There are several steps you need to take in order to be able to code on your own machine.
You will need to install the Java programming language on your machine so you can compile and run Java programs.
Mac instructions
Windows instructions
What editor will you work in?
When you write a Java program, you'll type code into an editor. There are many to choose from. You'll probably explore several and decide what you like to work in.
- jEdit is on our lab machines and is available on many platforms.
- Sublime Text - cross-platform, with lot of features.
- Atom - built by a team at GitHub. Open source, multi-platform.
- Windows only: Notepad++
Mac users already have vi on their machines, because vi is part of any UNIX platform. vi may seem outdated to GUI users, but it is a very powerful tool once you learn to use it. (Type vi at the command line to launch.)
Later in the semester we'll start to explore IDEs (Integrated Development Environment), but you will learn to code using a text editor first. Some serious programmers prefer a text editor, some prefer an IDE. As you become more experienced, you will decide what you prefer to work in. Feel free to explore the options.
At Radford University, a drive is set up for you that can be accessed from anywhere. This drive is commonly referred to as your H: drive. When you work in the lab, you will want to save your work there, and you can access that drive from home or elsewhere later and continue your work.
Mac Instructions
Windows InstructionsOnce you connect to your H: drive, you must be able to locate those files from the command line.
- On a windows machine, simply type H: at a cmd prompt and hit enter.
- On a mac, in a terminal window, type: cd /Volumes/yourRUusername
If you plan to work from off-campus, the VPN will allow you to connect to the Radford network as if you were on campus. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and creates a tunnel through the firewall for you. From off campus, you would need to be connected to the the RU VPN in order to see your H: drive.
Install the VPN