How to print the proper output?

Question about the task

Resolved

I'm trying to check where my code goes wrong by printing the output to the console. However the only output I get is the reference. Can someone please explain how I can check the proper String output?

Write a factory (HenFactory) for making chickens (Hen):

1. Write a Hen class.
1.1. Make it abstract.
1.2. Add an int getMonthlyEggCount() method to the abstract class.
1.3. Add a String getDescription() method to the class. It should return "I am a chicken."
2. Create an NorthAmericanHen class that inherits Hen.
3. Create an EuropeanHen class that inherits Hen.
4. Create an AsianHen class that inherits Hen.
5. Create an AfricanHen class that inherits Hen.
6. In each of these four classes, write your own implementation of the getMonthlyEggCount method.
The method should return the number of eggs per month produced by that type of chicken.
7. In each of these four classes, write your own implementation of the getDescription method.

The method must return a string as follows:
<parent class>.getDescription() + " I come from <continent>. I lay <n> eggs a month."
where <continent> is the name of the continent
and <n> is the number of eggs per month.

8. In the HenFactory class, implement the getHen method. It should return a chicken breed corresponding to the continent that the chicken came from.
9. All the classes you create must be in separate files.

Requirements:

The Hen class must be abstract.
The Hen class must have an abstract int getMonthlyEggCount() method.
The Hen class must implement a String getDescription() method, which returns "I am a chicken."
The NorthAmericanHen, EuropeanHen, AsianHen, and AfricanHen classes must inherit the Hen class and be located in separate files.
The NorthAmericanHen, EuropeanHen, AsianHen, and AfricanHen classes must implement the getMonthlyEggCount method, which should return the number of eggs per month laid by the corresponding type of chicken.
The NorthAmericanHen, EuropeanHen, AsianHen, and AfricanHen must override the parent class's getDescription method so that the returned string looks like this: <parent class>.getDescription() + " I come from <continent>. I lay <n> eggs a month." where <continent> is the name of the continent, and <n> is the number of eggs per month.
The getHen method must be implemented in the HenFactory class and must return the chicken type that corresponds to the passed continent.

package com.codegym.task.task14.task1408; /* Chicken factory */ public class Solution { public static void main(String[] args) { Hen hen = HenFactory.getHen(Continent.AFRICA); hen.getMonthlyEggCount(); System.out.println(hen); } static class HenFactory { static Hen getHen(String continent) { Hen hen = null;//initialize the instance variable hen of type Hen if(continent.equals(Continent.AFRICA)) { hen = new AfricanHen();//create an instance of an African hen } else if(continent.equals(Continent.NORTHAMERICA)) { hen = new NorthAmericanHen(); } else if(continent.equals(Continent.EUROPE)){ hen = new EuropeanHen(); } else if(continent.equals(Continent.ASIA)){ hen = new AsianHen(); } //System.out.println(hen); return hen; } } }

Comments (2)

Popular
New
Old

You must be signed in to leave a comment

Yiheng Niu

Level 26 , Beijing, China

25 March 2020, 17:13

useful

1) Since you override getDescription() in every hen class, you can use this method to print the string. For example, add this to your AfricanHen class's getDescription():

System.out.println(super.getDescription() + " I come from " + Continent.AFRICA + ". I lay " + n + " eggs a month.");

And in Solution class, replace "System.out.println(hen);" with

hen.getDescription();

2) I believe CodeGym teaches something like this. I cannot say it precisely, so I recommend you to google it or look it up in former classes. It's like the string's name is "AFRICA", but it contains "Africa". So when we call that string, we call it by its name, and it gives us its content. 3) I think we do not have to override, we just need to implement it.

Liliane Top

Level 17 , Amsterdam, Netherlands

25 March 2020, 11:22

One of the problems was that I stated "per month" instead of "a month". But I still do not know: 1) how to print the returned String? 2) why is Continent.Africa not working but hardcoded it works? 3) We do not have to @Override if a method from an abstract is not yet implemented? For example the getMonthlyEggCount(); I hope someone can educate me on these topics.