Introduction to Computers and Programming
CSCI-UA.0002-001
(aka, V22.0002-001)
Summer 2011
Adam Meyers
Research Assistant Professor &
Visiting Clinical Associate Professor

General Information:

Course Description and Syllabus: This course introduces computer programming using the language Python 3 as a vehicle. The course will cover basic definitions (what is hardware, what is software, etc.), basics of planning programs (flow charts, psuedo-code, algorithm design), variables (initialization, assignment, scope), operators (+, -, ==), control structures (if, else, elif), iteration (using loops), functions, modules, sequences (lists, strings), among other topics (time permitting). While students will learn how to implement these concepts using Python, general principles will be taught which apply to all modern programming languages.

Prerequisites: Anyone interested and willing to learn about computer science and programming can take this class. However, some proficiency in High School math (algebra, geometry) is assumed. As with any mathematically oriented class, the concepts learned build on each other and it is not advisable to join the class late in the term (beyond the third class). This class is also a prerequisite for V22.0101.

Previous Class Website: For more information, please examine websites from previous classes, such as V22.0002.004 (Spring 2011).

The current lectures and class structure may be similar, but will not be identical to what is indicated on this previous class website.

Test Dates: There will be two midterms and one final. The dates of these tests are given below. Please make a careful note of these times in order to prevent scheduling conflicts.

Homework: Read the Donaldson book over the course of the semester and do the assigned programming assignments as the term progresses. This section will be continually updated as the term progresses. Grades on homework contribute 25% to the final grade for the course. Initial Homework Descriptions will be revised as the term progresses -- Initial descriptions are based on the class during the year.

Class Schedule with Materials from Class Attached: This schedule and the attached materials will be revised throughout the class (as needed). Preliminary versions of the materials are based on the previous semester's class:

Installing Software:

1. Go to www.python.org

2. Click on Download tab on left

3. Download Python 3.1 or greater for Windows, MAC or Linux (as appropriate)

4. Install Python as per the instructions

   • After installing on an Apple, open up  a shell (aka "console") and type "python --version". If 3.1 (or the version you downloaded) does not print out, then you need to make some further adjustments. See instructions below about "Python 3 on an Apple".

   • After installing on Windows, you need to download the Demos as well. I put them in the attached zip file on the class website. Then, copy the folder in the zip file into the python directory. The directory would be c:/Python31/ if you install python 3.1 on Windows Vista and used all the defaults. If you have trouble accessing the files in the zip file, download and install the free program 7 zip.

Grading: 25% Homework + 33% Midterm + 42% Final

• Please keep in mind the Computer Science Department's Statement on Academic Integrity

Tutoring:

• During the Summer, there are no official tutoring arrangements. I am happy to answer questions during my office hours.

Other Information:

1. Python 3 on an Apple: Apples often have Python 2.x pre-installed. This means that, by default, Python 2.x is used to run python programs (file type .py). This is appropriate because Python 2.x is currently more prevalent than 3.x. So, having 2.x as a default works well when you, for example, click on a python program that is on a website somewhere. This is however, kind of inconvenient for purposes of this class which is taught using Python 3.x.  Below, I will provide some information for changing the default once you install 3.x. After this course is complete, you will have the option of reversing these instructions and returning the default to 2.x.  (If you have trouble following these instructions, a graduate assistant, tutor or the instructor should be able to help.)

   1. Type "whereis python" and hit the enter key

   2. Go to the directory containing that file using the command "cd"

      • Type "cd /usr/bin" if the file is "/usr/bin/python"

   3. Find out where python3 is and pythonw3 are

      • which python3

      • which pythonw3

   4. Rename the old version of python (so that way you can change it back if you need to)

      • sudo mv python python-old

        • enter your password when prompted

   5. Create two symbolic links to the current versions of python 3

      • sudo ln -s /usr/local/bin/python3 python

        • enter your password when prompted

      • sudo ln -s /usr/local/bin/python3w python3w

        • enter your password when prompted

   6. Go to any python file in any folder (using the normal Windows or Apple GUI)

      • e.g., Applications/Python3.1/Extras/Demo/turtle/tdemo_clock.py

   7. Change the default program to open it. (Go to File/Open with/Other)

      • Select Applications/Python3.1/Python Launcher

      • Click on “always open with” and enter

2. Python 2.x versus Python 3.x: This course will use versions of Python 3, the version of Python that is expected to be prevalent in the near future. Currently, however, most Python code available on the web and most Python text books assume some version of Python 2, including some of the free textbooks described below. Therefore, it may be necessary for students to understand some of the differences.

   1. See http://docs.python.org/release/3.0.1/whatsnew/3.0.html for the full details

   2. The most important differences for this class are:

      • The print statement. Python 2 allows you to omit the parentheses. Thus the statement print('Hello') in Python 3, would be rendered as: print 'hello'

      • Python 2 has two functions input and raw_input corresponding to Python 3's function input. Python 2's function raw_input is essentially equivalent to the Python 3 function input, whereas raw_input is a special case for dealing with integers. A Python 3 statement like my_number = int(input('What is your favorite number'))  would simply be my_number = input('What is your favorite number') in Python 2 (coersion of the input string to integer is incorporated into the Python 2 input function).

      • Integer division in Python 2 yields an integer rather than a float as in Python 3. In Python 2: 100/40 = 2 In Python 3, 100/40 = 2.5. Python 3 has an additional operator // that functions like / in Python 2.

Additional Resources:

1. Python Resources using Safari online at Bobst (note differences between Python 2 and 3 above):

   • Python in a Nutshell http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com/0596100469

   • Python Cookbook http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com/0596007973 

2. Online Python Resources:

   • The official Python website: http://python.org/

   • The Python Wiki: http://wiki.python.org/moin/FrontPage

3. Online Free Python Textbooks (note differences between Python 2 and 3 above)

   • How to Think Like a Computer Scientist - Learning with Python 2nd Edition by Jeffrey Elkner, Allen B. Downey, and Chris Meyers:  http://openbookproject.net/thinkcs/python/english2e/index.html

   • Text Processing in Python by David Mertz: http://gnosis.cx/TPiP/

4. Introduction to Machine Code, Assembly Language, etc. (the Professor and Pat series):

   • https://mathrider.dev.java.net/alm-process/2-ebooks/Programming newbies series/

5. Computer History

   • http://www.crews.org/curriculum/ex/compsci/articles/history.htm