Monkeys at Keyboards: APE Antics
© Michael James Heron and Pauline Belford
Topic: Java Programming
Level: 1
Version: alpha

APE Antics (2006)

© 2004-2006 Michael James Heron and Pauline Belford

Table of Contents



APE Antics (2006)

APE is a programming tool that has been developed to teach introductory programming topics. Many introductory texts concentrate on the syntax in an abstract way, using artificial examples that have little real world relevance. We're doing the same thing, except you'll be commanding a robot pacman around a series of mazes. Much more fun, and you get to eat ghosts, who could want more?

Pre-Requisites

No previous programming experience required, this book will take you from the very first introductory topics.

Book Forum

There is a forum to go with this book, and it may be found here

Tools Required

ToolDescription
JDK 1.5JDK 1.5 is the software development kit which is used to build Java programs. You most likely want the JDK 5.0 Update 8, offline installation.
JDK 1.5 DocumentationThe documentation for Java is extensive and useful. Make sure you install an offline copy.
JCreator 2.5 LEThis is the IDE used as a baseline for all of the programs in the book. It's free, and very good.
APE EngineOf course, this whole book would be nothing without APE, and here's the engine.
APE PacmanThe specific front-end we will be using for this book is the Pacman front-end. Download it here.
APE TemplatesUnzip this into your JCreator templates directory to make a project structure for APE programs.

Table of Contents

ChapterTitle
1Getting Started!
2Using APE
3Case Study 1 - I Smell Your Fear
4Variety is the Spice of Life
5Repeating Yourself
6Case Study 2 - All Along The Watchtowers
7Select Your Destiny
8While You Were Sleeping
9Case Study 3 - Sensing The Environment
10Stringing Your Words Together
11Hooray for Arrays
12Case Study 4 - A Library of Functionality
13Method in your Madness
14An Object Lesson 1 - Objects and Classes (Advanced)
15Case Study 5 - A More Powerful Pacman
16An Object Lesson 2 - Inheriting A Fortune (Advanced)
17Putting It All Together
18Case Study 6 - The Pacman Extravaganza!
19Putting The Monkey Behind You
20Testing Your Boundaries
21Case Study 7 - The Game of Life