How Do I Spent Long Summer Vacation
The Developer’s Exam
CHAPTERS
11 12 13 14 Introduction to the SCJD Coding Standards Clarity and Maintainability Designing the Graphical User Interface 15 16 17 18 Networking Issues Database Issues Exam Documentation Final Submission and Essay
11
Introduction to the SCJD
CERTIFICATION OBJECTIVES
•
Understand the Sun Certified Java Developer Exam Process
3
Chapter 11: Introduction to the SCJD
CERTIFICATION OBJECTIVE
Understand the Sun Certified Java Developer Exam Process
OK, so now you know everything about the language. But can you actually build something in it? You’ll hear that argument from some who’ve never taken (or passed) the programmer’s exam. Obviously, they don’t understand how darn difficult the programmer’s exam actually is, but nonetheless there is something to the claim that, “just because you know how the compiler and VM work does not mean you can develop software.” The Developer exam, which is unique in the IT exam world, lets you answer that question (most often posed by a prospective employer). In the Developer exam, you get to put your code where your mouth is by developing a software application. In fact, the Developer exam isn’t even a multiple-choice test but rather a project that you build, given a (somewhat sketchy) specification. You’re told what to build, with some general guidelines, and then it’s up to you to implement and deliver the program. You have an unlimited amount of time in which to finish the project (as of this writing), but there is a short follow-up essay exam (taken at an authorized testing center, just as the Programmer exam is). The follow-up questions are largely used to verify that it was you (not your hotshot programmer brother-in-law who owed you big time) who did the work. In other words, the follow-up exam asks essay questions that only the project developer could answer (for example, “Justify your design choice on…”). First, we’ll lay out the facts of the exam—how it works, how you do
CHAPTERS
11 12 13 14 Introduction to the SCJD Coding Standards Clarity and Maintainability Designing the Graphical User Interface 15 16 17 18 Networking Issues Database Issues Exam Documentation Final Submission and Essay
11
Introduction to the SCJD
CERTIFICATION OBJECTIVES
•
Understand the Sun Certified Java Developer Exam Process
3
Chapter 11: Introduction to the SCJD
CERTIFICATION OBJECTIVE
Understand the Sun Certified Java Developer Exam Process
OK, so now you know everything about the language. But can you actually build something in it? You’ll hear that argument from some who’ve never taken (or passed) the programmer’s exam. Obviously, they don’t understand how darn difficult the programmer’s exam actually is, but nonetheless there is something to the claim that, “just because you know how the compiler and VM work does not mean you can develop software.” The Developer exam, which is unique in the IT exam world, lets you answer that question (most often posed by a prospective employer). In the Developer exam, you get to put your code where your mouth is by developing a software application. In fact, the Developer exam isn’t even a multiple-choice test but rather a project that you build, given a (somewhat sketchy) specification. You’re told what to build, with some general guidelines, and then it’s up to you to implement and deliver the program. You have an unlimited amount of time in which to finish the project (as of this writing), but there is a short follow-up essay exam (taken at an authorized testing center, just as the Programmer exam is). The follow-up questions are largely used to verify that it was you (not your hotshot programmer brother-in-law who owed you big time) who did the work. In other words, the follow-up exam asks essay questions that only the project developer could answer (for example, “Justify your design choice on…”). First, we’ll lay out the facts of the exam—how it works, how you do