Chapter 8

Saving Time and Money: Reusing Existing Code

IN THIS CHAPTER

check Adding new life to old code

check Tweaking your code

check Making changes without spending a fortune

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess. When the princess turned 25 (the optimal age for strength, good looks, and fine moral character), her kind, old father brought her a gift in a lovely golden box. Anxious to know what was in the box, the princess ripped off the golden wrapping paper.

When the box was finally opened, the princess was thrilled. To her surprise, her father had given her what she had always wanted: a computer program that always ran correctly. The program did everything the princess wanted, and did it all exactly the way she wanted it to be done. The princess was happy, and so was her father.

Even as time marched on, the computer program never failed. For years on end, the princess changed her needs, expected more out of life, made increasing demands, expanded her career, reached for more and more fulfillment, juggled the desires of her husband and her kids, stretched the budget, and sought peace within her soul. Through all of this, the program remained her steady, faithful companion.

As the ...

Get Java For Dummies, 7th Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.