Lab: Subtype polymorphism in Java

Assigned

Friday, 9 February 2024

Summary

We explore issues of polymorphism in Java.

Preparation

a. Fork and clone the specified repository:

https://github.com/Grinnell-CSC207/lab-polymorphism

b. Import that repository into VSCode.

Exercises

Exercise 1: Square roots

a. Scan through MathUtils.java and verify that the square root method has the form described in the reading.

b. Run the main method of MathExpt to see that it behaves as expected.

c. Extend the main method of MathExpt so that it computes the square root of

• an Integer,
• a Float,
• a Double,
• a BigInteger,
• a BigDecimal, and
• a double.

Exercise 2: Simple lines

As a first step in understanding the layout methods, extend the main method of TBExpt.java so that it uses TBUtils.print to print a simple block. I would suggest something like the following.

    TextBlock block = new TextLine("This is a test.");
    TBUtils.print(pen,block);

Exercise 3: Boxed text

The reading, claims that it is possible to combine text blocks together by using one as a parameter to the constructor of another. (In fact, that seems to be the only way to create a BoxedBlock). Try creating and printing out each of the following:

• a boxed line (of your choice);
• a boxed boxed line (of your choice); and
• a boxed empty line.

Exercise 4: Composing text

The classes HCompose and VCompose permit you to compose pairs of text blocks horizontally and vertically. For example, new HCompose(tb1,tb2) makes a text block by putting tb1 and tb2 side-by-side, and new VCompose(tb1,tb2) makes a text block by putting tb1 above tb2.

a. Using VCompose, TextLine, and BoxedBlock, build the following text block:

+-------+
|Hello  |
|Goodbye|
+-------+

b. Using VCompose, TextLine, and BoxedBlock, build the following text block:

+-----+
|Hello|
+-----+
+-------+
|Goodbye|
+-------+

c. Using HCompose, TextLine, and BoxedBlock, build the following block:

+-----+Goodbye
|Hello|
+-----+

d. Using HCompose, TextLine, and BoxedBlock, build the following block:

Goodbye+-----+
       |Hello|
       +-----+

Exercise 5: Writing HCompose

Assume that HCompose has two fields,

  TextBlock left;
  TextBlock right;

a. Sketch how you might write

• String row(int rownum),
• int width(), and
• int height().

You can look at the source code of BoxedBlock for ideas, but please do not look at the source code of HCompose.

b. Compare your answer to the source code of HCompose.

Exercise 6: Writing VCompose

Assume that VCompose has two fields,

  TextBlock top;
  TextBlock bottom;

a. Sketch how you might write

• String row(int rownum),
• int width(), and

You can look at the source code of BoxedBlock and HCompose for ideas, but please do not look at the source code of VCompose.

b. Compare your answer to the source code of VCompose.

Exercise 7: Other composition classes

Pick one of the following composition mechanisms and implement it as a class.

a. Truncated, which, given a text block and a maximum width, builds a new block that truncates the input block to that width.

b. Centered, which, given a text block and a width, builds a new block that centers the block within that width.

c. RightJustified, which, given a text block and a width, builds a new block that right-justifies the input block within that width.

Submitting

a. Upload all of your .java files to Gradescope.

b. Make sure to share the with your partner, too.

For those with extra time

Extra 1: More composition classes

Implement the other two composition classes from the last exercise.

Extra 2: Other compositions

Use the various implementations of TextBlock to make an “interesting” textual composition.