The Evolution of Spidey -- Java, Java, Java's CyberPet

Spidey The following episodes in Spidey's life created using Java applets. Taken together the applets illustrate the increasingly sophisticated programming skills that are covered in this book. In the very first stage, Spidey is a very simple object with two states, eating and sleeping. Spidey will respond to your "eat" and "sleep" commands. Static images are used to depict Spidey's eat and sleep states. In the next stage, Spidey displays some animation when eating. Spidey also performs transformations on strings that are input by the user. In the next stage, some randomness is introduced into Spidey's behavior, so that it doesn't always follow eat when you press the Eat button. In the next stage, drawing commands are used to draw a scalable version of Spidey. Finally, in the last stage, Spidey interacts with a separately threaded fly and both objects behave with random animation. The first couple of applets are based on material up through Chapter 4. The last example uses advanced concepts that are covered in Chapter 12. If time permits, you may be able to add even more advanced stages to Spidey's evolution. For example, one of the exercises in Chapter 15 is to create a version of CyberPet that can look up stock quotes on the Internet!

Spidey Baby (Chapters 0-4)

This is me just after I was born, and this is how I look. I only knew how to eat and sleep, and I always obey my mother.

Spidey Walks and Talks (Chapters 6-7)

This is me a few weeks later. I finally learned how to catch flys on my web, and I can chew my food.

Spidey's Terrible Two's (Chapter 8)

Here's me after I learned to say no. Sometimes I just don't feel like doing what I'm told.

Spidey's Teenage Growth Spurt (Chapters 9-10)

Here's me when I was a teenager.

Spidey the Dreamer (Chapter 13)

Now I'm old enough to decide when to eat and sleep by myself. Mom was trying to run my life. Here's me dreaming about a red fly. Who says spiders can't catch a flying fly?