Resources

Reference pages

The ones you will use every week, each on its own page:

• How Pyret runs your program — the seven rules, the directory of names Pyret keeps while it runs, and a worked trace of a cases expression.
• Writing a function: the design recipe — the order to write a function in, and what the where: examples are for.
• Getting your work off the lab machine — your files stay on the one machine you saved them on. Two ways to take your work home.
• Check your file before you submit — drop your .arr in and it says what the copy broke: a missing use context starter2024, curly quotes, invisible characters.
• Check.java: Pyret’s is, for Java — the file that makes Check.is work, to download and keep beside your own.

What we work through together in class has its own section: In Class, one page per meeting.

Exam practice

• Progress Exam 1 — what it covers, and how to prepare.
• Practice Exam 1 — the four problems from Wednesday, September 16, with worked answers. It was not marked.

Software

All the items below are freely available for using online or for downloading and local use. Prefer latest versions if unsure.

• https://code.pyret.org/ – Pyret as online service

  • Alternatively: VS Code with the Pyret extension

• https://onecompiler.com/java – Java as online service

• Java Development Kit

• a Java IDE, for instance:

  • IntelliJ IDEA from JetBrains

  • VS Code from Microsoft with the Java extension

  • NetBeans from Apache

• JavaFX, TYPE: SDK (not jmods)

• Git, a version control system

Textbooks

This course is based on several free resources, which are available online.

• Main textbooks

  • [DCIC] https://dcic-world.org/ – Data-Centric Introduction to Computing by Fisler et al. uses Pyret and Python to provide a data-analysis perspective on the traditional introductory course; inspired by (older) [HtDP] (below)

  • [CU] https://drue-coles.github.io/cmsc-120/ – a Java textbook written by Drue Coles (CU) for past iterations of CMSC-120

• Secondary textbooks

  • [UH] https://java-programming.mooc.fi/ – a successful Java MOOC from the University of Helsinki. Parts 1–3 are relevant for this course.

  • [HtDP] https://htdp.org/ – How to Design Programs by Felleisen et al. uses Racket to teach freshmen systematic program design

Where to get help

• Office hours — see Syllabus: Course info
• Course forum — see the Discord link on the {{ brightspace }}