First Steps

Omnium rerum principia parva sunt.
The beginnings of all things are small.
Cicero

I have decided to use the MOOC platform in order to learn JAVA. The chosen course was “UC3Mx: IT.1.1x Introduction to Programming with Java, Part 1: Starting to Code with Java” that starts from the very basics concepts of programing in general.

The first Week, entitled “From calculator to the computer”, aims to show you from simple operations using a simple calculation can became complex computer operations.

Event tough the course is designed for everyone, my first impression was that it is not that easy. But, if an old dog like me can learn new tricks, you will probably make it.

The weak is divided in 4 points, let us see one by one:

1.1 Extending the Calculator: Expressions, Statements and Programs

Well, it was composed by videos and exercises. I confess that for me who have studied humanities for the last 10 years, my brain was a bit rusty for calculus, but as soon as I advanced things were became more doable.

Let us give a look at the first assignment:

Now how far this problems became difficult.

The assignments involving the calculator become more complex. It made me very scared, but in the end I could figure out what was the thing to do or to fix the few mistakes I had made. 

The hardest part for me was to understand and figure out how to solve this problem. I did it but an abstraction exercise was needed. I had to imagine the expressions as commands and the variables as slots. I did it in a very graphic way.

The final exercise made it clear that programming is about give orders, since I had to follow the code and confirm in which position the car would stop. This was piece of cake! :D

Definitely, I would say that learning a programming language is similar to learn a language like Portuguese, my mother tongue or English, my second language. You need to start from the basic and later you can master the grammar rules. Sometimes you need to consult a grammar book in order to check the proper use of the language, sometimes it just flows intuitively.

How do I feel right now:

For today it is enough! Let us see what comes next…

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