JBridge: Java Web Programming Course Sample

About the sample module

The download file contains the software and slides for the Basic HTTP module (the first course module). The software is only available for Microsoft Windows platforms currently; I hope to provide a Linux version soon.

The software and slides are meant for use within a structured training course. Although not designed for self-teaching purposes, you are welcome to try using the module in this way. My main reason for making this sample module available is to give potential course delegates an opportunity to review some of the course material.

Prerequisites

To run the software, you will need the following (all free, mostly open source):

• The course material itself, in the HTTP basics download file (1.8Mb).
• Java 1.4 or better. Available through the Sun Java download site. The software may run on earlier releases of Java, but has not been tested for this.
• Apache Tomcat 4.1.nn or better. Available through the Apache Tomcat download site.
• Optional: Microsoft Powerpoint or the free Microsoft Powerpoint viewer to run the presentation slides. If you have an aversion to Microsoft tools altogether, the presentation is also included in the download as a set of web pages. These can be viewed through a frames-enabled browser.
• Optional: FreeMind mind mapping software. The entire module is summarised in a mind map (a kind of node-based diagram: see Tony Buzan's web site for more information about how mind maps work). The FreeMind software allows you to view and build mind maps, with the added convenience that the nodes are expandible and collapsible. The FreeMind software can be downloaded from the FreeMind web site.

Contents of Download File

The download file (HttpBasics.zip) contains:

• WebCourse.war - the web application supporting the module.
• HttpBasics.ppt - the Powerpoint Presentation for the module.
• HttpBasicsHTML.zip - the module presentation as a series of web pages, zipped.
• readme.html - this web page.
• HttpBasics.mm - the FreeMind mind map summarising the module.
• HttpBasics.jpg - a screenshot showing part of the mind map.
• HttpClientScreenshot.jpg - a screenshot showing the Http Client ("The Bridgewater Browser").

Installation

• Follow the suppliers' instructions for installation of the prerequisite software (Java 1.4, Tomcat, FreeMind, Powerpoint Viewer).
• Unzip the course module HttpBasics.zip file to a folder of your choice.
• Copy or move the WebCourse.war file to the following point within your Tomcat installation folder structure: {TOMCAT_INSTALLATION_FOLDER}\webapps. The next time you start Tomcat after this, the web application should expand into a folder called {TOMCAT_INSTALLATION_FOLDER}\webapps\WebCourse.
• Optionally, unzip the HTML version of the presentation (HttpBasicsHTML.zip) into a folder of your choice. You can then view the module slides with a browser.

Running

Run the module slides either by double-clicking on the HttpBasics.ppt file, or by pointing your browser to the HttpBasics.htm file of the expanded HttpBasicsHTML.zip file. Before the hands-on work commences:

• Ensure that Tomcat is started.
• Launch the HTTP Client software ("The Bridgewater Browser"):
  • The following assumes that the Java 1.4 runtime is in your path: this should happen by default during the Java 1.4 installation.
  • Open a command prompt, and navigate to the following folder: {TOMCAT_INSTALLATION_FOLDER}\webapps\WebCourse\WEB-INF\classes
  • Enter the following command: java uk.co.jbridge.webcourse.httpclient.UserInterface
  • Note that during the public version of this course, the Eclipse Integrated Development Environment is used to launch both Tomcat and the HTTP Client. This is referred to in the module notes. My installation notes here make no assumptions about any IDE, and you can run this module without an IDE. There is a small amount of Java programming within this first module. This can be managed with command-line Java compilation if that is all you have available.