2.1 Game 2302-0310 javascript  (Page 20/11)

Table of contents

• Preface
  • General
  • Viewing tip
    • Figures
    • Listings
• Discussion
  • Why I chose JavaScript
  • Facilities required
  • A minimal JavaScript script
  • Strings
  • Screen output
  • Structured programming
    • Functions
    • Arithmetic operators
    • Sequence
    • Selection
    • Relational and logical operators
    • Variables
    • The string concatenation operator
    • Repetition
  • Programming errors
    • Assistance using Google Chrome
    • Assistance using Firefox
• Run the scripts
• Miscellaneous

Preface

General

This module is part of a series of modules designed for teaching the physics component of GAME2302 Mathematical Applications for Game Development at Austin Community College in Austin, TX. (See GAME 2302-0100: Introduction for the first module in the course along with a description of the course,course resources, homework assignments, etc.)

Viewing tip

I recommend that you open another copy of this document in a separate browser window and use the following links to easily find and view the Figuresand Listings while you are reading about them.

Figures

• Figure 1 . Output from script in Listing 1.
• Figure 2 . Output from script in Listing 2.
• Figure 3 . Binary arithmetic operators.
• Figure 4 . General syntax for selection statement.
• Figure 5 . Real-world analogy of a selection statement.
• Figure 6 . Output from script in Listing 3.
• Figure 7 . Relational operators.
• Figure 8 . Output from script in Listing 4.
• Figure 9 . General syntax for a while loop.
• Figure 10 . Output from script in Listing 5.

Listings

• Listing 1 . A minimal JavaScript script.
• Listing 2 . An example function named getHalf.
• Listing 3 . A selection script example.
• Listing 4 . A sample script that uses variables.
• Listing 5 . A simple while loop.

Discussion

The goal of this module is to provide an introductory JavaScript programming tutorial for students with no programming experience.

Why I chose JavaScript

I chose JavaScript for use in these physics modules for several reasons.

Free

First, JavaScript is free. The capability to program in JavaScript is available to anyone who has a modern browser installed on their computer. Therefore, cost is not an excuse for not learning to program with JavaScript.

If you are reading this module using a modern browser, you have the ability to program using JavaScript immediately. You don't have to go out and buy anything, so that isn't an excuse for putting it off until tomorrow.

If you don't have a modern browser, you can download a free copy of the Firefox browser at (External Link) .

Fun

Also, programming with JavaScript can be fun. There are a lot of really interesting things thatyou can do with JavaScript such as playing sound files (see (External Link) ).

OOP

JavaScript encompasses modern programming concepts. For example, JavaScript is based on the concept of objects. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is here to stay. (For an extensive discussion of OOP, see the early lessons in my online programming tutorials at (External Link) .)

A free audible, tactile scientific calculator

I also chose JavaScript because you will be able to use it to create your own scientific calculator. You can use JavaScript to create solutions to many of the exercisesin the modules in this collection of physics concepts.