CPSC 124 Syllabus

Week 1: 1/19-1/21

Topics: course introduction; the mental landscape; basic building blocks

• Eck sections 1.1, 1.3-1.4, 2.1-2.2 [reading guide]
• optional reading: the rest of chapter 1
• Why is programming fun?

Examples:

• GasCalc.java (basic program structure, declaring and using variables, output)

Week 2: 1/24-1/28

Topics: basic building blocks; algorithms

• Eck sections 2.3.1-2.3.2, 2.4.1-2.4.3, 2.5.1-2.5.2, 2.5.6-2.5.8 (skip the bits about operators not yet covered in the reading in 2.5.8) [reading guide]
• optional reading: Eck sections 2.4.4-2.4.5

Examples:

• GasCalc2.java (using TextIO to get input from the user)

Important: If you already have an account on the math/CS Linux computers, make sure you remember your password and can log in. If not, send an email with your username to Scotty Orr (scottyorr@hws.edu) by Monday and ask for your password to be reset. (If you don't have an account, you don't need to do anything - you'll receive your password in lab on Tuesday.)

• Declare a variable called length that will hold an integer.
• Store the value 42 in the variable called size.
• Read in a line of text as input and store it in a variable called text.
• Write an expression to add 10 to the result of dividing 8 by 2. (and then possibly print the result or store it in a variable)
• Print the message Hello world!. (or the value of a variable or expression)

Examples:

• syntax quiz (with solutions)
• MathQuiz.java (developing a program)

Examples:

• Folding.java (developing an algorithm)
• AverageRolls.java (developing an algorithm)

Week 3: 1/31-2/4

Topics: conditionals and loops

• Eck section 3.5 [reading guide]
• optional reading: Eck section 3.6 (for section 3.6.3, you should read section 2.3.3 first)

Examples:

• several ways to rewrite the letter grade 'if' from the warmup
• MathQuiz2.java (using ifs)

• Eck sections 3.3.1, 3.3.3, 3.4.1-3.4.2 [reading guide]
• optional reading: Eck section 3.3.2

In Class: 5-minute syntax quiz on if statements. Expect questions which ask you to translate pseudocode, such as:

• if x is greater than 10,
    print "big!"
  otherwise
    print "small!"
  

• if x is between 0 and 100,
    if x is less than or equal to 50 or greater than 75,
      print "A"
  else if x is between 101 and 200,
    print "B"
  

Examples:

• syntax quiz (with solutions)
• alternatives with and without continue
• questions to ask when developing loops (with an example)

• printing stars (using the loop questions to develop loops)
• finding maximums (using the loop questions to develop loops)
• in-class exercises handout
• sample solution for exercise #1 (using the loop questions to develop loops)

Week 4: 2/7-2/11

Topics: loops; arrays

• Eck sections 3.4.3 [reading guide]
• optional reading: Eck section 3.4.4 (requires reading section 2.3.3 first)

In Class: 5-minute syntax quiz on loops. Expect questions of the form:

• Write a loop to repeat a task some number of times e.g.

  repeat 10 times
    System.out.println("*");
  

• Write a loop to repeat a task as long as some condition is true e.g.

  target = 0;
  repeat as long as target does not equal 5
    target = (int)(Math.random()*10);
  

As indicated, you'll be provided with code for everything except the loop syntax itself (which will be expressed in pseudocode). You can write a while loop or a for loop.

Examples:

• syntax quiz (with solutions)
• backwards Z pattern (developing programs with nested loops)

• in-class exercises handout
• DigitCounter.java (sample solution for exercise #2)

• Eck sections 7.1, 7.2.1, 7.2.4 [reading guide]
• optional reading: Eck section 7.2.2

Examples:

• DiceCounter.java (counting dice rolls, original version)
• DiceCounterArray.java (counting dice rolls, using arrays)
• Reverser.java (print user-entered numbers in reverse order - unfinished)

Week 5: 2/14-2/18

Topics: arrays

• Declare an array of integers called numbers, and set it up with 10 compartments.
• Print the number of slots in the array numbers.
• Store the value 42 in the third slot of the array numbers.
• Print out (initialize, add 5 to, etc) the values in each slot of the array numbers.

Examples:

• syntax quiz (with solutions)
• in-class exercises handout
• ReverserComplete.java (sample solution for exercise #1)

• Eck sections 7.5.1-7.5.2 [reading guide]
• optional reading: Eck section 7.5.3 (an example of 2D arrays, but uses classes and subroutines, which we haven't covered yet)

Examples:

• in-class exercises handout
• Array2DDemo.java (declaring and using 2D arrays, plus sample solution for exercises #1 and #2)

• in-class exercises handout

Week 6: 2/21-2/25

Topics: subroutines

• Eck sections 4.1-4.2.3 [reading guide]
• optional reading: Eck section 4.2.4 (static member variables are sometimes necessary, but it is often possible - and better - to use parameters and return values instead)

Examples:

• MathQuiz3.java (subroutines)

• review information
• exam solutions

Examples:

• subroutines slides (castles)
• BeerSong.java (subroutines with parameters)
• Stars.java (using subroutines to manage complexity, subroutines with parameters)

Week 7: 2/28-3/4

Topics: subroutines

• Eck sections 3.7.1-3.7.2 [reading guide]
• Eck sections 4.3.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.4, 4.6.1 [reading guide]

In Class: 5-minute syntax quiz on subroutines and subroutines with parameters. Expect questions of the following types:

• Write the header (body not needed) for a subroutine to print the maximum of two integers: it should take two integers as parameters and print the larger of the two.
• Write statement(s) to print the larger of 10 and the value stored in the variable x. Use your print maximum subroutine.

Examples:

• syntax quiz (with solutions)
• Minesweeper pseudocode handout
• BeerSong2.java, Stars2.java (Javadoc comments, preconditions, checking preconditions)

Examples:

• functions slides (castles)
• MathQuiz4.java (functions)

• in-class exercises handout

Week 8: 3/7-3/11

Topics: creating programs with subroutines and functions

• Write a complete definition (header and body) for a function which computes the maximum of two integers: it should take two integers as parameters and return the larger of the two.
• Write statement(s) to print the larger of 10 and the value stored in the variable x. Use your compute maximum function.

Examples:

• syntax quiz (with solutions)
• DiceRollStats.java (sample solution for #1-3 from Friday's in-class exercises; preconditions)
• ParamDemo.java (assigning to parameters inside subroutines)
• Capitalize.java (developing a program with functions)

Examples:

• Capitalize2.java (more with building programs out of functions)
• ArrayInit.java (assigning to array slots inside subroutines)

Examples:

• ArrayInit.java (assigning to array slots inside subroutines)
• in-class exercises handout

Spring Break

Week 9: 3/21-3/25

Topics: objects and classes

Examples:

• Card, Deck, Hand API handout
• BasicWar.java (using objects, subroutines with objects as parameters)

• Write Java statement(s) to create a Deck of cards, shuffle it, deal a card, and print the suit and value of the dealt card.

You may be asked to work with the Card, Deck, and Hand classes, or with a new class. You will be provided with the API of any classes you are to use (including Card, Deck, Hand), similar in format to the Card/Hand/Deck handout.

Examples:

• syntax quiz (with solutions)
• ObjectDemo.java (consequences of variables storing references to objects instead of the objects themselves, and null)
• MultiplayerBasicWar.java (arrays of objects)

Examples:

• classes and objects slides (castles, and writing classes)
• BankAccount.java (writing classes as blueprints-for-objects)

Week 10: 3/28-4/1

Topics: objects and classes

Examples:

• in-class exercises handout
• CarLoan.java, CarLoanDemo.java (sample solutions for #1-3; writing classes and using objects)

• Write a complete class called Dice to represent a single die. Your class should have:
  • an instance variable holding the die's current value
  • an instance variable holding the number of sides
  • a constructor which takes the number of sides as a parameter and initializes the instance variables accordingly (set the current value to -1)
  • a getter which returns the die's current value
  • a getter which returns the number of sides
  • a roll method which rolls the die, updating the current value to a new random value between 1 and the number of sides

Examples:

• syntax quiz (with solutions)
• BankAccount2.java (example of a copy constructor)
• in-class exercises handout
• BunchOfDice.java (sample solution for part of #1; arrays as instance variables) - uses Dice.java

Examples:

• Space Invaders (partial) design example

Week 11: 4/4-4/8

Topics: data structures: partially full arrays, dynamic arrays, ArrayList

Examples:

• ArrayListDemo.java (using ArrayList)
• in-class exercises handout

• ArrayList API
• full Java API (try looking up String or Math - click on the tiny "All Classes" link at the top and then look for them)

• review information
• exam solutions

Week 12: 4/11-4/15

Topics: data structures; inheritance

• Add the necessary import statement to a program in order to use ArrayList.
• Declare a variable to hold a reference to an ArrayList of integers.
• Create a new ArrayList of integers object.
• Insert the value 4 into an ArrayList at the end or at position 2.
• Remove the value 4 from the ArrayList, or remove the element at position 2.
• Retrieve and print the element at position 2.
• Print out the number of elements in an ArrayList.

A section of the ArrayList API will be provided for you for reference.

Examples:

• syntax quiz (with solutions)
• in-class exercises handout (check out Eck section 7.4 for more on the topics in the exercises, plus some extra things)

Examples:

• BankAccount.java
• CheckingAccount.java, SavingsAccount.java, InvestmentAccount.java (extending classes)
• AccountMain.java (main program using the account classes)

• in-class exercises handout
• MoneyMarketAccount.java (sample solution for #1)

Week 13: 4/18-4/22

Topics: inheritance and polymorphism; GUI programming

In Class: 5-minute syntax quiz on inheritance. Expect questions of the following types:

• Write a complete class GraphicalDice which is a subclass of Dice (see the example questions for the 3/30 syntax quiz for a description of Dice). Your class should have:
  • an instance variable holding the die's current value
  • an instance variable holding the number of sides
  • instance variables holding the position where the die is to be drawn
  • a constructor which takes the number of sides and the position of the die as parameters and initializes the instance variables accordingly
  • a constructor which takes the position of the die as a parameter and creates a 6-sided die
  • a getter which returns the die's current value
  • a getter which returns the number of sides
  • a paint method which draws the die's current value
  • a roll method which rolls the die and then paints the die with its new value
  Write only the code needed to achieve this functionality: make use of inheritance to reuse as much code as possible.
• Write Java statement(s) to create a GraphicalDice object with 10 sides in the position (100,200), roll it, paint it on the screen, and print the current value.

Examples:

• syntax quiz (with solutions)
• ticket example (inheritance, abstract classes)
• Ticket.java, WalkupTicket.java, AdvanceTicket.java, StudentAdvanceTicket.java (fully implemented classes from the ticket example)
• TicketDemo.java (main program for the ticket example)

• BankAccount.java, CheckingAccount.java, SavingsAccount.java, InvementAccount.java (printStatement and getType - exploiting the fact that the method called is the proper version for the actual type of the object)
• Lionish.java, Eagleish.java (interfaces)
• Lion.java, Eagle.java, Griffin.java (implementing interfaces)
• AnimalDemo.java (using interfaces)

• Eck sections 1.6, 6.1, 6.3, 6.6, 6.7.1 [reading guide]
• optional reading: the rest of Eck section 6.7

Examples:

• GUIDemo.java (basic GUI program)

More Information on GUIs:

• A Visual Guide to Swing Components
• A Visual Guide to Layout Managers
• Creating a GUI with JFC/Swing

Week 14: 4/25-4/29

Topics: GUI programming

• in-class exercises handout
• GUI program, custom component examples (handout)

• JPanel API
• How to Use FlowLayout
• How to Use BorderLayout
• Visual Guide to Swing Components
• Visual Guide to Layout Managers

• Eck sections 6.4.1-6.4.4, 6.5.4 [reading guide]
• optional reading: the rest of Eck section 6.5

Examples:

• SimpleButtonEcho.java, SimpleEventDemo.java (event handling - simple event listener)
• ButtonEcho.java, EventDemo2.java (event handling - more complex event listener, getting information about the event)

• in-class exercises handout
• GUI program, custom component examples, event handling (handout)

• JPanel API
• How to Use FlowLayout
• How to Use BorderLayout
• Visual Guide to Swing Components
• Visual Guide to Layout Managers

Week 15: 5/2-5/3

Topics: wrapup

• in-class exercises handout
• GUI program, custom component examples, event handling (handout)
• DoubleCirclePanel.java, ColorChanger.java, DoubleCircleMain.java (sample solutions for exercises 1-4)

Exams: 5/7-5/10

• review information

last updated: --Tue May 3 06:50:17 EDT 2011--
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