Some advice for this newbie please ... writing Network in Java

Question

K, i'm new to Java, and i've hardly done much Object-oriented coding but I have the basic concepts. University modules too focused on C, Visual Basic programming. =o( Currently, on Internship, I've been tasked to write Mobitex Network in Java, poll-driven. Have spent 3 weeks breathing Java =P, camping in Java Developer Connection too. =o) (enjoyed the exchange of ideas especially the post on "Java sucks")
My questions are:
1) Does Java have an indexed library like MSDN for VB? or is there any other way i can search for
method names, their uses and the syntax? (the case-sensitivity of Java had me crazily
debugging a simple test application) The lists of libraries available eg java.lang.string.*.
2) Is there a help somewhere where i can check what my errors are referring to? I'm using
JDK1.3.1_02 and Forte for Java, Community Edition version 3 for my IDE.
3) I have plans to design simple user-interface, one that would probably look dos-like but with
some buttons and forms coz the network has lots of functionalities that involve loop-back tests,
choice of sending data, control or information frames. Duration to complete this project is 2
months. Please suggest the best approach I should tackle this assignment and perhaps the
links and softwares you'd recommend.
ps: i chose this project over the rest to specifically learn Java. I knew the learning curve is steep but I seriously do want to get to know Java better, like a friend. And I'm looking forward to the sense of satisfaction awarded when I complete the application program. Thanks for your patience and words of advice. =)

Answer 1

oh, ok then... I assume, then, that you have access to the C and/or C++ code.
Is the C++ code written in "good" OOD style? Or is it C wrapped in some C++ syntax? If it's OO, without multiple inheritance, then you just have some porting to do. Painful, but not as bad as writing a Mobitex implementation on your own.
Of course, timing is everything in this environment; depending on your platform (J2ME, I'd guess), you're gonna have to worry about meeting real-time-ish committments...
I'd concentrate on getting the Mobitex functionality solid first. I'd assume that there are (some?) reference applications that have been created against the C & C++ implementations. Port those, or use those as inspiration for your own (little!) app...
Larry