CSC 120 Introduction to Programming Dr Andreas Loizides c.cy des/CSC120

Course Books Program Development and Design Using C++ by Gary Bronson ISBN Problem Solving using C++ by Walter Savitch. ISBN

Supplementary Text SAMS Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days Complete Compiler Edition £30ish ISBN: Includes student edition of Visual C Also Simple Program Design, Third Edition Robertson ISBN: X

What is computer programming?  Getting a computer to do what would be extremely time consuming and inaccurate if a person was to do it. OR  Processing input data to produce an output.

The Problem is that computing Is very different from what many of you have done before. Is the least “doable” subject from books. Needs creative problem solving (thinking) Needs courage and confidence Need good organisation

What sort of problems? Typically entails handling vast amounts of information in a small time. For example Information systems  Customer orders, Bank accounts Games  Quake, Tomb Raider Scientific/Engineering Applications  Weather forecast, fracture analysis Control Systems –  Washing machines to Nuclear power stations. Systems Programming  Operating systems Applications Programming  Word  Excel

Why, What, How, Where and When  Why are you learning to program?  What will you learn?  How will you learn? How will you be assessed?  Where will you learn?  When will you learn?

Why are you learning to Program? Or what’s in it for me?  For pure academic interest (!!!)  To get a job  Because it is a core subject and you wont get a degree in computing unless you pass it

Why are you learning to Program? Or What’s in it for me?  Because it impacts on every subject you take, the programming principles you learn are applicable to other areas.  Multi-media, information systems, computing, AI, Computer Systems. It leads on to level 2 and level 3 modules whether you go the object oriented route or the procedural route.

Why C++  Supports procedural programming and object oriented programming.  C/C++ de-facto industry standard programming language.  It works on our network (I hope!)  It is extremely powerful!!!

Why C++  Friendly development environment and good debugging tools.  Cheap for student edition  C++ rather than C because I/O friendlier, stronger typed, easier introduction of functions. Supports Object oriented programming

What you will learn?  Learn to program a computer using a high level programming language.  Learn to program procedurally and Learn basics of object oriented programming  Learn good practice

What you will learn?  Develop a basic set of problem solving techniques  Learn how to interpret basic compiler error messages  Learn how to test your programs  Learn to use basic debugging tools  Learn how large amounts of information impact on programs; the need for data structures and algorithms.

Overall Syllabus Goal (Semester 1) You can analyse, model, and produce a solution to a problem. You can implement this solution in C++. You can verify the quality of the solution.

How will you learn?  YOU will have to take responsibility for learning to program by doing it. IT CAN NOT BE CRAMMED!  You have 100+ contact hours allocated to programming, you are expected to at least match contact hours with non contact.

How will you learn?  Lectures with demonstrations, pre- tutorial exercises, tutorials.  You have course books that most exercises and tutorials will be sourced from.

How will you learn?  Lectures/Tutors, are there to get you out of holes, and give one to one advice on techniques. Suggest approaches to problems NOT solve problems for you.  Lecturers/Tutors are there to answer any questions on written pre-lab and lab-exercises.  Tutors should not have to lecture.

How will you be assessed?  Your tutors will give you an impression mark for what you have done in a tutorial. This mark is affected by your pre-tutorial work. This will be worth 50% (for the CSC150 module)  You will have to show your pre-lab exercises and specified lab exercises.  The tutors mark sheet is the ONLY evidence of your work that will be accepted.

How will you be assessed?  Working at home/in other times. You MUST do this if you want any success. Do not simply rely on exercises I set, work from your book. Unfortunately though because of the burden of proof needed only the work done in tutorials will be marked.  You will be given one assignment with a total worth of 15% for the CSC120 module.  You will also be assessed on your everyday effort, participation and homework (10% of the CSC120 module).

How will you be assessed?  You will have to do one midterm exam (25% of your CSC120 module) and two final exams. One on paper for the CSC120 module and a practical exam (in the lab) for the CSC150. Both worth 50% of the individual module. 

Resources and To Do List!  Check out my web site I will post pre-tutorial questions, tutorial questions and Links to other resources.  You may want to purchase your own copy of the student edition of Microsoft visual C++ Version 6.0 or higher (Current version in the lab is Visual Express 2005 free to download from the Internet). It is available on some books. E.g. SAM Teach Yourself C++ in 21 days Complete Compiler Edition

Resources and To Do List! Summary  Get your computer account organised.  Visit my web site. Read the main page and go to the exercises page and the lectures page.  Buy a Course book and do initial pre-tutorial work.  Buy memory sticks to take your work home etc.