Java Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 2
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Project Analysis and Design
T
his chapter introduces project issues that are common to all software projects, discussing
them in relation to this topic's sample project and the Sun assignment that you need to com-
plete to become a Sun Certified Java Developer. In particular, the following topics will be
covered:
•
Planning the beginning stages of the SCJD exam
•
Organizing the layout of your project
•
Documenting projects
•
Becoming familiar with industry-standard principles on source code formatting and
Javadoc, and incorporating these principles from the onset of project development
•
Using Java packages to group code based on functional similarities
•
Learning common development practices, including using assertions and logging
This chapter does not attempt to forge a new road, but rather leads down the well-worn
paths of Java standards, such as coding conventions, Javadoc usage, and packaging concepts.
Some of these tools are necessary in order to pass the SCJD exam, and all should be used every
day by a Java developer.
By using these standards from the beginning, you will be well on your way to reaching
your goal of being a certified Java 2 developer.
Implementing a Project
It is very tempting to start a project by jumping right into code. Doing so is fun and grants an
immediate sense of progress. However, this approach often has significant drawbacks. Begin-
ning a project without proper planning may tie the project to unspoken assumptions, cause
you to overlook critical information, or introduce design flaws that manifest as the project
progresses.
Generally, it is best to start by confirming requirements, designing data flow, and sketch-
ing a prototype of the graphical user interface (GUI) layout. After this step comes the design.
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