checkJ
Java style guides for learners

CheckJ is a suite of program style-checkers for students learning Java.

CheckJ with BlueJ

Installation

Download the CheckJ extension (alpha) (based on CheckStyle), and place it into BlueJ's extension directory:

• [BLUEJ_HOME]\lib\extensions (Windows)
, or
• [BLUEJ_HOME]/BlueJ.app/Contents/Resources/Java/extensions (Mac, Control-click BlueJ.app and choose Show Package Contents)
, or
• [BLUEJ_HOME]/lib/extensions (Unix)

Note: CheckJ is based on CheckStyle (v4.4), except that it includes the ability to check for some extra properties. If both this extension and some version of CheckStyle are installed in BlueJ's extension directory, BlueJ will load one or the other, but not both.
Eventually, once those extra tests are stable enough, the plan is to have them integrated into the main CheckStyle trunk.

Use

Select the Tools > CheckStyle option. Another window will appear. Clicking on the class name (in the left column) will show you all error messages (if any) in the large pane.

To change the configurations file: select Tools > Preferences > Extensions; the CheckStyle section includes a configuration file. You can use any configuration file/URL of your choice; for ITEC122 we use

• http://www.radford.edu/ibarland/CheckJ/beginning.xml (for weeks 1-4: objects, but no fields),
• http://www.radford.edu/ibarland/CheckJ/intermediate.xml (for weeks 5-10: objects and fields, but no loops),
• http://www.radford.edu/ibarland/CheckJ/advanced.xml, for the remainder of ITEC120 (CS1) (“advanced learner”),
• http://www.radford.edu/ibarland/CheckJ/expert.xml, for ITEC220 (CS2) (“expert learner”).

You might also be interested in other BlueJ extensions.

CheckJ with Eclipse

Install

Using

Using CheckJ in the classroom

The choice of what checks are made in each of beginning, intermediate, advanced, and expert levels are based on the curriculum at RU's ITEC120. It is a fairly specific ordering of topics, with the beginning-learner starting out with function-call and an emphasis on testing (but not fields, main/System.out.println, or reassigning to local variables). As the semester progresses, the next major phases are managing state (fields), and then lists and loops (which is the first place that require re-assigning to local variables).

A further rationale of CheckJ.

©2007, Ian Barland, Radford University Last modified 2007.Oct.20 (Sat)

Please mail any suggestions (incl. typos, broken links) to iba�rlandrad�ford.edu