Lesson 1 · Building blocks
Program Structure Review
Revisit Java program structure and strengthen naming, packaging, cohesion and readable control flow.
Degree Level Programmes
Programming 2
A second-semester Java programming portfolio course extending software engineering practice through collections, abstraction, exceptions, recursion, event-driven programming, patterns and team artefacts.
Lessons
Lesson 2 · Maintainable state
Scope and Lifetime
Manage where names are visible, how long values live and why smaller scope usually makes code easier to reason about.
Lesson 3 · Data structure foundations
The Array
Understand arrays as fixed-size indexed storage and compare them with higher-level collection classes.
Lesson 4 · Object-oriented design
Objects, Encapsulation and Abstraction
Model program concepts as objects with private state, public behaviour and clear abstractions.
Lesson 5 · Object-oriented reuse
Inheritance for Reuse
Use inheritance carefully as one form of reuse, while recognising when composition is easier to maintain.
Lesson 6 · Pragmatic design choices
Controlled Boundary Breaking
Understand that design rules sometimes bend, but every boundary break needs a clear reason and a maintenance cost.
Lesson 7 · Flexible substitution
Polymorphism: Cost and Benefit
Use polymorphism to substitute behaviours while understanding the readability, indirection and performance trade-offs.
Lesson 8 · Data structures
Collections, Generics and Iteration
Use ArrayList, HashMap, generics and enhanced iteration to manage changing data safely.
Lesson 9 · Efficiency
Time, Space and Speed Trade-offs
Compare simple design choices using execution time, memory use, readability and scale.
Lesson 10 · Abstraction
Interfaces and Higher-Level Abstractions
Use interfaces and polymorphism to separate what code needs from how it is implemented.
Lesson 11 · Robustness
Exceptions and Defensive Programming
Use exceptions, validation and recovery paths to handle errors without hiding real problems.
Lesson 12 · Algorithms
Recursion, Sorting and Searching
Understand recursive thinking and connect it to searching and sorting examples.
Lesson 13 · Events
Event-Driven Programming
Build a small event-driven Java program where user actions trigger program behaviour.
Lesson 14 · Readable interfaces
Operator-Style API Design
Learn from operator overloading by designing methods whose names and behaviour fit the domain without hiding surprising work.
Lesson 15 · Type-safe reuse
Generic Reuse
Use Java generics as a maintainable form of reuse and compare the idea with template-style generated code.
Lesson 16 · Resource management
Resource Lifecycle and Cleanup
Understand cleanup as a lifecycle issue: files, streams and resources should be closed when their useful extent ends.
Lesson 17 · Patterns
Design Patterns in Practice
Use selected design patterns carefully: immutability, factory methods, singleton risks and composition.
Lesson 18 · Team software engineering
Team Workflow and Version Control
Coordinate a team artefact using issues, branches, commits, reviews and integration discipline.
Lesson 19 · Applied programming
Specialism Mini-Project
Build a small artefact connected to a later computing specialism such as HCI, security, games, data or software engineering.
Lesson 20 · Portfolio synthesis
Final Portfolio and Reflection
Assemble three stronger artefacts with evidence of requirements, design, implementation, testing, teamwork and reflection.