Programming Update: Algorithms Class at Coursera By Riddick in Riddick's Diary Sun Sep 01, 2013 at 09:03:53 PM EST Tags: Programming, Algorithms, Coursera, Java, Blastard, education, technology, learning (all tags)
	Well I have to admit I am over my head in that Algorithms class. I tried to write and compile my first project, it is complaining that I need 1.6 of Java when I have 1.7 installed, LOL! I found that my 'Basic' Understanding of Java is not good enough, they need an 'Intermediate' Understanding of Java that goes beyond my "Basic" understanding. Apparently this is the Ebook they wanted me to read and Crawford and K5 gave me suggestions of different books, which are good but not at the level them want, LOL!

C:Javatest>java Percolation.class Registry key 'SoftwareJavaSoftJava Runtime EnvironmentCurrentVersion' has value '1.7', but '1.6' is required. Error: could not find java.dll Error: could not find Java SE Runtime Environment. I assure you I have the Oracle 1.7 version installed in "C:Javajdk1.7.0_25" I have the Classes set to: set path=%Path%;c:Javajdk1.7.0_25bin set CLASSPATH=c:Javajdk1.7.0_25include;c:Javajdk1.7.0_25includealgs4;c:Javajdk1.7.0_ 25includestdlib Darnit, Scoop eats slashes, but I assure you they are set correctly. I download their JAR files and extracted them to the stdlib (Standard Java Library but they wanted me to download them anyway, LOL!) and algs4 (Their super secret data structures and methods and all other goodies) because putting the JAR files in the include directory did nothing. Of course I could have it reading the JAR files and conflicting with the directories? LOL! I attempted the exercises twice, passed the first part and third part, failed the second part. I figured out that at one part (with the help of someone from the forum) that I had missed a root node because somehow it was a binary tree within a binary tree and I had used the wrong root. You make just one little mistake like that and the whole thing is wrong, no partial credit for trying. Good thing I am not paying money for this class, LOL! I think I'm going to fail it. But at least I am learning from it, which is the whole point, and not giving up like Crawford did and write the professor a 100,000 word essay manifesto as to why he should pass me due to medical reasons. I admit I am over my head and need to do more Java learning first before I get into algorithms again. I see now why data structures are so important, I see new ways of doing things faster. When I took Comp Sci 153 in 1987 with Turbo Pascal 3.0 a lot has changed and been added. I still got my 'Pascal with Data Structures" book from when I was in UM-Rolla at the time. I see that since Crawford had not mastered algorithms and data structures that he will never get Warp Life working properly. He kept blaming Apple, iOS, XCode, etc, but if he got the data structures and algorithms incorrect, he would have the same bugs. I know that I cannot do Conway's Life until I do as well. Most of the programming I did in the past, management had limited what I could use and do. For example I was prohibited to use anything management didn't understand. Which is why they wanted me to program in Visual BASIC because they didn't understand anything else. I could not use objects nor collections, no pointers, and of course data structures were out as well. I was programming in a straight jacket, no wonder I went insane. VB actually uses objects for forums and other stuff, but I didn't tell management that because they had this 'no objects' policy. I even used a Word Object to put data into Word documents, but if I told them it was an object, they'd tell me to delete it and take it out. ADO itself was an object to use data in MS-Access and MS-SQL Server. It seemed that they had me use ADO records instead of data structures to load and modify data and sort, etc. I think most businesses that run a Microsoft Shop do it that way, because that is how Microsoft trains people to do it. Does Microsoft training and certification teach data structures and algorithms? I heard Microsoft is phasing their training and certification out? Is that the reason why, they taught bad coding techniques? I did remember stuff like stacks and ques and linked lists. For some reason I forgot how binary trees worked, I remember Turbo Pascal 3.0 had problems with them back in 1987 and we had to find an updated version of Turbo Pascal to fix it. Well the important thing is I gave it a good try. I might fail this course, but if I take another one later, I have a better chance at it. I am not giving up, even if I cannot compile code for their course yet until I figure out this 1.6 vs. 1.7 nonsense with their custom libraries. I might have to make a Windows 7 Virtual Machine and slap 1.6 on it just for this course. LOL! Well I got a lot of reading to do. :) BTW I found this Java website Programming by Doing which might be fun because there is no deadlines for programs and it covers what a typical Java class teaches. I didn't see any Intro to Java classes at Coursera I need to take one first before I attempt Algorithms again.

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Scoop Apparently this is the Ebook they wanted me to read BTW I found this Java website Programming by Doing Riddick's Diary