1. CSC1401: Introductory Programming Steve Cooper scooper@sju.edu http://www.sju.edu/~scooper

2. Overview Course description (slides 3- 6) syllabus (see Handout) expectations tools Introductory Lecture (slides 7 - 23) What is a program? What is a programming language? Introduction to Alice

3. CSC1401 Introduction to writing computer programs traditional object-oriented 3D animation programming Pixar and Disney style (film, movie) Interactive games (reasonably small)

4. CSC1401 - FS An introductory course No previous programming experience is required

5. Expectations Come to class Work with the text, handouts, and online content Complete the exercises, assignments, and labs Workouts; designed to prepare you for the exams Do your own work on individual assignments; you may work with a partner on an assignment with prior permission

6. Tools Textbook Learning to Program with Alice Other reading handouts, online references Software (available online, freeware) Alice Java

7. What is a program? A program is a sequence of instructions that tell the computer what to do tell another human being what you want the computer to do More formally, a program implements an algorithm. Algorithm: a finite set of well-defined instructions for accomplishing some task Wikipedia

8. Program Tasks Programs are written for various kinds of tasks (not mutually exclusive) solve a problem simulation game animation

9. What is a language? A system for communicating. Written languages use symbols (that is, characters) to build words. Parts of Language Vocabulary: The entire set of words in the language. Syntax and grammar: The ways in which the words can be meaningfully combined Semantics: The actual meaning of words and combinations of words: Webopedia

10. Computer Languages Human languages are natural languages. Computers are not sophisticated enough to understand natural languages. In mathematics, logic and computer science, a formal language is a set of finite-length words (i.e. character strings) drawn from some finite alphabet, with carefully defined vocabulary, syntax, and semantics Wikipedia There are many different kinds of computer languages, including machine languages, programming languages, and fourth-generation languages. Webopedia

11. Learning to write a program A program is written using a programming language We will learn to write programs using two languages Alice Java

12. Object Oriented Programming Different programming languages support different styles of programming In object-oriented programming, programmers can think of a program as instructions that tell interacting objects what to do An object is a model of some artifact (product of civilization) that can interact with other objects

13. In this course… We will learn how to Initiate and control the interactions between objects to solve problems perform tasks tell stories in animations play games Modify and build objects

14. Supporting Skills to Develop Algorithmic Thinking and Expression Being able to read and write in two formal languages Alice (fourth-generation) Java (high-level or third generation) Abstraction: Communicating complex ideas simply Decompose problems logically Appreciation of Elegance Many ways to solve a problem, but some are more elegant than others

15. Introduction to Alice Use the software from the CD or can download latest version from the web www.alice.org Alice is named in honor of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in WonderlandLewis Carroll’s

16. Alice A modern programming tool 3-D graphics 3-D models of objects Animation Objects can be made to move around the virtual world (a video game or simulation implemented in 3-D)

17. Demo: Getting started Starting Alice Load and run a world What Alice Can Do (Examples) Amusement Park (Examples) Flight Simulator (Examples) LightDemo (Examples) Octopus (download) Lake Skater (Examples)

18. Kinds of Animations Two kinds of animations: Movie Passive user watches the animation What Alice Can Do LightDemo Octopus Interactive Active user clicks on mouse, types a key on keyboard … Actions of user are called events Flight Simulator Skater

19. Objects An "object" is a model of an artifact and can be identified as unique from other things there can be multiple objects that are similar, but still unique How is an object unique? has a name has properties: width, height, color, location can perform actions (methods): associated actions it can perform tasks it can carry out

20. Object Parts Objects may be composed of parts (which are also objects)

21. Class A class defines a particular kind of object Objects are categorized into classes Each object is an instance of the class. All objects in a class have similar properties and generally can perform the same tasks. Person Dog peter mary paul spike scottie fluffy

22. Galleries Classes (3D models) are found in the galleries Local gallery (installed with the software) Minimum or complete options CD Gallery (only if CD is in the machine) Web gallery

23. For next class Activity Launch Alice on your computer and run some of the example worlds. Homework Read Chapter 1.1 and pages 73 - 74 of the text