CS212 - Practical Python Programming

Assignment Schedule

HW 1	Tue Jan 19	50 pts
HW 2	Wed Feb 3	100 pts
HW 3	Sat Feb 20	120 pts

= currently tests NOT available
= tests available, HW not graded
= being graded
= graded

Frequent Links

Class News

Feb 20

The typo. The tests are expecting a program named comb2.py not comb.py. Please adjust the name of your code accordingly. Thanks.

Feb 18

Assignment 3 tests are available on the test machine. Have fun!

Feb 17

As per discussion today. Assignment 3 has changed to be: modify the three answers I provide to do things a bit differently. See the assignment. I will post the tests on line tomorrow.

Feb 13

Assignment 3 has been posted. The test data and examples output from each program are available in the test data section in the assignment. The tests should be up on the test machine.

Feb 1
Assignment 2 has been delayed 2 days and to 11pm! Please submit your code early and often.

Jan 30

In the section on Basic Unix in the references section you will see an example of how sdiff works which is how your programs are being compared.

Jan 26
Assignment 2 has been posted. Tests are up on the test machine. Give it a try.

Jan 19
If you are not in town and would like to be marked in the university Covid tracking system as not attending this class in person, please let me know. The U would like to know not to count you as "on campus". I will only to go through this work if you are not in town and so can't be tested.

Jan 13
Warmup Assignment 1 is ready for submission. It is just 10 simple questions that will give me an idea what the direction and speed of this class should be. The department has only speculated and now it is time for real data.

Jan 12
Zoom ID for this class has been updated for this semester and can be found on the BBLearn page in the Online Learning section.

Jan 13
Welcome to the Python Programming course. Be sure to read the material in the Service section below. You are responsible for everything that appears anywhere on the class web pages. Many assignment links will be dead links until we talk about them in class. I will update them and make them available as we need them.

Class Description

Practical Python Programming teaches the fundamentals of Python by solving a series of problems that incrementally introduce features of the language. "Learning by doing" is emphasized. Good programming practices and algorithm design will be important. The class will include hands-on programming in a variety of application areas. Major general-purpose Python modules including numeric and graphing modules will be explored in the context of simple problems to solve. A solid grasp of basic college level math is a required. There will be lots of programming assignments.

Time: 12:30-1:30 Pacific Time MWF
Location: Live at the time above via Zoom (no face to face class). See BBLearn for class for Zoom id. Yes, you can take this course anywhere in the world.
Tests: TBD
Final: TBD
Coding: *Lots* of Python plus some UNIX skills.

Goals:

Learn the Python Language
Learn to use several important and popular Python modules
Practice these skills

Covid-19 Adjustments

This class will be taught live entirely on Zoom. ZOOM ID in bblearn for class.
All zoom lectures will be recorded and appear in the videos section in the class BBLearn page. There may be as much as a week delay in posting a class video.
Except for videos and grades in BBLearn, all else will appear here on the class web page.
All email from students should have the subject: CS212.
Since almost no one showed up for office hours last semester I will try office hours BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please send email. Appointments will be in 20 minute slots. Multiple people can arrange to see me at the same time if you wish. We will see how this works out.
Since we can't have in class exams, all exams will be take home. I will assume I am working with adults in extraordinary times and that students will not share hints or answers.

Recommended Textbook:		Python Programming in Context, 3rd ed. ISBN: 978-1284175554, Jones and Bartlett Learning
Recommended Textbook:		The Quick Python Book, 3rd ed. ISBN: 978-1617294037, Manning Publications

Estimated Syllabus

This syllabus is an estimate of what we might cover this semester. This is the first time this class has been taught.

Wk#	Monday of that Week	Topics/Links	Assignments	Comments
1	Jan 11	Introduction to the class, what we plan on doing, how the class works, where to find stuff.	assignment	NO CLASS MONDAY
2	Jan 18	Introduction to the course. Survey. The layout of the Python language. Running Python.		NO CLASS MONDAY - MLK/Human Rights Day
3	Jan 25
4	Feb 1
5	Feb 8
6	Feb 15			NO CLASS MONDAY. President's Day
7	Feb 22
8	Mar 1
9	Mar 8
10	Mar 15			NO CLASS THIS WEEK! SPRING BREAK
11	Mar 22
12	Mar 29
13	Apr 5
14	Apr 12
15	Apr 19
16	Apr 26
17	May 3
18	May 10		FINALS WEEK (NO FINAL FOR US)	Final: None

References and Resources

The "whiteboards" from all the lectures tagged by date
Basic UNIX command information including stuff about sdiff

Code

Services

Homework submission page. This our homework submission page. This is not to be confused with any other submission tools used in the CS department. This is How Testing Works

Submitting homework without a browser

Computer Science IT FAQ including information on logging onto class machines.

The CS212 student machine is called cs-212.cs.uidaho.edu. If you are off campus you can access this machine only by first "coming on campus" with VPN. For details see CS IT FAQ The compile command I run on that machine is:

 scl enable
devtoolset-7 "make"

to get the same compiler and options. The devtoolset-7 command is an annoying command prefix you have to use to access a 21st century compiler. Not my fault, it is a consequence of the Linux distribution we are using.