Java is a widely used object oriented programming language. Which basically means an object is created from a class( the parent class could be “Animal”), for example a cat object from that class would have attributes such as age, weight , name etc.. It then has methods such as run, eat, sleep, etc..
This project reinforced the importance of proper class design, encapsulation, and method implementation in object-oriented programming. By building the Recipe and Ingredient classes, I gained practical experience using constructors, accessors, mutators, and ArrayLists to manage related data as a single unit. Implementing user input with Scanner and controlling program flow through loops and conditionals highlighted how algorithms directly affect program state. Debugging runtime errors, such as unimplemented methods and input mismatches, emphasized the need for thorough testing and thoughtful data type selection. Overall, this milestone strengthened my understanding of Java class structure and the role of documentation in maintaining readable and reusable code.
Learning Java was somewhat challenging at times. We had a digital textbook that did not allow you to flip back to previous chapters as in a normal book. I ordered “Java for Dummies” from Amazon to help me. The instructor gave us the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) of NetBeans to implement our code. It would simulate our written code compiling into computer language where we could test and run the code. This would allow us to see if we had achieved our various tasks
Code Reflection on the Recipe Class.
A brief explanation of the code:
This class represents a recipe using object-oriented design. It stores the recipe name, servings, ingredients, and total calories as private variables with getters and setters for access. Constructors initialize the recipe with default or provided values. The class can print recipe details, calculate calories per serving, and create a new recipe from user input by collecting ingredients in a loop until the user types “end.”
Its purpose:
The purpose of this class is to create, store, and manage recipe information, including ingredients, servings, and calorie calculations, and to allow users to enter and display a complete recipe through the console.
A brief discussion of your experience in developing it:
I had a very hard time trying to understand the interaction between the files. I understood the logic when I read the syntax, however, how certain parts relate to other files was difficult to grasp.
Issues that you encountered while completing the stepping stone:
Zipping the correct files without including ones that were not needed was a very trying. Also creating the project from the beginning did not follow what the instructor had showed in the explainer video. Certain fields were absent in my IDE.
Approaches you took to solve them:
I had the tutors on speed dial and they helped me solve many problems. I got an “A” in this class. For academic purposes the final file is not included in this post.
Lab Six challenged me to move beyond single-class programs and think more critically about how multiple classes interact within a larger application. One of the main difficulties was managing the flow of data between the RecipeBox driver class and the Recipe and Ingredient classes while maintaining proper encapsulation. Ensuring that objects were created, stored, and accessed correctly within an ArrayList required careful method design and testing. I also encountered challenges with user input handling and control flow when building the menu-driven interface, particularly when validating input and avoiding runtime errors. Debugging these issues reinforced the importance of modular design and incremental testing. Overall, this lab strengthened my confidence in designing scalable, object-oriented Java applications and provided a solid foundation for transitioning this structure into the final project.
