Project 2 Introduction - The SeaPort Project Series

Project 2Introduction - the SeaPort Project series For this set of projects for the course, we wish to simulate some of the aspects of a number of Sea Ports

For this project, you are required to extend your previous implementation of the SeaPort simulation to incorporate advanced data structures and sorting capabilities. The primary focus is on enhancing the internal data management using Java's HashMap class and implementing flexible sorting through the Comparator interface. Additionally, the GUI should be extended to allow runtime sorting of displayed data based on various class fields. Your implementation should adhere to design best practices, ensure efficient data handling, and provide clear user interaction mechanisms.

Specifically, your project should involve the following key components:

• Use HashMap to facilitate efficient linking and retrieval of objects based on their indices, replacing linear searches with constant-time lookups. Ensure that HashMap instances are scoped locally within the data reading method and passed explicitly to other methods as needed.
• Implement comparators for sorting collections within their parent class, allowing sorting by various attributes such as weight, length, width, draft, and name. The sorting should be integrated into the GUI for user-driven runtime sorting actions.
• Extend the existing GUI from your first project to include sorting controls, enabling users to reorder data dynamically based on selected criteria.
• Ensure clean, well-documented code with a UML diagram illustrating class relationships, detailed descriptions of classes, variables, and methods, and an accompanying user’s guide for setup and operation.
• Develop a comprehensive test plan that includes various test cases, expected outcomes, and sample data. Capture screen snapshots of test executions to verify functionality.

Paper For Above instruction

The evolution of software systems for port management necessitates efficient and flexible data handling to simulate real-world scenarios effectively. The extension of the SeaPort simulation into Project 2 emphasizes utilizing Java’s advanced collections framework and implementing sorting mechanisms that enhance data organization and user interaction. This approach ensures scalable performance, especially when dealing with extensive data sets comprising numerous ports, ships, and personnel.

At the core of this enhancement is the use of HashMap, which replaces linear searches with constant-time lookup operations. By associating object indices with their instances in hash maps, the system achieves rapid retrieval essential for constructing and managing the port data structure. Proper scoping of hash map instances within the data reading method ensures minimal memory footprint and avoids dangling references, aligning with best practices in resource management. Passing hash maps as parameters maintains modularity and testability across different methods handling data initialization.

Furthermore, sorting is integrated through the implementation of the Comparator interface. This enables flexible sorting of collections such as ships in port queues or port items based on various attributes like weight, length, width, draft, or name. By embedding sorts within the parent collection, the design adheres to principles of encapsulation and modularity. The GUI extension provides controls—such as dropdowns or buttons—allowing users to specify the sorting criteria dynamically. The system responds by reordering displayed data instantaneously, enhancing usability.

The GUI design from Project 1 is augmented with components like JComboBox for criterion selection and JButton for triggering sorts. Using layout managers such as GridBagLayout ensures that the interface remains responsive to resizing, maintaining usability across different window sizes. Events linked to the GUI enable real-time re-sorting and display updates, creating an interactive experience. It is vital that GUI elements are decoupled from core data logic to preserve maintainability and to facilitate future enhancements.

The project’s codebase must include comprehensive documentation. UML diagrams illustrating class relationships provide clarity on object-oriented design, elucidating how classes like World, SeaPort, Ship, and Person interact. Variable and method descriptions within classes explain their roles and how they contribute to the overall system functionality. The user’s guide documents step-by-step instructions for setting up the environment, loading data files, and performing operations like sorting and searching.

The testing strategy involves designing multiple scenarios with varied datasets to validate functionality. The test plan documents expected behaviors, edge cases, and performance considerations. Screen captures serve as visual confirmation of correct execution, and any discrepancies guide debugging efforts. This iterative process not only validates the correctness but also reveals potential performance bottlenecks or interface usability issues.

In addition to functionality, code quality attributes such as readability, adherence to coding standards, and minimal warnings are mandatory. Java’s generics, exception handling, and descriptive naming conventions should be employed throughout. Comments should clarify logic, especially around complex data manipulations and comparator implementations. This meticulous documentation ensures the system is maintainable and extensible.

In conclusion, Project 2 advances the SeaPort simulation by integrating high-efficiency data structures and flexible sorting mechanisms into the user interface. These improvements align with software engineering best practices, ensuring the system can handle large datasets with minimal performance degradation while providing a user-friendly, dynamic interaction model. The combined technical and documentation efforts foster a robust, scalable, and comprehensible application suitable for further enhancements or real-world port management simulations.

References

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