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Java Java Objects (Retired) Meet Objects Welcome Back

Glen Hayes
Glen Hayes
5,798 Points

REPL not aiding in learning java?

As someone who hasnt done much Java coding besides the first step track of the java basics, and some android studio stuff, this REPL seem it like it will hinder me in learning the core of java, ie coding with java in a program that doesnt have the REPL in the compiler like android studio.

Wouldnt it be more beneficial to learn the long winded grounded base methods of java programming the old fashioned way rather than confusing us even more with the ins and outs of the REPL? You know, crawl before you can walk, then walk before you can run. It kinda seems now coding with the REPL I may start getting "sloppy" with my programming as I will become reliant on it (which is also what android studio does). Or am I missing the bigger picture here?

3 Answers

Kyle Salisbury
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Kyle Salisbury
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Student 16,363 Points

Maybe you are taking REPL to a level that is not needed. What might be easier is to just use REPL to see if things work. REPL is designed to make it so you CAN crawl before you walk. In REPL, all you are doing is checking code to see if it works. It allows you to check small code without having to finish an entire code which may return multiple errors. REPL allows less erros because you can micromanage your program a little better.

I found REPL to be very useful to quickly re-validate my understandings. I can easily head to http://www.javarepl.com/console.html and try out concepts to refresh my learning.

Greg Kitchin
Greg Kitchin
31,522 Points

With the repl, I can easily create an object, then test code on it, rather than having to hard-code a new class. Faster and more convenient for me.

Seph Cordovano
Seph Cordovano
17,400 Points

Kyle Salisbury exactly...

Not to mention you ARE ABLE to use the repl in real life to do the same if you get comfortable with this method. However, you will most likely get more comfortable as you progress reading console errors and understanding the problem. Glen Hayes