Greetings Burt,
I am enjoying the book very much, and I'm Still chuckling over the caption for the photo on page 80. I�m doing both; typing in the code to see the output, and looking at the code to try and understand how it�s working with pencil and paper. I do fairly well when tracking variables like �counter� and �x�, when they get used and incremented, but it got a little hazy for the �maybeNew� part. I got it into my thick head that �Mix4 m4 = new Mix4 ( );� was a new object and not a new array. But the �counter + 1� for m4 and �return 1� threw me off. I�m not clear on how two �counters� being incremented is affecting the program, on where �return 1� is returned to, and I need to refresh my memory on what the println is concatenating with the � �.
On page 83 can the statements in step 1 be combined as �Dog [ ] pets = new Dog [ 7 ];�? If so, would making them separate allow for a better programming practice? Just curious. I like the Code Magnets and matching type exercises, but the Pool Puzzles I find quite challenging with all the choices. I�ll keep trying, as it�s just my old age gettin in the way.
Thank you so much for providing an excellent recommendation. Putting System.out.println() statements in the program to print out variables is just the ticket I needed, and I can�t wait to try it out. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to reply to me. I need all the help I can get, since these 8-week courses at this college are brutal, and some feel Java should be split into two classes. I think it should only be taught in 16-week classes at state colleges myself, but what do I know.
Many thanks & kind regards,
Nigel