Java vs. Arduino language

Projects Programming
1

I just got an Ethernet shield and I've been parsing through the 'WebServer' example to try and understand the code but I think my prior knowledge of Java might be misleading me. How does Java differ from the Arduino language in terms of instantiating objects?

Here are some of the lines I'm having trouble understanding:

EthernetServer server(80); <<-- Is EthernetServer a class?

Ethernet.begin(mac, ip); <<-- Is Ethernet an object, and is begin() a method?

EthernetClient client = server.available(); <<-- Is this line creating an EthernetClient object called client from the return of the available() method?

I have no C/C++ experience but I know that there are slight differences between Arduino coding and Java, and I think my interpretations of these Arduino codes through a "Java lens" is causing confusion.

Thanks in advance.

2

See,

Ethernet is not an object. Behind the Ethernet word lies a LOT of code which activates the working of your shield. Literally Speaking, the Ethernet .begin() function starts up and sets your shield, beginning its working.

Don't get confused relating LiquidCrystal.begin() with this taking Ethernet as an object.

3

misterdnew:
I just got an Ethernet shield and I've been parsing through the 'WebServer' example to try and understand the code but I think my prior knowledge of Java might be misleading me. How does Java differ from the Arduino language in terms of instantiating objects?

Here are some of the lines I'm having trouble understanding:

EthernetServer server(80); <<-- Is EthernetServer a class?

Ethernet.begin(mac, ip); <<-- Is Ethernet an object, and is begin() a method?

EthernetClient client = server.available(); <<-- Is this line creating an EthernetClient object called client from the return of the available() method?

I have no C/C++ experience but I know that there are slight differences between Arduino coding and Java, and I think my interpretations of these Arduino codes through a "Java lens" is causing confusion.

Thanks in advance.

First, there is no such thing as "the Arduino language". It is plain old c++, which IS quite different from Java, so you need to spend some time learning the differences.

Yes, Ethernet and EthernetServer is a class, and Ethernet is an instance of a class that implements the "driver" for the Ethernet shields. You have full source code for all those classes in the Arduino installation, and there is documentation and all those classes, and boatloads of example code, just a Google search away.

Regards,
Ray L.