking for the solution. If we don’t manage to do so, we increment the nonce and calculate our hash in a loop until we finally make it. I have to tell you – it might take a long time before you hit the jackpot.

Blockchain verification

How to verify the blockchain? After all, there are plenty of fake attempts, so we need to see if our attempt is valid.

public void givenBlockchain_whenValidated_thenSuccess() {
    boolean flag = true;
    for (int i = 0; i < blockchain.size(); i++) {
        String previousHash = i==0 ? "0" : blockchain.get(i - 1).getHash();
        flag = blockchain.get(i).getHash().equals(blockchain.get(i).calculateBlockHash())
                && previousHash.equals(blockchain.get(i).getPreviousHash())
                && blockchain.get(i).getHash().substring(0, prefix).equals(prefixString);
        if (!flag) break;
    }
    assertTrue(flag);
}

Summary

Java and blockchain are made to work together. However, it is not easy to mine blockchain. That is why, we advise you to enter pools, in order to share prizes with others but ensure you are on the winning side.