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Java Java Objects (Retired) Harnessing the Power of Objects Method Signatures

Russell Brookman
Russell Brookman
3,118 Points

Using a method signature they want me to make the go kart run for 1 lap.

They have given me this code to start with.

public void drive(int laps) { // Other driving code omitted for clarity purposes mBarsCount -= laps;

I don't know if anyone can help me but if you can I would appreciate it.

GoKart.java
public class GoKart {
  public static final int MAX_BARS = 8;
  private String mColor;
  private int mBarsCount;

  public GoKart(String color) {
    mColor = color;
    mBarsCount = 0;
  }

  public String getColor() {
    return mColor;
  }

  public void drive(int laps) {
    // Other driving code omitted for clarity purposes
    mBarsCount -= laps;
  }

    public void drive(String[] args) {
    mBarsCount ++;

  }

  public void charge() {
    while (!isFullyCharged()) {
      mBarsCount++;
    }
  }

  public boolean isBatteryEmpty() {
    return mBarsCount == 0;
  }

  public boolean isFullyCharged() {
    return mBarsCount == MAX_BARS;
  }

}

1 Answer

Russell, overloading a method means to write one with the same name and return type, but a different set of parameters (type and/or number). Here they want a second drive() method with no parameters:

  public void drive() {
    drive(1);
  }

You could have the statement inside the method's block read mLaps -= 1, but that would repeat code in the other method. So the preferred way is to just call the other method with the value 1. Then no code is repeated, and your code is DRY.