README file for the tmcm-java-source archive March, 2000 -------------------------------------------- This archive contains the source code for a set of Java applets. The applets were written for use with a textbook, The Most Complex Machine, by David Eck. They are meant to help teach some basic concepts of computer science. For more information about the applets and for a set of lab worksheets that use the applets, see: http://math.hws.edu/TMCM/java/ *** NOTE *** This source code was not originally written with the intent of making it public. There are very few comments in the code. Some parts of the code are a bit strange because they were translated from Pascal programs. So, take the code for what it's worth... The source code is contained in the directory named "tmcm". All the classes for the applets belong to the package named "tmcm" and to its sub-packages. The sub-packages correspond to subdirectories in the tmcm directory. The applets were written in Java 1.0, so they use many deprecated methods whose use is discouraged in Java 1.1 and later. When the source code is compiled, you might get warning messages about deprecated methods. There will also be MANY warning messages to the effect that a class should not be used outside the file where it is defined, unless the name of the class agrees with the name of the file where it is defined. (The development system that I used when I wrote the applets didn't enforce this rule.) This could cause a problem if you try to compile the files one at a time, but it's OK as long you compile all the files in a directory at the same time (or compile them in the right order). The warning messages are not errors and will not stop the files from being compiled. The code can be compiled with the "javac" command from the JDK (Java Development Kit). To use this command with classes that are defined in the tmcm package or one of its sub-packages, you must be in the directory that contains the tmcm directory, and you have to specify the full path to the file or files you want to compile. For example, to compile all the files in the package tmcm.xSortLab, you would say javac tmcm/xSortLab/*.java in Linux or UNIX or javac tmcm\xSortLab\*.java in a DOS command window. For convenience, I have included script files that will compile all the classes in the tmcm file. For Linux/UNIX, there is a shell script named "compile.sh". For DOS/Windows, there is a DOS batch file named "compile.bat". These scripts will also build a .jar archive containing all the compiled class files. You can get more information by reading the script files themselves. (Note for Macintosh users: Theoretically, it should be possible to compile the files using Apple's SDK for Java, but I have not been able to make it work. The applets were originally written with CodeWarrior for Macintosh.) ---------------------------------------------- David Eck Department of Mathematics and Computer Science Hobart and William Smith Colleges Geneva, NY 14456 USA Email: eck@hws.edu WWW: http://math.hws.edu/eck/