Update #1 – Challenges versus coding exercises

OK, I am now half way Chapter Seven (of Twenty Five), learning about Object Composition and Encapsulation. Probably still basic stuff for experienced OO programmers.

Anyway, in this course there are two types of “hands on the keyboard” exercises in the chapters:

• Challenges. These are explained in a video. Then you have to pause the video and create your code. The remainder of the video the trainer showing his implementation of the challenge
• Coding Exercises are different. In this case you make and test your code in IntelliJ, then you copy your coded classes to the course website. The website runs your code and checks if results are as specified in the assignment

Now I have done quite a few of both, I like the Coding Exercises better than the Challenges. Why?

Well, it’s because the Coding Exercises are very concise and there is always the satisfying moment when the website says:

The challenges on the other hand are more open. As example: the last challenge was something like “Create a room with several objects in it, however you like, using Composition etc…”. As a result I usually make something completely different from the trainers solution. Not wrong perse, but annoying because I see that the trainer has really a different kind of imagination creating a solution. And mine then does feel “wrong-ish” still.

But there is some good in the challenges as well. Sometimes the trainer explains shortcuts or common practices while coding his solution, which can be valuable. So in the end, I have to push myself to still watch every minute of every video….

Finally: a screenshot of the topics I covered so far: