CSCI A201
Introduction to Programming I

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Class-by-class Topics

The following is a tentative list of topics to be covered in the course. This also includes what would be covered in the labs as well. Note that this list is subject to changes.

NOTE: The class notes are in powerpoint format, and you will need to either shift click or right click and select 'save link as' to save to your disk to view them.

• Jan 12: Introduction to the Course and The course web page. Logistics of the course and grades distribution.
• Jan 14: Background Material. Introduction to Computers, Von Neumann computing model, different parts of a computer. Programming Languages, Introduction to Shakey.
  Readings: Horstmann Chapter 1 (upto 1.7)
  Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Labs: Introduction to Shakey the Robot.

• Jan 19: Elementary programming concepts. Compiling and running programs; how programs work; what happens in the background. Compilation errors and Logical Errors. Structure of a simple Java program. Different parts of a program. Roles of different parts of programs and how they affect the compilation process.
  Readings: Horstmann 1.8-1.11
  Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Jan 20: (Assignment 0 due)
  
• Jan 21: Data types. Operations on data types. Variables and naming conventions. Reading and writing variable contents.
  Readings: Horstmann 2.1-2.3
  Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Labs: Intro to CCJ classes, simple program 1.

• Jan 26: Java programs with varibles. Arithmetic operators, assignment operation, operator precedence. I/O using the CCJ classes. Integer division and truncation.
  Use the same lecture notes as Jan 21.
• Jan 27: (Assignment 1 due)
  
• Jan 28: Constants. Other types of variables - strings. String methods and their uses. Converting between different types of variables.
  Readings: Horstman 2.4-2.6
  Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Labs: Objects, Strings.

• Feb 2: Introduction to Objects and classes. Programming techniques, quiz and assignment discussion.
  Readings: Horstmann 3.1-3.3
  Use the same class notes as last class.
• Feb 3: Assignment 2 due)
  
• Feb 4: Objects, classes and strings continued. Program debugging
  Readings: Horstmann 3.1-3.3
  Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Labs: More Strings and objects.

• Feb 9: Decisions. Making decisions using if-else statements. Branching of code. Revisit of flow charts.
  Readings: Horstmann 4.1-4.4
  Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Feb 10: (Assignment 3 due)
  
• Feb 11: More on decisions. Nested decision statements. Switch statements, playing with conditions, DeMorgan's law, Boolean variables.
  Readings: Horstmann 4.5-4.9
  Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Labs: Decisions.

• Feb 16: Midterm review
  Readings: Mid-term content: Chapter1-4 of Horstmann (except sections 3.4-3.9 on applets).
• Feb 17: MID-TERM 1 SW119 7-9PM. Open book. Please bring your ID with you to enter the exam.
  Midterm Sample questions and solutions.
  No Assignments due this week.
• Feb 18: Exam Questions. Applets using the ccj way. Java applets. Using ccj objects to create applets. Simple graphics and drawing using objects and methods.
  Readings: Horstmann 3.4-3.7
  Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Labs: Applets, ccj objects for applets.

• Feb 23: discussion of projects and mid-term. No class notes for today
  PDF version of the exam solution and The actual exam.
• Feb 24: (Assignment 4 due)
  
• Feb 25: If-else revisited and pitfalls...
  Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Labs: more if-else.

• Mar 2: Functions, modular programming.
  Readings: Horstmann 5.1-5.5
  Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Mar 3: (Assignment 5 due)
  
• Mar 4: Side-effects, scope of variables. Code blocks. Local versas global variables. Recursion.
  Readings: Horstmann 5.6-5.13
  Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Labs: Functions and Methods.

• Mar 9: Recap on topics covered so far, informal review.
  No additional class notes for today - we will be looking over a few earlier class notes
• Mar 10: (Assignment 6 due)
  
• Mar 11: Class cancelled
• Labs: Functions revisited.

• Mar 15-19: No class, SPRING BREAK

• Mar 23: Loops and iterations. Their uses. Types of iterations - for and while loops and their equivalence.
  Readings: Horstmann 6.1-6.3 Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Mar 24: (Project Status report and Assignment 6a due)
  
• Mar 25: More on loops. Nested loops. Block scope.
  Readings:: Horstmann 6.4-6.6
  No separate class notes for today - we will finish up the notes from 3/23 and work on a number of examples.
• Labs: Loops

• Mar 30: Introduction to arrays. Indices, using arrays.
  Readings Horstmann 9.1-9.2 Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Mar 31: (Assignment 7 due)
  
• Apr 1: Arrays continued - arrays as parameters and return values, arrays as objects, use multiple arrays.
  Readings: Horstmann 9.3-9.7 Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Labs: Arrays

• Apr 6: Mid-term review
  Readings: Quizzes 6-8 serve as sample questions on this exam.
• Apr 7: MID-TERM 2 Solutions: in Adobe PDF format
  Time: 7-9 PM Venue as follows:
  if your last name starts with A-M, go to Swain West 119
  if your last name starts with N-Z, go to Morrison Hall 007
  
• Apr 8: Introduction to classes - defining classes creating instances of classes. Interfaces, Encapsulation.
  Readings: Horstmann 8.1-8.3
  Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Labs: Classes
• Apr 9: (Assignment 8 due)

• Apr 13: More on classes - class variables, methods, constructors. Object-oriented design. Multiple classes and their interaction.
  Readings: Horstmann 8.4-8.9
  Class notes in Powerpoint. Also print out the example code we will use.
• Apr 14: (Assignment 9 due)
  
• Apr 15: Mid-term 2 discussion
  No separate class notes for today - we will continue from the last lecture.
• Labs: Project discussion and help.

• Apr 20: Files - reading and writing from files. Creating files. Random access versas sequential files.
  Readings: Horstmann 10.1-10.4
  Class notes in Powerpoint.
• Apr 22: Advanced topics (Java and C++, using images in Java, Java and the internet - introduction)
  Class notes in Powerpoint. We will also use the Book class in C++, and compare with the same class in Java.
• Apr 23: Projects Due
• Labs: Project help.

• Apr 27: Using java for real-world applications. Pros and cons, what next? Course evaluation.
  Class notes in Powerpoint. We will also use the pushbutton example, and the downloadable class file (note: you will need to shift click to download this file - it is a binary class file, not a java source).
• Apr 29: Recap. Final exam review.
• Labs: Labs do not meet this week.

• May 4: Final Exam. (8:00AM-10:00AM at SW119)