OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide the earliest programming bases, giving particular emphasis to scientific reasoning and computational thinking. The course includes classes as well as practical labs whose purpose is to deepen and consolidate the topics seen in the classroom.

The course has a strong applicative connotation, where the student is encouraged to face problems of increasing complexity in autonomy.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Computational Thinking principles

Basic knowledge of the fundamental concepts of imperative programming 

Introduction to an imperative programming language ( C++ limited to non-object oriented concepts ), with a text editor, compiling, and command-line execution.

Principles of designing, implementing, and validating a small sequential program based on the informal specifications provided by the user.

Ability to produce correct and comprehensible code; Ability to understand, use, modify code.

TEACHING METHODS

Classroom lessons

Guided Laboratories

Homework delivered through aulaweb

Given the cultural importance of this course (at the core of all undergraduate computer science courses) attending classes and labs is strongly encouraged and suggested

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course consists of a part of theoretical lessons that take place in the classroom and a substantial practical part of programming activities that takes place in the lab.  

Main topics:

• Introduction to the course, computational thinking, and programming.
• Programming environments and formal languages.
• Imperative programming: variables and instructions; assignment; input / output; if-then-else; loops; types; structured types: 1-dim or multi-dim arrays, strings, struct; functions and parameters passing; pointers; dynamically allocating memory (heap); dynamic vectors; linked lists ; recursion

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Slides will be available but are not sufficient getting ready for the exam.  

Reference book: D.S. Malik Programmazione in C++ Apogeo, 2011, ISBN 978-88-503-2967-0 (or english version)

Alternatively B. Stroustrup, Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++, Addison-Westley, 2009, ISBN 978-0321543721. 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

STEFANO ROVETTA (President)

EUGENIO MOGGI

ENRICO PUPPO (President Substitute)

MAURIZIO LEOTTA (Substitute)

ARNAUD HENRI PAUL SANGNIER (Substitute)

LESSONS

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is made of 2 parts

• a written examination on theory  
• a laboratory exam, accessible after theory exam has been positively evaluated

More details on AULAWEB

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The theoretical test will verify that the student has a full grasp of:

• computational thinking principles and foundational concepts of imperative programming with classical programming languages
• foundations of imperative programming and use of text-based program development environment (using the C++ language, limited to the non-object-oriented parts) using text editor and compile-execution-run cycle based on command line instruction interaction.

The lab test will veify that the student has:

• Acquired the design, coding and testing basics of small-sized sequential programs starting from user-provided informal specifications. 
• Ability of producing correct and understandable code; ability to understand, use, modify code from other programmers.

Exam schedule