gwecode

courses / java / level 1

level 1 · easy

java for
beginners.

From zero to your first real Java programs. Every new word explained, every example runnable.

  • 28 lessons
  • 7 units
  • 3 h 27 m in all
  • £0, for good
start level 1

what’s inside.

For people who have never written a line of code. Nothing is assumed: every new word is explained the moment it appears.

Java Level 1 assumes nothing. In 28 short lessons you go from what code is to writing your own methods and a small class, with a guess, a hands-on task and a fix-the-bug challenge in every lesson. It ends with a level check: a tiny quiz game you build yourself.

every lesson goes the same way.

  1. meet it
  2. guess first
  3. your turn
  4. fix it
  5. nailed it

unit 1

Say hello

Make the computer do exactly what you tell it.

4 lessons · 27 min

  1. What code really is6 minFind out what code is and run your very first Java program.
  2. Your first line6 minMake the computer show any message you like.
  3. Printing more than once7 minShow several lines, blank lines and words that share a line.
  4. When it goes wrong8 minRead Java's error messages and fix the ones you will see most.

unit 2

Boxes with names

Make the computer remember things.

4 lessons · 28 min

  1. A variable is a labelled box7 minStore a value in a box and get it back by its name.
  2. Boxes can change7 minSwap what is in a box, copy boxes and join strings.
  3. Good names, bad names6 minChoose names that Java accepts and people understand.
  4. Asking a question8 minAsk the person a question and use their answer.

unit 3

Words and numbers

Tell text and numbers apart and use both.

4 lessons · 30 min

  1. Text vs numbers7 minSpot the difference between a string and a number.
  2. Doing maths8 minAdd, take away, multiply and divide like a pocket calculator.
  3. Tricks with text7 minShout, whisper, tidy and count your strings.
  4. Putting values inside text8 minDrop values into sentences and turn typed text into numbers.

unit 4

Make decisions

Make your program choose what to do.

4 lessons · 31 min

  1. If this, do that8 minMake your program do something only when it should.
  2. Otherwise…6 minGive your program a plan B for when the answer is no.
  3. More than two choices9 minCheck one thing after another and pick the right path.
  4. And, or, not8 minLink conditions together to ask smarter questions.

unit 5

Repeat yourself

Do the same thing many times without copying.

4 lessons · 30 min

  1. Counting with for8 minRepeat lines as many times as you like with a for loop.
  2. Repeating with while7 minKeep a loop going until its condition turns false.
  3. Loops that decide8 minCheck every number in a loop and count the ones that match.
  4. Stopping early7 minJump out of a loop, or skip a turn, when you need to.

unit 6

Arrays

Keep many things together and work through them.

4 lessons · 30 min

  1. Making an array7 minKeep lots of values together in one box.
  2. Reading and changing items8 minPick out and swap items by their place in an array.
  3. Looping over an array7 minVisit every item in an array and add them all up.
  4. Searching an array8 minFind one thing, the biggest or the smallest in an array.

unit 7

Your own commands

Wrap code up so you can use it again.

4 lessons · 31 min

  1. Making a method7 minWrap lines of code under one name and run them whenever you like.
  2. Giving it information7 minHand your method a value so it can do something new each time.
  3. Getting an answer back8 minMake a method hand you a result you can keep and use.
  4. Putting it all together9 minBuild a small class of your own and use it with everything you know.
end of level 1 level check: a tiny quiz game Build one small project with everything from this level. Pass it and your face levels up. see the check

next, level 2

intermediate
java.

Build useful Java programs with lists, maps, your own classes, exceptions and files.

see level 2