A Crash Course in GUI
Hi,
I will be interviewing for a company next week as a GUI programmer. Here's the deal though: I am still a high school student and the only true programming coursework I've taken is an AP course in Computer Science two years ago. While I can brush up on my JAVA, I never really learned GUI programming.
Anybody have an suggestions on how I can quickly and easily teach myself GUI programming in the next week?
I have the book "computing concepts with java essentials 3e" by Cay Hortsmann, and I'm a somewhat fast learner. I've heard that Swing is easy to use, but I'm not very familiar with it... any ideas?
[640 byte] By [
abhim89a] at [2007-11-27 5:19:30]
Mostly they will ask you the basics of java
difference between awt & swing
what is lightweight container & heavy weight container and difference?
double buffering
io streams
thread
exception handling
and MVC in swing i.e Model & UI Delegate
Which method will you use for displaying the Message box? ( I was asked in one of my previous interviews)
In one week you cannot learn swing. better buy a book and start learning how to use frames, label, button and event handling.focus on the points that i mentioned in my previous post for ace the interview. I assume they will not ask you to write swing program in the interview
In all honesty decline the job as you are not experienced enough nor do you deserve it.
I think it is odd that you do not have much experience in creating a GUI in Java, yet you are applying for a position in that work. If you have some solid Java syntax knowledge you will be able to figure things out from examples on the Sun website rather quickly.
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/uiswing/components/frame.html
The left side has a wealth of quick information to browse and test out.
(I do not expect you to able to hold the position very long if you are actually accepted.)
go for java2 complete reference book u just read the basic part of GUI programming and read the FAQ's on GUI programming u can clear the interview, it seems u r applying for the entry levelthe company will train u . all the best
I watched a programme once on dentistry, I'd like to apply for that job, is there somewhere I can pick it up in a week? I'm a fast learner so it shouldn't be a problem...
There is a reason why dentists take a long time to learn their jobs, it's the same reason why you shouldn't accept this job, the pain and suffering you will inflict on the end users of the application, and the maintainers that will follow you, will eclipse that of a botched dental job.
> the pain and suffering you> will inflict on the end users of the application, and> the maintainers that will follow you, will eclipse> that of a botched dental job.What if he uses the netbeans?
> > the pain and suffering you
> > will inflict on the end users of the application,
> and
> > the maintainers that will follow you, will
> eclipse
> > that of a botched dental job.
>
> What if he uses the netbeans?
The exact same thing will happen, but it will take three times as long
Well, in the OP's defense...
He said he's a high school student still, so presumably the company knows this and is at least interested in interviewing him. So presumably the company is looking for someone entry level that can be trained.
If not, then I agree you probably won't fare well with no experience. Swing and UI development in general is not a simple thing. It's certainly not something you can learn in a week. The biggest thing you can do to learn UI developement isn't really related to Java, but just about good UI design. Swing is just a tool.
I think making a Swing GUI is easier than making the "mechanics" of an application. (I use NetBeans.)
> I think making a Swing GUI is easier than making the
> "mechanics" of an application. (I use NetBeans.)
Making statements like that suggests that you use drag-n-drop GUI editors to make simple forms and don't do any really interesting, complicated UI's. But that's just my guess.
Message was edited by:
bsampieri
Buy the book called Java 2 in 21 days written by Rogers Cadenhead. There is a section on GUI.good luck
> I think making a Swing GUI is easier than making the> "mechanics" of an application. (I use NetBeans.)The engine can still break down if the hood's welded shut... I assure you, the "mechanics" are still there.
> Well, in the OP's defense...
>
> He said he's a high school student still, so
> presumably the company knows this and is at least
> interested in interviewing him. So presumably the
> company is looking for someone entry level that can
> be trained.
Wow guys, please read this comment. I doubt the company is hiring a HS student expecting him to code an artificial intelligent entity. My first job was a programming job, and I had literally no experience for it; I just read the book for two weeks before I started. It turned out to be a great success.
> I doubt the company is hiring a HS student expecting
> him to code an artificial intelligent entity.
conversely... The way kids are often so much better then adults at all this hi-tech stuff, maybe they are. Or is that limited to just video games? No wonder I've lost interest in going on Xbox live to play.
Something we all love: Wii Bowling
> > I doubt the company is hiring a HS student
> expecting
> > him to code an artificial intelligent entity.
>
> conversely... The way kids are often so much better
> then adults at all this hi-tech stuff, maybe they
> are. Or is that limited to just video games? No
> wonder I've lost interest in going on Xbox live to
> play.
Honestly, I would be shocked. A company would have to be incredibly stupid to hire (or even interview) a HS student with no experience and expect him to rattle off incredibly sophisticated code. Of course, maybe some company is, but I have had experience with this, as I mentioned. All I'm saying is stop trying to discourage the OP.
> Honestly, I would be shocked. Wasn't being serious. Sorry, forgot to add the winky: ;-) Thought the video games reference would've made it clear.There are a lot of poorly run companies, though.
> > I think making a Swing GUI is easier than making
> the
> > "mechanics" of an application. (I use NetBeans.)
>
> The engine can still break down if the hood's welded
> shut... I assure you, the "mechanics" are still
> there.
I meant writing the actual thing the program does in the background to display in the GUI. ;)
>> Well, in the OP's defense...
>>
>> He said he's a high school student still, so
>> presumably the company knows this and is at least
>> interested in interviewing him. So presumably the
>> company is looking for someone entry level that can
>> be trained.
Quote
Wow guys, please read this comment. I doubt the company is hiring a HS student expecting him to code an artificial intelligent entity. My first job was a programming job, and I had literally no experience for it; I just read the book for two weeks before I started. It turned out to be a great success.
Quote
You mean you were some sort of apprentice? Where can I find one of these hopefully paid positions? (/me is a HS student too)
Message was edited by:
kavon89
Message was edited by:
kavon89
Djaunl
Consider this situation: you have two applicants. One is totally inexperienced but has a wonderful gift of the gab and can baffle them with bullshit. The other knows their stuff inside and out with lots of experience but is woeful at interviews due to nerves.
Who do you think will get the job?
Who do you think deserves the job?
> Djaunl
>
> Consider this situation: you have two applicants. One
> is totally inexperienced but has a wonderful gift of
> the gab and can baffle them with bullshit. The
> other knows their stuff inside and out with lots of
> experience but is woeful at interviews due to
> nerves.
>
> Who do you think will get the job?
> Who do you think deserves the job?
You forgot variable number 3: the one who's dad is golf buddies with the boss.
> You forgot variable number 3: the one who's dad is golf buddies with the boss.Are they both Freemasons, too? Dang, there goes the summer internship...
> Well, in the OP's defense...
>
> He said he's a high school student still, so
> presumably the company knows this and is at least
> interested in interviewing him. So presumably the
> company is looking for someone entry level that can
> be trained.
True. However, I think both camps are sort of missing the point. Either his current skill level matches the company's expectations, or it doesn't, regardless of whether those expectations are realistic or not. Either way, a week isn't going to make much difference. All it *might* do is either a) give him enough chance to brush up or to learn a few basics so he can talk somewhat compentently about it or b) allow him to BS his way into a position he's not qualified for. Unless he's a freak of a fast learner, a week isn't going to give him significant Swing knowledge or skill.
jverda at 2007-7-21 21:25:44 >
> Buy the book called Java 2 in 21 days written by> Rogers Cadenhead. There is a section on GUI.> > good luckSkip that. Read this instead. http://norvig.com/21-days.html
jverda at 2007-7-21 21:25:44 >
Then again, this reminds me of a conversation between two people who
were in polar bear territory, in the Arctic.
-- You can't outrun a polar bear.
-- No, but I just have to be able to run faster than you!
A week's worth of cramming may give the OP an edge over other applicants.
It may not be a case of BS-***, so much as just trying to seem keener than
the rest. Once you've got your foot in the door, you can play catch-up...
Thanks to everybody for the advice!
The general consensus seems to be that there is no way that I can teach myself Swing in one week. So that is out of the question.
The company clearly knew that I am a high school senior with only AP Computer Science experience. I did very well on the AP test, but I don't know if the employers know that GUI design is not part of the AP curriculum. As some mentioned earlier, it appears that they are willing to train me (I'll probably be performing minor tasks as and leave the heavy coding to my superiors)
I guess I will just review everything that I already know, pray I nail the interview and get the job, and hope to gain some good experience/training. Thanks again everyone
For the record, I'm not trying to discourage your or advising against trying to learn as much as you can about it. I'm just saying you need to be realistic regarding how much expertise you can cram into a week.
If you know nothing about it, and they want you to do GUI programming, but they know you're a HS student, they probably don't expect an expert. (If they do, they're completely off the deep end.) They might want you to know *something* though, so trying to develop a basic familiarity with some of the main components, the event model, etc., maybe toying with a couple of sample programs, can't hurt. Just don't act like you know more than you do.
Good luck!
jverda at 2007-7-21 21:25:44 >
