Introduction

In this project, I utilized model-view-controller (MVC) design pattern together with the JavaFX User Interface (UI) library to design a complete, functioning Graphical User Interface (GUI) implementation of the single-player logic puzzle nonograms. Maven, a build automation tool for Java, was used as a build manager where JavaFX was added as a Maven dependency to the POM file. The project involves high usage of Object-Oriented Programming where the idea of encapsulation, composition over inheritance, and subtype polymorphism has been implemented.

Running the application

To run the application with Maven in IntelliJ, follow these steps:

1. Click the vertical "Maven" expansion tab which is on the right side of the IntelliJ window.

2. Expand the "Plugins" folder.

3. Expand the "javafx" folder.

4. Double-click "javafx:run" to run the project.

Clues Interface

Each Clues instance represents the clues for a single nonograms puzzle. In particular, a Clues instance encapsulates the following concepts:

1. The height of the puzzle (i.e. the number of rows in the puzzle)
2. The width of the puzzle (i.e. the number of columns in the puzzle)
3. An array of integers for each row in the puzzle, representing the clues for that row
4. An array of integers for each column in the puzzle, representing the clues for that column

Clues instances are intended to be immutable---that is, the fields of a Clues instance should not change after instantiation.

CluesImpl Class

The CluesImpl class exposes a constructor with the following signature:

public CluesImpl(int[][] rowClues, int[][] colClues) {
  // Constructor code here
}

The rowClues parameter is a two-dimensional array containing the clues for each row of the puzzle (top-to-bottom), and the colClues parameter is a two-dimensional array containing the clues for the columns of the puzzle (left-to-right). Spaces can be represented by zeros in the clue arrays.

Board Interface

A Clues instance represents the clues for a puzzle, but doesn't handle the state to track whether individual cells are "shaded" or "eliminated". The Board interface is intended to track the array of states for each cell in a puzzle. In other words, a nonogram puzzle is a combination of a Clues object, representing the clues for the puzzle, and a Board object, representing the states of the puzzle's cells.

Instances of Board are not intended to be immutable. As the user clicks on different cells of the puzzle, the internal fields in the Board instance should change to reflect the new state. For example, if the user clicks on a cell to change it to be shaded, a field modification must take place inside the Board instance to reflect that the cell is now shaded. This can be accomplished via the toggleCellShaded() and toggleCellEliminated() methods.

Model Interface

The Model interface represents the model of MVC, and therefore contains all data necessary to display the current state of the application. In particular, a Model instance encapsulates the following concepts:

1. A library of available nonogram puzzles for the user to solve
2. A way to select which puzzle is currently active; for example, maybe an index into the puzzle library
3. The Clues and corresponding Board information for the currently active puzzle
4. A List<ModelObserver> of active model observers, represented by the ModelObserver interface (see below)

A Model represents the currently active Board and Clues for the currently active puzzle.

ModelImpl Class

The ModelImpl class exposes a constructor with the following signature:

public ModelImpl(List<Clues> clues) {
  // Constructor code here
}

The clues parameter is a list of Clues instances representing the library of available puzzles for the user to solve.

The ModelImpl class is a "subject" with respect to the observer design pattern.

ModelObserver Interface

The ModelObserver interface defines a single method, update(), and is used together with the ModelImpl class to implement the observer design pattern.

Controller

The controller package in MVC is intended to act as the "glue" between the model and the view.

View

The view package in MVC is intended to hold all code related to the GUI.

The code in the view package will primarily create and manipulate JavaFX objects.

AppLauncher

This class is the launching point of your application. The Main class is set up to forward to AppLauncher, which extends Application and therefore launches the JavaFX GUI.