CPSC 120 -- Test #3 Review Topics

• Loops (Sections 5.5 (while), 5.7 (do...while), 5.8 (for - omit the part about iterators and for loops), Labs 7 - 10, class notes)
  • Know the three basic loop structures and the differences among them.
  • Be able to trace a loop to determine what it does.
  • Be able to write loops -- be able to correctly control the loop (write the appropriate boolean expression for the loop control condition, initialize any variables in that expression (loop control variables) before the loop, update those variables correctly inside the loop).
  • Know what is meant by a count-controlled loop (and how to write one) and a sentinel controlled loop (and how to write one).
  • Be able to perform common looping subtasks -- summing, counting, finding averages, finding max and min values. Be able to use a loop to go through a string character by character and do something such as count a particular type of character or find the first character after a blank.
  • Be able to write and understand complex loops containing method calls, conditions, and other loops (nested loops).

• Objects and Classes (Sections 3.1, 4.0-4.4, Labs 5 - 10, class notes and handouts)
  • Understand the difference between objects and primitive values, including the difference in how they are stored (directly vs. references).
  • Know what an alias is and what garbage is!
  • Be able to create an object given the type signature of one or more constructors and be able to use an object appropriately given the type signatures and reasonable documentation for its methods.
  • Be able to write a class given a description of the capabilities required of it.
  • Understand the meaning of the public and private modifiers and when each is appropriate.
  • Understand the meaning of encapsulation.

• Methods (Sections 4.3, 6.7 - 6.8, Labs 5 - 10, class notes and handouts)
  • Be able to write a method to perform a given task.
  • Understand the difference between formal and actual parameters, and how both primitive values and objects are passed to a method.
  • Understand the scope of identifiers - where formal parameters can be referenced, where local variables can be referenced, where instance variables can be referenced.
  • Be able to write methods (including main) that call other methods as appropriate.

• Applets & GUI Applications (Sections 3.9 - 3.10, 4.6 - 4.9 Lab 10, class notes
  • Understand the difference between Applets and GUI Applications
  • Understand the relationship between events and listeners
  • Understand the difference between frames and panels
  • Understand the general framework for constructing a GUI component that responds to events.
  • Understand the use of inner classes, why they are useful and why they are necessary. Be able to describe the scoping rules of variables with respect to inner classes.
  • Be able to describe the appearance of a GUI Application from the code provided.