Introduction
This is a second programming course for Computer Science majors with a focus on object-oriented programming. The course provides an introduction to the use of computers to solve problems using software engineering principles. Design, build, test, and debug medium-size software systems and learn to use relevant tools. Use object-oriented methods to create effective and efficient problem solutions. Use and implement application programming interfaces (APIs). Programming done in Java.
Those students registered in CMSC132H will implement the same set of projects as those taking the regular cmsc132, however, they will need to implement the challenge problem associated with each project. In addition, exams will be different for those students registered in the honor section of this course.
Course Coordinators
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For office hours and other contact information, visit the contact web page.
Required Text
- Modern Software Development Using Java, Paul Tymann & Michael Schneider, Thompson (2004), ISBN: 0-534-38449-8
Recommended Text
- Java Precisely, Peter Sestoft, MIT Press (2002), ISBN 0-262-69276-7
Topics
- Object-oriented software development
- Software life cycle
- Requirements & specifications
- Designing objects & classes
- Testing & code coverage
- Unified Modeling Language (UML)
- Programming paradigms
- Design patterns
- Algorithms & data structures
- Asymptotic efficiency
- Lists, stacks, queues
- Trees, tries, heaps
- Sets, maps, graphs
- Recursion
- Programming skills
- Java collection framework
- Networking
- Threads, synchronization
- GUIs
- Exceptions
Projects
There will be projects assigned almost every week. Some are considered "closed" assignments which you must complete by yourself and others are considered "open" assignments where collaboration is permitted. (More information about the open policy will be provided in class and can be found in the Policy Regarding Open/Closed Projects.) There will also be two midterms, a final exam, and occasional (announced) quizzes.
Machines
All assignments can be done on the machines of your choice. You are welcome to do the work on a home computer if you have one. There should not be any machine-specific dependencies in your code. However, if we are not able to run your program because there is a difference between your and our computer environments, you must work with us to get your program to work in our environment.
Grading
All assignments are due at 6pm on the day they are due. They are to be submitted electronically according to instructions given with the assignments. Late assignments will be strictly penalized. Exceptional circumstances will be considered only if discussed with the instructor before the assignment is due. Late assignments will have points deducted as follows:
- -20% of the total if submitted within 24 hours.
- No late assignments will be accepted after 24 hours.
Final grades will be computed according the following weights. (These weights are tentative and subject to future adjustment.)
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The weights of the individual projects are (roughly): 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 7%, 7%, 8%, 8%.
CMSC132 vs. CMSC132H (Honor)
The honor version of cmsc132 (cmsc132H) will cover the same set of
concepts studied
in cmsc132. The differences between the two courses are:
- Pace - In the honor version, we will cover topics at a faster pace.
- Topics - In cmsc132H we will cover several of the cmsc132 topics in-depth. In addition, extra topics (to be determined by both the lecturer and the students) will be covered in class.
- Visits - We may have guest speakers (usually professors) that will discuss their research. Those students interested in undergraduate research will benefit from these visits.
- Smaller class size - Usually honor sections have a small
number of students that promote a closer interaction between the lecturer and students.
We want to clarify that cmsc132H is NOT more difficult than cmsc132. It is just a course with a different focus.
Academic Honesty
All individual assignments/exams must be done individually. (The only exception to this are "open" assignments, which will be discussed in class.) Please visit the webpage of the Student Honor Council for a detailed explanation of what constitutes academic dishonesty. Note that it includes not only cheating, fabrication, and plagiarism, but also includes helping other students commit acts of academic dishonesty by allowing them to obtain copies of your work. You are allowed to use the Web for reference purposes, but you may not copy code from any website or any other source. In short, all submitted work must be your own.
Cases of academic dishonesty will be dealt with harshly. Each such case will be referred to the University's Office of Judicial Programs. If the student is found to be responsible of academic dishonesty, the typical sanction results in a special grade "XF", indicating that the course was failed due to academic dishonesty. More serious instances can result in expulsion from the university. If you have any doubt as to whether an act of yours might constitute academic dishonesty, please contact your TA or one of the course coordinators.
Excused Absence and Academic Accommodations
Students claiming an excused absence from an exam must apply in writing and furnish documentary support (such as from a health care professional who treated the student) for any assertion that the absence qualifies as an excused absence. The support should explicitly indicate the dates or times the student was incapacitated due to illness. Self-documentation of illness is not itself sufficient support to excuse the absence. The course coordinators are not obligated to offer a make-up exam unless the failure to perform was due to an excused absence. Important: An excused absence does not typically translate into an extension for a project as we have a reasonable late policy for projects.
It is also the student's responsibility to inform the instructor of any intended absences from exams for religious observances in advance. Notice should be provided as soon as possible but no later than the Monday prior to the exam for both the midterms and the final.
Any student eligible for and requesting reasonable academic accommodations due to a disability is requested to provide, to the instructor in office hours, a letter of accommodation from the Office of Disability Support Services within the first two weeks of the semester.