Lightbend Akka for Scala - Professional


Introduction

This document describes how to setup:

  • The development environment
  • The case study project

We recommend using the following tools:

  • Eclipse or IntelliJ, both with Scala plugin
  • sbt build tool

Prerequisites


Required Knowledge and Software

This course is best suited for individuals that have knowledge of Scala as covered in our Lightbend Scala Language - Professional course. Also, we need access to the internet and a computer with the following software installed:

  • Unix compatible shell
  • JVM 1.8 or higher
  • Sbt 0.13.13 or higher

Unix Compatible Shell

If you are running OSX, then you are on a nix system already. Otherwise install a Unix compatible shell like Cygwin.


JVM 1.8 or Higher

If you are running OSX and a Homebrew Cask user, from a terminal run:

$ brew cask install java

Otherwise follow the setup instructions to download and install. Once the installation is complete, very the installation by running the following command in a terminal session:

$ java -version
java version "1.8.0_111"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_111-b14)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.111-b14, mixed mode)

Sbt 0.13.13 or Higher

If you are running OSX and a Homebrew user, from a terminal run:

$ brew install sbt

Otherwise follow the setup instruction to download and install. Once the installation is complete, verify the installation by running the following command in a terminal session:

$ sbt -version
sbt launcher 0.13.13

Simple Build Tool


Make Yourself Familiar with Sbt

  • Read the first chapters of the Getting Started Guide
  • Starting sbt takes you to a interactive session
  • Take a look at build.sbt and the other .sbt files for Coffee House
  • Change directory to the LAS-P-lightbend-akka-for-scala-professional-exercises-<version> directory and start sbt as follows:
$ sbt
man [e] > coffee-house > initial-state >

man

The man command, short for manual, displays the setup instructions (what you are reading now) for the courseware. To view the instructions for the current exercise, use the e option. If you are using an IDE, you can also open up the setup instructions (README.md) file or the current exercises instructions (src/test/resources/README.md) file in your workspace.

// display the setup instructions
man [e] > coffee-house > initial-state > man

// display the instructions for the current exercise
man [e] > coffee-house > initial-state > man e

run

As part of each exercise, we use the run command to bootstrap the main class CoffeeHouseApp. This command starts the application for the current exercise that we interact with and verify our solution.

man [e] > coffee-house > initial-state > run

course navigation and testing

Navigation through the courseware is possibile with a few sbt commands. Also, tests are provided to confirm our solution is accurate. It is important to note that the tests make some assumptions about the code, in particular, naming and scope; please adjust your source accordingly. Following are the available navigation commands:

// show the current exercise
man [e] > coffee-house > initial-state > showExerciseId
[INFO] Currently at exercise_000_initial_state

// move to the next exercise
man [e] > coffee-house > initial-state > nextExercise
[INFO] Moved to exercise_001_implement_actor

// move to the previous exercise
man [e] > coffee-house > implement-actor > prevExercise
[INFO] Moved to exercise_000_initial_state

// save the current state of an exercise for later retrieval and study
man [e] > coffee-house > initial-state > saveState
[INFO] State for exercise exercise_000_initial_state saved successfully

// List previously saved states
man [e] > coffee-house > top-level-actor > savedStates
[INFO] Saved exercise states are available for the following exercise(s):
        exercise_000_initial_state
        exercise_002_top_level_actor

// Restore a previously saved exercise state
man [e] > coffee-house > message-actor > restoreState exercise_002_top_level_actor
[INFO] Exercise exercise_002_top_level_actor restored

clean

To clean your current exercise, use the clean command from your sbt session. Clean deletes all generated files in the target directory.

man [e] > coffee-house > initial-state > clean

compile

To compile your current exercise, use the compile command from your sbt session. This command compiles the source in the src/main/scala directory.

man [e] > coffee-house > initial-state > compile

reload

To reload sbt, use the reload command from your sbt session. This command reloads the build definitions, build.sbt, project/.scala and project/.sbt files. Reloading is a requirement if you change the build definition files.

man [e] > coffee-house > initial-state > reload

test

To test your current exercise, use the test command from your sbt session. Test compiles and runs all tests for the current exercise. Automated tests are your safeguard and validate whether or not you have completed the exercise successfully and are ready to move on.

man [e] > coffee-house > initial-state > test

Eclipse


Install the Scala IDE for Eclipse

Follow these instructions if you want to use Eclipse:

  • Attention: Make sure you pick the right packages for Scala 2.11!
  • You can download the prepackaged and preconfigured Scala IDE for your platform
  • You can also use your already installed Eclipse:
    • Install the latest Scala IDE plugin
    • Use the following update site for Eclipse 4.3 and 4.4 (Kepler and Luna)
  • In Eclipse import the coffee-house project with Import... > Existing Projects into Workspace

Install the ScalaTest Plugin for Eclipse

Follow these instructions if you want to use Eclipse:

  • In Eclipse select Help > Install New Software
  • Select the Scala IDE update site
  • Expand the entry Scala IDE plugins
  • Select entry ScalaTest for Scala IDE
  • Press Next > and follow the installation process
  • Restart Eclipse if prompted

IntelliJ


Install IntelliJ IDEA with Scala Plugin

Follow these instructions if you want to use IntelliJ IDEA:

  • Download and install the latest version of IntelliJ IDEA 14
  • Start IntelliJ IDEA and install the Scala plugin via the plugin configuration
  • Import the Coffee House project via Import Project

Case Study


Coffee House

Welcome to the Akka Coffee House where we work through a series of exercises organized by topic as laid out in the Lightbend Akka for Scala - Professional slide deck and experience:

  • Yummy caffeinated concoctions like Akkaccino, MochaPlay, and CaffeScala
  • Guests becoming caffeinated, and waiters can getting frustrated
  • Barista's becoming bottlenecks

Our mission is to keep the Akka Coffee House healthy, so make sure you have the deck handy as it is a useful reference for guidance.


Exercise Outline

The exercise outline can be obtained by running the listExercises command from the sbt prompt.

man [e] > coffee-house > initial-state > listExercises
0. Exercise 0 > Initial State
1. Exercise 1 > Implement Actor
.
.
.