In order for me to have start coding the games, I took multiple steps in the coding process before being able to put the code on my website. Here’s how I did it:
Part 1: Compile and Run a Java File in Command Prompt
1. First, download Java JDK through this link: https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads/#jdk18-windows.
3. Then, create a Java file using Notepad and write a simple Hello World program.
4. Open Command Prompt and change the directory (cd) to whichever folder the Java file was saved in.
5. Then to compile the source code to bytecode, type: javac (file name).java.
6. A Class file will pop up next to your Java file after you enter the line above into the Command Prompt.
7. Lastly to run the program, we must use the interpreter, type: java (file name).
8. Your program should have just ran in the Command Prompt after completing those steps!
Referenced Java T Point: https://www.javatpoint.com/java-bytecode and LearningLad: https://youtu.be/zBF1M8dTftk.
Part 2: Eclipse
Even though using the Command Prompt to run code was really cool and helped me understand how Java works, it was too time consuming. So, I used Eclipse as my Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to code Java.
1. I downloaded Eclipse through this link: https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/packages/.
2. By using Eclipse, I was able to improve my efficiency in coding, testing, and debugging.
Part 3: Visual Studio Code
1. After coding multiple programs on Eclipse, I wanted to move it to a website format where many people would be able to play it.
2. I first downloaded Visual Studio Code, an IDE that allows coders to code in many languages.
3. With Visual Studio Code downloaded through this link: https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/free-developer-offers/, I first learned how to code in HTML, CSS, and JS.
4. Then, I created a few prototypes and tested them before settling on my final code for all my programs.
5. After recreating all the programs I created using Java and Eclipse, I created KidChat through using PHP, a new language I had never used before.
Part 4: MySQL
1. After coding several programs with PHP for KidChat, I was met with the problem of how to save the chat messages and update the chats whenever there are new messages.
2. To solve this issue, I utilized MySQL, a database management system. I downloaded MySQL through this link: https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/workbench/.
3. Next, I used Linux on my HP PC as my operating system to use MySQL.
4. MySQL was (and still is) a very confusing database for me to figure out, but even with all the difficulties, it was still able to connect to my KidChat program.
Part 5: Website
1. After figuring out all five of my programs and developing the final code, I wanted to display these programs to others.
2. To do this, I first looked for an All-In-One Website Hosting company that allowed me to upload my code onto the website.
3. After a lot of searching, I found Hostinger, an amazing Web Hosting company.
4. Through Hostinger, I bought a domain, and created a personalized website that also links to my games.