Sample Answer
Critical Report on Program Design and Development Using Java
Summary
This report critically evaluates the design and development of a Java-based program created using object-oriented programming principles. It reflects on the overall approach taken, the key design decisions made, and the effectiveness of Java as a language for implementing object-oriented solutions. The report also discusses areas for improvement and alternative choices that could have enhanced the final solution. Examples from the program, including code snippets, are used to support the discussion. Academic sources are referenced using the Harvard system to demonstrate engagement with relevant literature.
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to critically assess the development of my Java program, focusing on how object-oriented programming principles were applied in practice. The coursework required the design and implementation of a functional program, followed by a reflective evaluation of the decisions made during development. This report examines the program structure, choice of classes, use of encapsulation and inheritance, and the overall suitability of Java for the task. It also reflects on challenges faced during development and how these influenced the final design.
Program Overview and Design Approach
The program was designed as a modular Java application that performs core operations through clearly defined classes. From the outset, an object-oriented approach was adopted to improve maintainability, readability, and scalability. The main design decision was to separate responsibilities across multiple classes rather than placing all logic in a single main class.
For example, the program uses a controller class to handle user interaction and business logic, while data-related behaviour is managed through separate model classes. This aligns with object-oriented best practice, where each class has a single responsibility (Sommerville, 2016).
Use of Object-Oriented Principles
Encapsulation was a key principle applied throughout the program. By restricting direct access to class attributes, the program reduces the risk of unintended data modification. This made debugging easier and improved code reliability.
Inheritance was used where appropriate to avoid duplication. For example, a base class defined shared attributes and methods, while child classes extended this functionality.
This design decision improved code reuse and reflected real-world relationships between objects. However, inheritance was used cautiously, as overuse can lead to rigid designs. In some cases, composition may have been a better alternative.
Polymorphism was implemented through method overriding, allowing different behaviours while maintaining a common interface. This improved flexibility and supported future expansion of the program.
Technical Decisions and Use of Java
Java was chosen due to its strong support for object-oriented programming, extensive documentation, and wide industry use. Features such as automatic memory management and exception handling reduced the likelihood of runtime errors and improved program stability.
Exception handling was implemented using try-catch blocks to manage invalid input and unexpected behaviour:
This approach improved user experience and prevented program crashes. Based on experience, this was a good design decision, although more custom exceptions could have been introduced for clarity.
Evaluation of Design Choices
Overall, the program design was effective and aligned well with object-oriented principles. The separation of concerns made the code easier to read and maintain. However, some areas could have been improved.
One limitation was the lack of interfaces in the early design. Introducing interfaces could have improved flexibility and made unit testing easier. Additionally, some classes became larger than intended, suggesting that further refactoring would have improved cohesion.
Time constraints also influenced decisions. Some features were implemented in a straightforward way rather than the most elegant solution. With more time, design patterns such as MVC could have been applied more consistently across the program.
Reflection and Future Improvements
Looking back, most design decisions were appropriate for the scope of the coursework. Java proved to be a strong choice for learning and applying object-oriented programming concepts. If the program were redeveloped, greater emphasis would be placed on interface-based design, improved documentation, and automated testing.
This coursework strengthened understanding of object-oriented thinking and highlighted the importance of planning before coding. It also reinforced the value of writing clean, maintainable code rather than focusing solely on functionality.
