Introduction
Threads Overview
  Demo 1   Demo 2
Stopping Threads
Multi-Processing
Thread Tasks
Animations
  Demo 3   Demo 4  
  Demo 5
Non-interacting
  Demo 6
Task Splitting
  Demo 7
Exclusivity
  Demo 8
Communicating
  Demo 9
Priority/Scheduling
More Thread
Exercises

    Supplements
Java2D Animation
  Demo 1 
Processor View
More Concurrency
Cloning
  Demo 2  Demo 3 

This chapter concentrates mostly on threads, which are sub-processes that run within a Java program.

Java

• Introduction to threads - a brief overview of threads and the two ways to create threads.
  • Demo 1: Thread subclass
  • Demo 2: Implementing Runnable
    
• Stopping Threads - stopping a thread requires killing the thread process entirely by making it return from its run() method.
  
• Multi-Processing - more about topics related using multiple threads.
  
• Thread Tasks - more about where threads are useful.
• Animations - threads are often used to create animated graphics.
  • Demo 3: Text colors
  • Demo 4: Digital Clock
  • Demo 5: Bouncing ball
• We discuss four basic types of multiple thread programs and include a demo for each:
  
  • Non-interacting - threads run with no interaction among each other.
    
  • Task Splitting - several threads attack different parts of the same problem.
    
  • Exclusivity - multiple threads attempt to access the same data. Synchronization techniques must be applied to avoid interference problems such as data race conditions.
    
  • Communicating - multiple threads access each other and also must synchronize to avoid interference problems.
• Priority/Scheduling issues of threads.
• More about threads - - brief discussions of some additional thread topics.
• Exercises

Supplements

• Java2D Animation - use the Java2D graphics techniques to do an animation example.
• Threads in the processor - a cartoon view of how multiple processes appear to run simultaneously on a single processor.
• Cloning - making copies of objects

Tech

We use thread techniques to illustrate several enhancements to our histogram classes. We also look at sorting tools in Java.

• Timers - the Java core language comes with two different timer classes for running tasks after a given delay and periodically if needed.
  •  Demo 1
    
    
• Histogram with Adaptable Range - create a histogram whose limits can expand to include new data values outside the current lower/upper range limits.
  • Demo 2
    
    
• Sorting in Java - Java also comes with tools to sort arrays and collections.
  
  • Demo 3
    
    
• Histogram Median - use sort tool to obtain the median of a distribution.
  
  • Demo 4
    
    
• Refactoring  - reorganize class design and heirarchies as they grow and multiply.
  • Demo 5
    
    
• Error Bars  - offer the option of displaying the histogram as points with error bars rather than vertical bars.
  • Demo 6
    
    
• Exercises

Physics

We continue the development of some numerical analysis techniques (least squares fits) and then look at the issues of discrete approximations and animation timing and how they affect simulations.

• Least Squares Fit - Straight Line - we discuss the basics of fitting a straight line to a set of data points. A Demonstration applet generates sample data points and then fits lines to them.
  
  
• Least Squares Fit - Polynominal - it is often useful to fit lines to distributions in a histogram. Here we give a Demonstration applet that fits polynominals to a set of sample data.   Demo not yet ready
  
  
• Discretization - we discuss the effects of finite steps in time and space in the numerical calculations on the realism of the simulations.   Demo not yet ready
  
  
• Timing - a simulation involves several time factors that must be taken into account.   Demo not yet ready
  
  
• Exercises

              Tech
Timers
  Demo 1
Hist. Adapt Range
  Demo 2
Sorting in Java
  Demo 3
Histogram Median
  Demo 4
Refactoring
  Demo 5
Error Bars
  Demo 6
Exercises

           Physics
Least Squares Fit
  Demo 1
Fit to Polynomial
  Demo 2
Fit Hist Errors
  Demo 3
Discretization
  Demo 4
Timing
  Demo 5
Exercises