Why are we using 2 classes to make the dispenser?? i.e Example & PezDispenser classes!!

To add on to Steve's remarks:

First, as the instructor emphasized in the video, classes are supposed to be about one thing and one thing only. So, for example, if you were writing a program for geometric shapes, you would want separate classes for Rectangle, Circle, Triangle, etc.

Second, the PezDispenser class, as are all true classes, is a blueprint for pez dispenser objects. You use the class to create one or more objects, or instances of the class. Although you could do everything in one class, you shouldn't. You need a second class, like Example.

Third, although Treehouse doesn't make this distinction, PezDispenser is a true class, while Example is a program. The former can be compiled but not run. The latter can be both compiled and run. Example can be run, or executed, because it has a main() method. PezDispenser doesn't, and so it cannot be run.

So, putting this all together, you create pez dispenser objects in the Example program using the PezDispenser class to create them.

For the record there's a third kind of "class", viz., a module -- this is a class whose methods are static, and when you call those methods you don't have to create an object to call them on. You use the syntax ClassName.methodName() instead. An example would be Math.sqrt() or Math.round(). Here, unlike PezDispenser, you call the methods directly on the class, rather than creating a Math object and calling the method on that object.

Hope this helps.

Thank you Steve, it does make sense a little but I hope it will start making more sense as I dive into this language more. so basically every project should have 2 classes right!!

I get it now... well then let's keep watching Craig and see how many classes we're gonna end up with to get that pez dispenser ready :)

Thank you so much jcorum for your thorough explanation. It sure helps.