Long Range Scanners

Programming Fundamentals Assessment Preparation

A comprehensive collection of exercises and examples to help beginner Java and Python programmers prepare for programming fundamentals exams. This repository covers essential programming concepts with practical exercises in both languages (Java and Python).

This is where you, as a programmer, are going. You're not expected to implement each of these exercises on the first try. But over the course, you should get to a point where all of these are not that challenging. Professionals will expect you to be able to solve problems like this standing at a whiteboard, in an interview, under pressure.

There are two tracks in here, one for Java programmers and one for Python programmers. You know who you are.

What's with the name? Well, As you know, every starship has long range scanners to show what's close and not so close. So it's a metaphorical nod to eventual knowledge.

📚 Topics Covered

Core Programming Concepts

• Variable declaration and initialization
• Control structures (if/else, switch/case)
• Loops (for, while, do-while)
• Data structures (lists, maps/dictionaries)
• Exception handling
• Regular expressions

String Manipulation

• Basic string operations
• String padding and trimming
• String formatting (left/right alignment)
• Number formatting in strings

🗂️ Repository Structure

LongRangeScanners/
├── java/                    # Java exercises and examples
├── python/                  # Python exercises and examples
├── README.md               # This file
└── LICENSE                 # License information

🎯 Learning Objectives

By completing the exercises in this repository, you will:

• Master fundamental programming concepts in both Java and Python
• Understand how to work with variables, control structures, and loops
• Learn to manipulate strings effectively
• Gain experience with data structures and exception handling
• Practice using regular expressions for pattern matching
• Prepare confidently for programming fundamentals exams

📋 Exercise Plan

Task 1: Variable Declaration and Initialization

• Java: Learn about primitive types, object references, and initialization syntax
• Python: Understand dynamic typing, variable assignment, and type hints

Task 2: Control Structures - Conditional Statements

• Java: if/else statements, switch expressions, ternary operators
• Python: if/elif/else statements, conditional expressions

Task 3: Control Structures - Loops

• Java: for loops, enhanced for loops, while loops, do-while loops
• Python: for loops, while loops, list comprehensions

Task 4: Working with Lists

• Java: Arrays, ArrayList, LinkedList operations and methods
• Python: Lists, list operations, slicing, and methods

Task 5: Working with Maps/Dictionaries

• Java: HashMap, TreeMap, operations and iteration
• Python: Dictionaries, operations, methods, and iteration

Task 6: String Manipulation Basics

• Java: String class methods, StringBuilder, string operations
• Python: String methods, string operations, f-strings

Task 7: String Padding and Trimming

• Java: String.format(), padding with spaces/zeros, trim methods
• Python: str.ljust(), str.rjust(), str.center(), strip methods

Task 8: String Formatting and Alignment

• Java: String.format() with alignment specifiers, printf-style formatting
• Python: Format strings, alignment with format(), f-string formatting

Task 9: Number Formatting in Strings

• Java: DecimalFormat, NumberFormat, currency and percentage formatting
• Python: Format specifiers, locale formatting, decimal places

Task 10: Regular Expressions

• Java: Pattern and Matcher classes, regex operations
• Python: re module, pattern matching, groups and substitutions

Task 11: Exception Handling

• Java: try-catch-finally, checked vs unchecked exceptions, custom exceptions
• Python: try-except-finally, exception types, raising custom exceptions

Task 12: Integrated Practice Problems

• Java: Complex problems combining multiple concepts
• Python: Complex problems combining multiple concepts

🚀 Getting Started

1. Fork and Clone this repository

   git clone ... (c'mon paste in the URL of Your forked copy of the Assigned REPO)
   cd LongRangeScanners

2. Choose your language directory:

   • For Java exercises: cd java
   • For Python exercises: cd python

3. Follow the numbered task directories in order

4. Read the README in each task directory for specific instructions

5. Complete the exercises and check your solutions

💡 Study Tips

• If you use an AI, only ask it to explain the concepts, not solve the exercise
• Work through exercises in your primary language first
• Practice writing code by hand for exam preparation with no AI assist
• Focus on understanding concepts, not just memorizing syntax
• Test your code thoroughly with different inputs
• Read the tests that are there, they can help a lot
• Review error messages and learn from debugging
• You can work through both languages to understand similarities and differences

🤝 Contributing

Feel free to contribute additional exercises, improvements, or corrections by submitting a pull request.

📄 License

This project is licensed under the terms specified in the LICENSE file.

Ripples in Spacetime

This project has a test_aspect with some ideas.