CPSC 124 Syllabus

Week 1: 8/26-8/30

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:

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

• 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:

• GasCostCalc2.java (input)

Week 2: 9/2-9/6

Topics: basic building blocks; algorithms; conditionals

• 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)

Notes: program development

Examples:

• syntax quiz solutions
• MathQuiz.java (program development)
• Capitalize.java (string functions)

Examples:

• PaintExample.java (using Paint)

• 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:

• MathQuiz3.java (if statements)

Week 3: 9/9-9/13

Topics: conditionals and loops

• 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"
  otherwise if x is between 101 and 200,
    print "B"
  

(Note that in pseudocode like this, the indentation matters.)

Examples:

• syntax quiz solutions

Examples:

• HeatIndex.java (pseudocode, program development, 'if' questions)
• Counter.java (loops, loop questions)
• Max.java (loops, loop questions, finding a max)

• Eck section 3.4.3 [reading guide]
• optional reading: Eck section 3.4.4 (you should read section 2.3.3 first)

Examples:

• Max.java (loops, loop questions, finding a max)
• MathQuiz4.java (loops, loop questions, error-checking user input)

Week 4: 9/16-9/20

Topics: loops, arrays

• 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 may need to declare loop variables. You can write a while loop or a for loop.

Examples:

• syntax quiz solutions
• BackwardsZ.java (nested loops)
• DigitCounter.java (nested loops - algorithm development)

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

Examples:

• Reverser.java (arrays)
• DicePairCounter.java (motivation for arrays)

• DicePairCounterArray.java (counting dice sums using arrays)
• Commandline.java (commandline arguments)
• CommandlineGreeting.java (commandline arguments)
• ColorBands.java (using arrays to exploit repetition when there isn't an easy-to-describe pattern of change)

Week 5: 9/23-9/27

Topics: arrays, subroutines

• Eck sections 7.5.1-7.5.2 [reading guide]
• optional reading: Eck section 7.5.3 (the example includes things we haven't covered yet - focus on how the array is used)

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

• 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 solutions
• ArrayDemo.java (1D and 2D arrays)

• ArrayDemo.java (1D and 2D arrays)
• AlmostYahtzee.java (programming with arrays)

• Eck sections 4.1-4.2.3 [reading guide]
• optional reading: Eck section 4.2.4 (while occasionally useful, static member variables are, in many cases, not the best way to solve a problem)

• MathQuiz5.java (subroutines)

Week 6: 9/30-10/4

Topics: subroutines

• Eck sections 4.3.1-4.3.4 [reading guide]

• MathQuiz6.java (subroutines with parameters)
• AlmostYahtzee2.java (subroutines with parameters)
• BeerSong.java (subroutines with parameters)

• review information

• 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 (comments and 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 solutions
• BeerSong2.java (javadoc-style comments, checking preconditions)

Week 7: 10/7-10/11

Topics: subroutines and functions

• Eck section 4.4 [reading guide]

Examples:

• TempConvert.java (functions)
• ParamDemo.java (semantics of parameter passing)

• TargetRoller.java (functions)
• Search.java (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" subroutine.

Examples:

• syntax quiz solutions
• BeatThat.java (designing programs with subroutines and functions) - incomplete

Week 8: 10/14-10/18

Topics: odds and ends, using objects

• Eck section 4.7 [reading guide]

Examples:

• AlmostYahtzee3.java (named constants)
• CapitalizeWords.java (pseudocode and designing programs with subroutines)
• DiceRoller.java (pseudocode and designing programs with subroutines)

• objects handout (in the "Files" section on Canvas)
• Eck section 1.5 [reading guide]

Examples:

• BasicWar.java (using objects)
• Card.java, Deck.java, Hand.java (needed for BasicWar)
• Card/Deck/Hand API

Week 9: 10/21-10/25

Topics: objects and classes

• Eck sections 5.1.1-5.1.2, 5.4.1, 5.4.3 [reading guide]

Examples:

• BasicWar2.java (objects as parameters to subroutines)
• MultiplayerWar.java (arrays of objects)

• Eck sections 5.1.3-5.2 [reading guide]

In Class: 5-minute syntax quiz on using objects. Expect questions of the following type:

• 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 solutions
• BasicDice.java (writing classes)

• Eck sections 5.4.2 [reading guide]

Examples:

• BasicDice.java (writing classes), BasicDiceDemo.java (using BasicDice)
• BankAccount.java (writing classes)
• StaticDemo.java, StaticDemoMain.java (static vs. not)

Week 10: 10/28-11/1

Topics: objects and classes

• 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 solutions
• BankAccount.java (writing classes)
• BunchOfDice.java (writing classes with arrays as instance variables) - incomplete

• Eck sections 5.3.4, 5.4.1-5.4.2 [reading guide]

Examples:

• scrabble program design (designing programs with classes)

• javadoc comments, method headers, checking preconditions for lab 6
• scrabble program design (designing programs with classes)
• Tile.java, GameBoard.java (beginnings of implementing the scrabble classes)

Week 11: 11/4-11/8

Topics: partially full arrays, dynamic arrays, array lists

• Eck sections 7.3.1-7.3.2 [reading guide]

Examples:

• TileBag.java (partially full arrays, adding at end, removing in middle without preserving order)
• TileRack.java (partially full arrays, adding at end, removing in middle while preserving order)

• Eck sections 4.5.2-4.5.3, 5.3.2, 7.3.3-7.3.4 [reading guide]

Examples:

• Reverser2.java (dynamic arrays)
• Reverser3.java (ArrayList)
• ScrabbleDictionary.java (ArrayList, reading from files with TextIO), ScrabbleDictionaryDemo.java (example of using ScrabbleDictionary), twl06.txt (sample Scrabble word list file)

Reference:

• ArrayList API

• review information

Week 12: 11/11-11/15

Topics: searching and sorting, 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 solutions
• ArrayOps.java (searching and sorting arrays - linear search, binary search, selection sort)

• Eck sections 5.5.1-5.5.3, 5.6 [reading guide]

Examples:

• description of the types of bank accounts
• BankAccount.java, CheckingAccount.java, SavingsAccount.java, InvestmentAccount.java (inheritance)
• AccountDemo.java (main program using some of the bank account classes)

• description of the types of dice
• BasicDice.java, StatsDice.java (inheritance)

Week 13: 11/18-11/22

Topics: inheritance and polymorphism; GUI programming

• Eck sections 5.5.4-5.5.5, 5.7.1 [reading guide]

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 10/28 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 solutions
• AccountDemo2.java (polymorphism)
• AccountDemo3.java (polymorphism and instanceof)

• tickets example
• Ticket.java, WalkUpTicket.java, AdvanceTicket.java, StudentAdvanceTicket.java (inheritance, abstract classes)
• TicketDemo.java (demo program using tickets)

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

• creatures example
• Lionlike.java, Eaglelike.java (defining interfaces)
• Lion.java, Eagle.java, Griffin.java (implementing interfaces)
• CreaturesDemo.java (working with interfaces, instanceof, casting)

Week 14: 11/25-11/29

Topics: GUI programming

Examples:

• GUIDemo.java (basic GUI program)
• RedBoxPanel.java (custom component)
• RedBoxDemo.java (GUI program using RedBoxPanel)

More Information on GUIs:

• Swing Tutorial, including Using Swing Components and Laying Out Components Within a Container
• A Visual Guide to Layout Managers
• Swing API
• Graphics API

Week 15: 12/2-12/6

Topics: GUI programming; wrapup

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

Notes: handling events

Examples:

• ButtonEcho.java (event listener)
• EventDemo.java (GUI program, registering event listeners)
• in-class exercises

More Information on GUIs:

• Swing Tutorial, including Writing Event Listeners

• in-class exercises

Examples:

• DoubleCirclePanel.java, DoubleCircleMain.java, ColorChanger.java (solutions)

Reading Period and Exams: 12/7-12/13

• review information

last updated: --Fri Dec 6 16:15:32 EST 2013--
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