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Android

Posted by steven schwerin
steven schwerin
7,722 Points

Code Challenge: Adding More Test Data

I don't understand what we are doing in the last challenge of the Master Detail Template section of building and android blog reader. I passed it after a few tries, but still don't get what a constructor is, what setting our variables with 'this.' does and how any of this relates to the dummyitem variables. lol.

Any help is appreciated.

1 Answer

Ernest Grzybowski
Ernest Grzybowski
Treehouse Project Reviewer

Hey Steven,

I just wanted to write you a quickly reply to your question. It seems as though you are having more of a problem with Java and some "basic" concepts revolving around programming.

Although, Treehouse gives you great Android tutorials, it does not cover Java and some other Object Oriented Programming concepts in detail. Try reading some Java material on the web to help you wrap your head around it.

Constructors:

this:

Ben Jakuben
Ben Jakuben
Treehouse Teacher
Ben Jakuben
Ben Jakuben
Treehouse Teacher

Thanks Ernest for this great reply! Steven, have you worked through the Crystal Ball project? We cover that stuff there, though admittedly it's kind of brief for such a big concept. If you continue working on the project you might find that some of those concepts start to stick.

We do plan on covering some of that stuff in more detail in the future; it's just a matter of balancing our priorities and then executing. The next Android project will be more advanced but then after that I'd like to loop back and do a short project or two on some of the basics again.

steven schwerin
steven schwerin
7,722 Points

Thank you, Ben. Yes, I did do the Crystal Ball project which was really cool. I definitely saw these concepts. I just can't remember them, and applying them is difficult as well. I picked up a book on android for dummies and went through the java section so I am going to hit up the blog reader project again and see if it makes more sense. I do think that I am learning a ton on your site and the videos are interesting vs boring! I know you can't do it all at once. I just can see that I am going to have to know when to use a constructor and when not to so I have to figure out how to come to that understanding.

Much appreciated,

srs