Definition   A COMPUTER is a general purpose machine which can be made to act like a special purpose machine by means of a program.

REMARK:   We want to write programs in Java to render the computer a ``special purpose'' problem solver.

Definition     A JAVA APPLICATION TEMPLATE is a text which is a Java program except for ``slots'' which must be ``filled''.   These templates contain five textual sections:

1. general information
   
2. application description section
   
3. required packages
   
4. application class
   
5. demo
   

Definition   OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING is a style of programming which features the modelling of objects in a hierarchical fashion and the sending of messages to appropriately behaving objects.

Definition   A MESSAGE SEND is a construct of the form < OBJECT >.   < MESSAGE > which tells the computer to ``send the message'' to the object which knows how to process it.

Definition   A VARIABLE is a name (identifier) which represents some concept and which may denote a value.

REMARK:   In Java all variables must be introduced by specifying the type of value they can denote.

Definition     A VARIABLE DECLARATION is the introduction of a variable into a program which specifies the type of value which the variable can denote.   Specification of variable declaration:    < TYPE >    < IDENTIFIER >