Thread: How to write a simple automated reservation JAVA application

Since the first launch of the new iPhone 4S, online reservation through the Apple Store app on iDevice has been the most effective way to order this limited product. However, some speculators has hired powerful programmers to write a automated reservation program in JAVA, which will dominate almost all available inventory due to its extremely high reservation speed. Simply say, reservation by hand input always fail because of being too slow.

I have got programming background but a little bit basic knowledge in server and database. I would like to write a simple JAVA program to detect if the store is open, then make a reservation booking with previously entered fields.

What would be the simplest way to achieve the goal? Could any please provide a guildline on how to do?

Welcome thekongss to Java Programming Forums. It varies what and how do you want to do this. It also varies how do you want to detect whether a store is open or not, either by parsing the web page or by communicating to their provided service. And as far as reservation is concerned, we don't know the criteria of booking by your discussion.

First of all thanks for your reply on my question. Programming is the hardest thing in this world unless you have a good teacher.

Since you raised some questions that I don't even know the answer, such as what's the criteria by booking. I may try get a general idea on the following :

1) When the iPhone app is launched it is connected to Apple's server. And my purpose is to detect the change of status of the reservation server. How could I know what type of server is Apple using? My java application should start with hooking to a destinated IP address and listening to a specific port and detect the change of status ? if then how is it possible to get these information?

2) When the store is open, then a user is given a form for entry. First click into a specific model of iPhone 4S to order, then select a time-slot to pick up, then select the quantity, after that have to enter a account password and the passport number. I suppose all these entries in the form can be pre-coded into the program and then be submitted at once, so the reservation can be done very fast. The problem is how could I know the data format that the server is able to accept?

Originally Posted by Mr.777

Welcome thekongss to Java Programming Forums. It varies what and how do you want to do this. It also varies how do you want to detect whether a store is open or not, either by parsing the web page or by communicating to their provided service. And as far as reservation is concerned, we don't know the criteria of booking by your discussion.

First of all thanks for your reply on my question. Programming is the hardest thing in this world unless you have a good teacher.

It's pointless to blame your teacher or anyone else. Programming is just an art which can never be taught, so better try to learn on your own. There are bunch of resources from where you can learn programming, internet, books, forums etc.

1) When the iPhone app is launched it is connected to Apple's server. And my purpose is to detect the change of status of the reservation server. How could I know what type of server is Apple using? My java application should start with hooking to a destinated IP address and listening to a specific port and detect the change of status ? if then how is it possible to get these information?

You must go through Java Networking tutorials in order to accomplish this task.

2) When the store is open, then a user is given a form for entry. First click into a specific model of iPhone 4S to order, then select a time-slot to pick up, then select the quantity, after that have to enter a account password and the passport number. I suppose all these entries in the form can be pre-coded into the program and then be submitted at once, so the reservation can be done very fast. The problem is how could I know the data format that the server is able to accept?

Are you going to develop this for your own or for someone else? If for someone else, ask him all the details and if you want to develop it for your own purpose, again think about it carefully and i will recommend you to work for Functional Specification, Requirement Specification, Design, algorithms and documentation part, to achieve the best quality results. Again, you need to go through Java Networking tutorials to achieve this.


Hope this helps.
Good Luck