Headfirst Java Chapter 3

  In this chapter I learned about primitive and reference variables. Primitive variables values are the bits representing the value. While a reference variable value is the bits representing a way to get to an object on the heap. A reference variable is null when not assigned an object. Also I learned about creating an array of variables and how it is always an object.

Dog Code:
class Dog {
    String name;
    public static void main (String[] args) {
        //make a Dog object and access it
        Dog dog1 = new Dog();
        dog1.bark();
        dog1.name = "Bart";

        //now make a Dog array
        Dog[] myDogs = new Dog[3];
        //and put some dogs in it
        myDogs[0] = new Dog();
        myDogs[1] = new Dog();
        myDogs[2] = dog1;

        //now access the Dogs using the array references
        myDogs[0].name = "Fred";
        myDogs[1].name = "Marge";

        //Hmmm... what is myDog[2] name?
        System.out.print("last dog's name is ");
        System.out.println("myDogs[2].name);

        //new loop through the array, and tell all dogs to bark
        int x = 0;
        while(x < myDogs.length) {
            myDogs[x].bark();
            x = x + 1;
        }
    }

    public void bark() {
        System.out.println(name + " says Ruff!");
    }

    public void cat();
    public void chaseCat();
}