Page History

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Introduction

Office Hours:

• Dr. Cartwright: MWF 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
• Dr. Wong:   See home page
• Alina: MWF 11:00 AM -12:00 PM
• Kamal:  MF 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
• Nicholas: TR 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

e-mail the entire class: comp211s11 at owlspace-ccm.rice.edu 

e-mail just the staff: comp211 at rice.edu 

Introduction

This course is an introduction to the fundamental principles of programming. The focus is on systematic methods for developing robust solutions to computational problems. Students are This course is an introduction to the fundamental principles of programming. The focus is on systematic methods for developing robust solutions to computational problems. Students are expected to have experience writing interesting programs in some credible programming language (e.g., Python, Java, Scheme, C#, C++, Visual Basic .NET, PRL, Scheme, Lisp, etc.) but no specific programming expertise is assumed. The course is targeted at potential Computer Science majors but mathematically sophisticated non-majors are welcome. We expect students to be comfortable with high-school mathematics (primarily algebra, mathematical proofs, and induction) and the mathematical rigor and vocabulary of freshman calculus. Success in the course requires a deep interest in the foundations of computer science and software engineering, self-discipline, and a willingness to work with other people on programming projects. Topics covered include functional programming, algebraic data definitions, design recipes for writing functions, procedural abstraction, reduction rules, program refactoring and optimization, object-oriented programming emphasizing dynamic dispatch, OO design patterns, fundamental data structures and algorithms from an OO perspective, simple Grapical User Interfaces (GUIs), and an exposure to the challenges of concurrent computation.

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DrScheme/DrRacket: Please download and use the DrScheme/DrRacket system available from the Racket download site. To avoid compatibility problems, please make sure you use a Version numbered 5.0.2.

• DrRacket Tips and Traps

Notes for Java: Object-oriented Design

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• Principles of Object-Oriented Programming by Zung Nguyen and Stephen Wong. An online self-contained introduction to OOP in Java roughly corresponding to the former Comp 212 course. It is reasonably complete, but still under construction.
• Design Patterns Lens  - A collection of short descriptions of the design patterns covered in the course.
• Index to online Java Tutorials by Sun Microsystems The Sun tutorials refer to the full Java language not the Elementary and Intermediate language levels supported by DrJava.Nevertheless, they cover many important language details in depth, such as the complete collection of primitive operators on primitive data types.
• Java Basics by Fred Swartz is a clearly written traditional introduction to Java that focuses on Java mechanics rather than OO Design. It can be helpful in learning the {\em mechanics} of writing full Java code. Please ignore what he says about program design.
• Java Notes by Fred Swartz is a reasonably comprehensive Java reference that is a good supplement to the official Sun documents.

DrJava: Please download and use the DrJava pedagogic programming environment available from drjava.org. You must install either the Java 5 or Java 6 JDK on your machine for DrJava to work. (Addendum: DrJava releases starting in 2011 can also run using a Java 7 JDK.) If you machine is running some flavor of Windows or Linux, go to the \[Sun Download Site for the Java SE 6.0 (http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp\]). Make sure that you download the JDK not the JRE. If you have a Mac, a Java JDK is available from Apple. In fact, it is part of the standard Mac OS X software package. DrJava will run on either a the Apple Java 5.0 or Java 6.0 JDK.

Entrance Survey

Please fill out this survey.

Confirm that You Can Attend Lab

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All Comp 211 programming assignments will be run and graded on the CLEAR (Linux) educational computing facility. The Ryon 102 lab is equipped with machines connected to the CLEAR network.
For instructions on how to use CLEAR, see the CLEAR web page.

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This wiki for Comp 211 is a revision of last year's and may contain a significant number of broken links and typos. If you notice an error in the wiki, please send email to the Comp 211 staff.

Course Schedule

Note that future date schedules are only guidelines. Future homeworks and slides may contain materials from previous Comp 210 and Comp 212 classes. New material will be provided before the corresponding class. There will only be two exams in the course: one given on functional programming during week 7 and one on object-oriented programming given during in the last week of the course. Both are take-home exams. There is no final examination.

Grading, Honor Code Policy, Processes and Procedures

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Take-home exams, which are pledged under the honor code, test your individual understanding and knowledge of the material. Collaboration on exams is strictly forbidden. AnchorMailingListsMailingLists

Mailing Lists:

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We will normally use the OwlSpace Comp 211 Announcements and General Discussion forum to post important announcements and discussions related to the
class, particularly Q&A on class assignments.   The Owlspace e-mail alias to the entire class (see above) will also be used.

Other Mailing Lists:

• cs-events-l@mailman
• comp211-discussion-l@mailman.rice.edu
  (subscribe here (https:mailmanriceedumailmanlistinfocomp211discussionl)):
  • This is where important announcements related to the class will be posted.
  • Students are required to sign up to this list.
  • You may use this list for open discussions relating to the course. \
    Postings are expected to abide by standard \
    Netiquette.
• comp211-teachers@mailman.rice.edu:
  • Any questions Announcements relating to the course can be sent talks and other interesting events hosted by the CS departments.
  • Subscription to this list .
  • Specific questions about homework problems and grading can be directed here.
• cs-events-l@mailman.rice.edu:
  • Announcements relating to talks and other interesting events hosted by the CS departments.
  • Subscription to this list is optional but highly recommended

Questions

• • is optional but highly recommended

Questions

If you have a question about homework – you're not sure what is expected for a given problem, you haven't received feedback from a previous assignment, or you don't understand or agree with the assessment of your work, for example – you can raise the question with a TA in lab or on the class mailing list. It is preferable to send a question out for the whole class to discuss so that everyone can benefit from eachother's contributions as well the responses from the staff.   Please restrict messages sent to only the staff to more sensitive matters that do not warrant viewing by the entire class. If you still If you have a question about homework-you're not sure what is expected for a given problem, you haven't received feedback from a previous assignment, or you don't understand or agree with the assessment of your work, for example-you can raise the question with a TA in lab or on the discussion mailing list. If, after doing so, you don't feel that your concerns have been addressed, you may wish to contact Prof. Cartwright or Prof. Sarkar Wong directly.

Homeworks:

Homeworks help you verify your understanding of the material and prepare you for the exams. You are encouraged to discuss the homework problems with the instructors and staff. Help from other students, including Comp 211 graduates, is also encouraged (but should be cited), although that does not include giving or receiving complete answers. All homework partners are responsible for knowing all the submitted material. If you fail to understand the homework solutions, you won't succeed on the exams.

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Reading: For each lecture, there is associated reading. Students are required to complete the reading before the class associated with this reading.h2

Other Resources

• Practical matters:
  • DrScheme Programming Environment
• Special interest groups:
  • CSters
  • Computer Science Club
  • ... (please send in suggestions!)

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