Introduction to Computers and Programming Using Python -- Fall, 2009

Professor Deena EngelV22.0002: Section 1 Class Hours:

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00-12:15 CIWW, Room 109 Email: deena@cs.nyu.edu Office hours: Mondays 11:00-12:30; Thursdays 2:00-3:30 … and by appointment … Room 422, WWH

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, you will understand python programming

Designing programs Decision and repetition structures Functions Strings, Lists, Arrays Working with data files Introduction to GUI programming Introduction to scripting on the web

Course Objectives, cont.

You will be able to Write and run PYTHON programs. Create and use functions Develop Python scripts Write interesting projects Establish a firm foundation on programming concepts

Course Text Book Starting Out With Python, First Edition, by Tony Gaddis; Pearson /

Addison-Wesley Available at the NYU Bookstore There is a CD that comes with the book which includes all of the programs

that are in the book as well as Python software for Windows. (Mac users already have Python within the Mac OS!)

Appendix A (Installing Python for Windows Users) and Appendix B (Introduction to Idle for all users) are at the back of the book.

Please keep up with the reading! I will post readings both in the primary textbook and in additional readings available on-line from the Bobst Safari library.

Book Chapters to be covered in this class:

Chapter 1 Introduction to Computers and Programming Chapter 2 Input, Processing, and Output Chapter 3 Simple Functions Chapter 4 Decision Structures and Boolean Logic Chapter 5 Repetition Structures Chapter 6: Value-Returning Functions and Modules Chapter 7: Files and Exceptions Chapter 8: Working with Sequences: Strings and Lists

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Additional topics, depending on time:

Chapter 11: Recursion Chapter 12: GUI Programming An introduction to using Python for writing scripts to

build Webpages

Course Prerequisites Prerequisites:

No prior programming experience required (Really!!) Who should be taking this course:

students who want to switch to a computer science major students who want to take a computer science minor or a computer

applications minor (http://cs.nyu.edu/web/Academic/Undergrad/minors.html)

students who are interested in programming Who should NOT be taking this course:

Students trying to get out of taking a math requirement. This class may be more difficult than the math you are trying to avoid.

You must get a C or better in this class to take further computer science classes as a major.

Administrative MattersAdministrative Matters

Course Web Site and Blackboard The course web site is available at:

http://www.cs.nyu.edu/courses/fall09/V22.0002-001/index.html The website contains the following information:

Administrative information Course Syllabus Class notes: All of the programs which we study and write in class will be

posted to the class website. Class programs Instructions for installing and running Python on your own system

The following will be posted on Blackboard: Homework assignments and homeworks will be submitted on Blackboard Homework grades and graders’ comments (to protect confidentiality) Sample exams

Additional information on “BlackBoard”

In addition, the class email mailing list will be run from the Blackboard site.

Please watch your email for class announcements during the

semester.

Software For the course, we will be using Python (and Idle, which we

will discuss in class). These programs are free and you can download and use them

for your home computer. To download software for home use, follow information posted

on the course website. If you are working on a Windows machine, you can use the software that

is included on a CD with the textbook. If you prefer to use a Mac, Python is included within the Mac OS.

If you do not have your own computer, the computer labs on campus have all of the software that you will need.

Grading

Your grade will be determined as follows: Two Midterm exams (40%) 6-8 Homeworks (20%) Final Exam (40%)

Homework

•Ten points will be deducted for each class day that a homework is late with a possible maximum of 30 points being deducted.

•Homeworks will not be accepted after the third class following its due date without special permission.

•For each assignment that you do not hand in within the time limit, your final grade will be lowered by one letter grade ( i.e., if you are averaging a B+, but you have missed 2 home works, your final grade will be B-).

•You will need to submit the program to “Blackboard” using your NYU Home Account ; there are directions on the course home page.

•Be sure to save copies of your programs to removable media or your NYU “home” account; computer crashes or lost programs are not valid excuses for not handing in an assignment!

A Word About Cheating For the purposes of this class, cheating is defined as:

Copying all or part of another student's homework, project or exam. Allowing another student to copy all or part of your homework, project, or

exam. Discussing homework concepts is fine, but you must submit your own

work However … You are welcome to work with a partner. If you work with a

partner, you must both let me and the grader know when your homework is submitted that you worked together and also write that into the comments in both texts of the program comments. We will discuss this in class!

If you are caught cheating, you will receive an immediate FAILURE for the course.

Student Civility In an effort to make this class enjoyable for

everybody… Please be on time to class! Please do not talk to your friends and neighbors in class!

It disturbs everyone, and makes it hard to concentrate. If you have a question, just ask me!

Please turn your pagers and cell-phones off!

Getting Help: very important!!

Whenever you have a question about the course material …please feel free to drop by during my office hours or write me an email message or call me on the phone. If at any time you feel that you are falling behind or are overwhelmed by the material, please let me know and I will be very happy to help you!

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Help is always available!

Option1: Come to my Office Hours Hours Mondays 11:00-12:30; Thursdays 2:00-3:30 and by appointment Location: Room 422 Warren Weaver Hall If you cannot make my office hours, I will be happy to make an appointment

with you at another time. Option 2: Write to me at deena@cs.nyu.edu Option 3: Call me at 212-998-3131 Option 4: We will have tutors available in the lab and available by email to help you

with your work

Basic Computing information and history

What is a Computer?

Computer Device capable of performing computations and making logical

decisions Computers process data under the control of sets of instructions

called computer programs Hardware

Various devices comprising a computer Keyboard, screen, mouse, disks, memory, CD-ROM, and

processing units Software

Programs that run on a computer

Hardware Trends

Every year or two the following approximately double: Amount of memory in which to execute programs Amount of secondary storage (such as disk storage)

Used to hold programs and data over the longer term Processor speeds

The speeds at which computers execute their programs

Personal Computers Personal computers

Economical enough for individual Popularized by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak with the introduction of

the Apple in 1977. In 1981 IBM introduced the IBM personal computer using “off the shelf”

components. Distributed computing

Computing distributed over networks Client/server computing

Sharing of information across computer networks between file servers and clients (personal computers)

Programming languagesThree types of programming languages

Machine languages Strings of numbers giving machine specific instructions Example:

+1300042774+1400593419+1200274027

Assembly languages English-like abbreviations representing elementary computer operations (translated

via assemblers) Example:

LOAD BASEPAYADD OVERPAYSTORE GROSSPAY

High-level languages Codes similar to everyday English Use mathematical notations (translated via compilers) Example: grossPay = basePay + overTimePay

High-level Languages Early high-level languages – See Table 1-1 on page 17 of your

textbook

FORTRAN Used for scientific and engineering applications

COBOL Used to manipulate large amounts of data; created in the 1950s

Pascal Intended for academic use; created in 1970

Ada Used in Defense Department Applications

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High-level Languages Current high-level languages – See Table 1-1 on page 17 of

your textbook

Java – created by Sun Microsystems in the early 1990s Used for single-user, network, and Internet applications

Javascript Not related to Java; used for building interactive webpages

Visual Basic Developed in the early 1990s for Windows applications

Ruby Developed in the 1990s; popular language for applications on web

servers

Structured Programming

Structured programming Disciplined approach to writing programs Clear, easy to test and debug and easy to modify

Structured programming is hard and takes time to master

The Key Software Trend: Object Technology

Objects Reusable software components that model items in the real world Meaningful software units

Date objects, time objects, paycheck objects, invoice objects, audio objects, video objects, file objects, record objects, etc.

Any noun can be represented as an object More understandable, better organized, and easier to maintain than

procedural programming

Good luck! I look forward to working with you!!

Please see me if you have questions or comments

Deena Engel (mail to: deena@cs.nyu.edu or call at 212-998-3131)