Installing Eclipse and the UW java Library
This document should help you get set up for working on a home computer. If you want to have the same setup at home as at school, you'll need to install the following software:
There are also other environments that you can use as well,such as NetBeans, JBuilder, DrJava, BlueJ (a simpler environment) and so forth.
If you want to work at home, you are on your own to some extent in terms of getting stuff set up. Ask friends, read documentation, post a question on the bulletin board, ask me -- but you can't be guaranteed to have an answer. Ultimately you're on your own with your home computer. The lab is always available as a fallback.
Regardless of the development environment that you use, the code you turn in should only rely on the standard Sun Java libraries, and the UW library. Your code should not rely on "wizards", special libraries that might be provided with your environment, or code that comes from the Internet or friends. The programs you give us will be compiled and run using the school set-up.
Go visit the eclipse page. Click on " Download Eclipse". On the download page, go to the "Eclipse IDE for Java Developers (85 MB)" section, and select your platform. You will be directed to a page that has links to many eclipse repositories. Click on any mirror location. The download should start. Save the zip file on your computer. The distribution is big, about 85 MB, so if you're connecting by slow modem, it's going to be a pain. DSL or CableModem users should have an easier time. You can always download it onto an SCCC lab machine and make a copy that you can carry home to install.
To install, just unzip the folder. Start eclipse by clicking on the eclipse.exe file.