Due: 10:00 AM, Monday, 9/8/08

For this assignment you will create a simple Java program. You must work individually on this program. It is also a good idea to use a browser to view the Java2 API documentation and accustom yourself to using this resource. This documentation can be easily downloaded (see the link in Online Resources) so that you have a local copy.

(a) Following the examples in class, the reading assignments, and the Java Tutorials, create a "Board" class which models a standard checker or chess board. This should be in a source file named Board.java, and your class must satisfy the requirements given below; that is, you are not free to change the names, types, or behavior of the specifications.

A gameboard may be thought of as an 8X8 2-dimensional array. The rows are numbered 0-7 top to bottom, and the columns are numbered 0-7 left to right. In this assignment, the elements in the array have only two possible values: empty or occupied (or any pair of values you prefer, such as 0 or 1, ' ' or '*', 'O' or 'X'). Empty means the there is no game piece on the square; occupied means there is a game piece on the square.

Your grade will be based on how well you design and implement the code, on good programming practices, and on thorough testing. Coding guidelines for Java programs are posted here.

We won't be covering classes and constructors until late this week or next week, so your program should consist of only one class, which must be structured as follows:

• The main method should read its String[] args parameter, which should be a list of those squares in the board that are occupied. Each such square is indicated by a pair of integers in the range 0-7, separated by a comma. For example, if your program is called with
  java Board 4,3 7,0
  this indicates that the two squares at row 4, column 3 and row 7, column 0 are occupied.
• The main method should use a 2-dimensional array to hold the data about the game board, i. e., which squares are occupied or not. The type of the array is your choice.
• The main method should output a picture of the board. At this point, we have only seen the println command, and that's all you need to use, but you should still produce output that is nice looking, easy to understand, and self-explanatory.

You should decide how your program handles bad data. Just ignoring it is not a good solution.

(b) Add comment documentation to your program and use javadoc to extract the documentation into an HTML file. Include a javadoc comment for the Board class. The class comment should include your name and the date (use the @author tag). Although these are small classes now, and this may seem like a lot of commenting, we will expand on this assignment at a later date.

The physical location of the javadoc comments is critical. A class comment must immediately precede the line containing the keyword class.

When you have commented your source files, run javadoc to create the .html files and view them in a browser of your choice.

• Turn in a hardcopy printout of your java source file Board.java, and a printout of your test run or runs. Do not give me a copy of the javadoc.html files.
• All Java programs will be submitted by copying (or ftping) them to a specially designated directory in AFS. Each person in the class has a subdirectory which has the same name as your login in /afs/cu/class/cs242/fa08

  Within this individual directory, create a subdirectory named p2. Copy only the source file into this directory, not class files or javadoc files. So, for example, if your login name was smithjd then the file Board.java should be copied to /afs/cu/class/cs242/fa08/smithjd/p2. These directories have permissions set so that no one other than yourself and Prof. Lynch can read the files. You may, of course, use whatever operating system and compiler you wish to develop your code, but the version you turn in, both hardcopy and the files submitted to AFS, must compile and run under JDK installed in the Clarkson ITL (our lab room).

• Correct execution. The program must follow all the specifications above. The hardcopy of your program's execution should clearly demonstrate that it does. You may want to turn in hardcopy of more than one execution.
• Correct implementation. The program must follow all the design requirements above, in particular the design of the Board class.
• Error checking. You have to figure out what kinds of errors your program should check for, and how it should handle them. The hardcopy of your execution should include examples of these error handling capabilities.
• Readability of the code: commented and well-structured, so that it is clear what the code is doing. Use an accepted programming style. The style of the text is fine. You should follow the Code Conventions on matters like indentation and layout of your source code. Whatever you do, be consistent.
• Appearance of the output. At this point, we haven't covered any of the ways to generate really nice looking output, but the display method should produce a picture of the board with all the rows and columns lined up nicely, and any error messages should be well-formatted and easy to read.
• Timely submission of your program. All hardcopy must be turned in by the deadline. Late programs will not be accepted. Printouts submitted electronically will be ignored.
• Plagiarism (copying all or part of anyone else's code) is a serious infraction of Clarkson regulations; the penalty is a grade of 0 for the first infraction, a final grade of F for further infractions.