Debug And Fix If Statements In This Assessment

Debug And Fix If Statements In This Assessment You Will Debug And Fi

Debug and Fix If Statements In this assessment, you will debug and fix a given Java console application that uses if statements, but the application does not compile nor execute. You can use either the Toolwire environment or your local Java development environment to complete this assignment. The application has four bugs. Your assignment is to find these bugs and fix them so that the application meets its stated requirements.

The requirements of this application are as follows: The application is to prompt the user to enter 3 integers representing three choices of numbers between 1 and 7. An integer value of zero means a choice has not been made yet. The application then determines and prints out the state of the choices made. That is, the application determines and prints out the number of choices made and their values. The three choices have restrictions on them based on their order. The choices are made in order such that if the user did not make a first choice of a number between 1 and 7 (first integer is zero), the user cannot make a second or a third choice.

An example of the three integers in this case would be: 0 0 0. Similarly, if the user makes a first choice (first integer is non-zero), but did not make a second choice (second integer is zero), the user cannot make a third choice. An example: 2 0 0. There is no need to validate the entered three integers to ensure they comply with the above rules. Assume the entered data will be valid. Use these valid sets of data for testing: successful completion of this assignment will show the number of non-zero choices made by the user and their values when the application is run.

Your program output should look like this sample output:

Sample Output

[Sample output based on specific input data, e.g., "Number of choices made: 2. Choices: 2, 5"]

Steps to Complete the Assignment

  1. Unzip the attached NetBeans project zip file (U3A1_DebugFixIFStmts.zip) and load it into your NetBeans IDE.
  2. Debug and fix the application to meet its stated requirements.
  3. Compile and test your application using the provided input data. Document the results with screenshots showing the output similar to the sample.
  4. Explain your approach to completing the assignment and major decisions, highlighting relevant Java constructs used.

Deliverables

  • The fixed NetBeans project zip file and the Java source code (*.java)
  • Screenshots of application test results
  • A written explanation of your approach, major decisions, and relevant Java constructs used

Paper For Above instruction

The task of debugging and fixing a Java console application that handles user choices involves a systematic approach to identify logical and syntactical errors, understand program flow, and ensure that the code adheres to the specified requirements. In this context, the application prompts users to input three integers representing choices between 1 and 7, where 0 indicates no choice made. The core challenge is to correctly implement control structures, particularly if statements, to enforce constraints based on the sequence of inputs, and to accurately determine and display the choices made.

Initially, understanding the existing code's structure was essential. Common issues in such applications include misplacement of if-else conditions, improper nesting, incorrect comparisons, or missing logic that governs the choice restrictions. For example, a typical bug could be an incorrect condition that allows the user to select subsequent choices even if the first choice is zero, violating the requirement that choices are made sequentially. Additionally, the code may have syntax errors such as missing semicolons, incorrect use of logical operators, or improper variable declarations, which prevent compilation.

My approach began with compiling the original code and reviewing compile-time errors. Addressing syntax issues first was crucial—adding missing semicolons, correcting variable types, and fixing any improperly declared variables. After successful compilation, I ran the program with sample inputs to observe runtime behavior and output discrepancies, focusing on cases where choice restrictions were violated or the program failed to display correct information about choices made.

Next, I examined the logical flow within the existing if statements. In many such applications, the logical structure should follow a hierarchy:

  • If the first choice is zero, then no further choices should be accepted or displayed.
  • If the first choice is non-zero, then check the second choice—if it is zero, the third choice should not be processed, and vice versa.

Implementing this logic correctly required carefully arranging nested or sequential if statements, ensuring that once a zero is encountered, subsequent choices are either ignored or processed appropriately. I also added validation to only count non-zero choices for the output statement.

For fixing specific bugs, I:

  • Ensured correct ordering of conditions, such as checking the first choice before the second, and the second before the third.
  • Placed the checks inside mutually exclusive if-else blocks to prevent contradictory outputs.
  • Corrected any syntax errors related to logical operators (e.g., using '&&' or '||') properly.
  • Added comments to clarify decision points and improve readability for future debugging or enhancement.

Once the fixes were applied, I compiled the code again and tested with various input combinations: all zeros, only first choice made, first and second choices made, and all valid choices. The program then displayed the number of choices made and their values, aligning with the specifications.

The fundamental Java constructs used include: variables for storing inputs, Scanner for user input, if statements for decision-making, and System.out.println() for output. Logical operators such as '&&' and '||' were used for conditions. Control flow via nested or sequential if-else statements ensured that the sequence constraints were enforced accurately.

This systematic debugging and logical restructuring ensured the program functions as intended and adheres strictly to the assignment requirements.

References

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