CPSC 120B: Fundamentals of Computer Science I
Fall 2009: Class Notes

Date Topic and Associated Reading Study Questions In-class Code
Aug 26
  • Course Overview
  • Introduction to Computer Science
   
Aug 28  
Aug 31
  • Computer architecture (Hardware Overview)
  • Fetch, execute cycle
  • Algorithms, programming, programming languages (Section 1.2)
  • Compilers and interpreters (Section 1.2)
 
Sep 2
  • Java programs - basic structure and style(Section 1.1)
  • Problem Solving & Program Development (Sections 1.3 & 1.4)
  • Character strings & printing (Section 2.1)
  • Self-Review (p. 28) SR# 1.4 - 1.6
  • Exercises (pp. 28, 29) EX# 1.1 - 1.7
  • Self-Review (pp. 65 - 66) SR# 2.2 - 2.5
  • Exercises (p. 66 - 67) EX# 2.1 - 2.5
Sep 4
  • Introduction to variables and assignment statements (Section 2.2)
  • Primitive data types (Section 2.3)
  • Operators, operator precedence, & expressions (Section 2.4)
  • Self-Review (p. 66) #SR 2.6 - 2.14
  • Exercises (p. 67) #EX 2.6 - 2.11
Sep 7
  • Expressions, continued
  • Data conversion (Section 2.5)
  • Interactive programs - Scanner class (Section 2.6)
  • Post lab #1 Due
  • Self-Review (p. 103) SR# 2.10*, 2.11*, 2.12*, 2.13*, 2.15
  • Exercises (p. 104-106) EX# 2.6 - 2.11
Sep 9
  • Objects and Classes (Sections 1.5, 3.1)
  • Self Review (page 28) #SR 1.8
Sep 11
  • The String class (Section 3.2)
  • Classes and class libraries (Sections 3.2 & 3.3)
  • Self Review (pp. 101-102) #3.1 - 3.7
  • Exercises (pp. 102 - 103) #3.1 - 3.4
Sep 14
  • Classes & Class libraries continued
  • Math class, Random class (Sections 3.4 & 3.5)
  • Post lab #2 Due
  • Self-Review (p. 102) #SR3.10 - 3.16
  • Exercises (p. 103 #EX3.6 - 3.9
  • Programming Projects (p. 104) #3.1, 3.2
Sep 16
  • More with classes and method signatures
  • Exercise (p. 104) #3.10, 3.11
Sep 18
  • Review
 
Sep 21 Test 1
Sep 23
  • Representation of Numeric Data
  • Number Systems (binary, octal, hex; general concept of a base - Appendix B)
 
Sep 25  
Sep 28
  • Introduction to Conditionals and Logic (Section 4.1, Logic Handout)
  • Boolean Expressions
  • if statements (Section 4.2)
  • Post lab #4 Due
  • Self-Review (pp. 157 - 158) #4.1- 4.4
  • Exercises (pp. 158 - 159) #4.1- 4.5
  • Study Questions from Logic Handout
 
Sep 30
  • Logic and Conditionals, continued
  • Truth Tables, Laws of Logic
Oct 2
  • Logic, Conditionals, and Programming Continued
  • Comparing Data (Section 4.3)
  • Self-Review (p. 158) # 4.5 - 4.8
 
Oct 5
Oct 7
Oct 9
  • Lab Recap (Switch Statement, Section 4.4)
  • Constructing logic circuits, continued
  • Supplementary Exercises
 
Oct 19
  • Wrap up logic
  • Introduction to Loops (Section 4.5)
  • Handout Exercises
Oct 21
  • While loops, continued (Section 4.5)
  • Self-Review (p. 158) #SR 4.10, 4.11
  • Exercises (p. 159-160) 4.7, 4.8, 4.11, 4.13, 4.14
Oct 23
  • Test 2 Review
 
Oct 26
  • Test 2
   
Oct 28
  • Do Loops (Sections 4.7)
  • For Loops (Section 4.8)
  • Self-Review (p. 158) #SR 4.11
  • Exercises (p. 160) #EX 4.11
Oct 30
  • Wrap up For Loops (Section 4.8)
  • Introduction to Writing Classes (Sections 5.1, 5.2)
  • Self-Review (p. 158) #SR 4.12
  • Exercises (p. 160) #EX 4.9 - 4.12, 4.15 - 4.23
 
Nov 2
  • Introduction to Writing Classes, continued (Sections 5.1, 5.2)
  • Writing Classes - encapsulation (Section 5.3)
  • Self-Review (p. 227) #SR 5.1 - 5.4
  • Exercises (p. 228) EX5.1 - 5.4
Nov 4
  • Methods (Section 5.4)
  • Self-Review (p. 227) SR 5.6 - 5.9, 5.12 - 5.14
  • Exercises (pp. 228 - 229) EX 5.7, 5.10 - 5.20
 
Nov 6
  • Writing classes, continued (Sections 5.1 - 5.4)
 
Nov 9
  • Writing classes, continued (Sections 5.1 - 5.4)
 
Nov 11
  • Static Class Members (Section 5.5)
 
Nov 13
  • Static Class Members, continued (Section 5.5)
 
Nov 16
  • Introduction to Arrays (Sections 7.1 & 7.2)
  • Self-Review (p. 367) SR #7.1 - 7.8
  • Exercises (p. 368) EX 7.1 - 7.3 EX 7.5 - 7.9
Nov 18
  • Arrays of Objects (Section 7.3)
  • Self Review #7.9
  • Exercise #7.4
Nov 20
  • Test 3 Review
 
Oct 23
  • Test 3
   
Nov 30
  • Method Design (Section 5.7)
  • Self-Review (p. 227) SR #5.18 - 5.24
  • Exercises (p. 230) EX 5.25 - 5.28
 
Dec 2
  • Methods and parameter passing, continued (Section 5.7)
  • Parameter Passing exercises (handout)
 
Dec 4
  • Review for Final