Fundamentals of Computing I

list Preamble

• Course Title: Fundamentals of Computing I (cs 114)
• crn: 48333
• Credits: 4
• Lab fee: None
• Days: Monday and Wednesday
• Time: 3:35 – 5:15 pm
• Room: Charles A Dana Hall, 318 (map map)
• Dates: 26 August – 9 December 2024
• Professor: Roy Vanegas (pronounced “vuh-nay-gus”) sound_detection_loud_sound
• Email: vanegas at hartford dot edu
• Phone: 860.768.5925
• Office: Charles A Dana Hall, 310B
• Office hours: I meet students on an appointment basis via video conference during the times listed here. (Click here for videoconferencing details.) Other times on Thursdays and Fridays are available, also. Email vanegas@hartford.edu to make an appointment.
  • Tuesday: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

info Description

The first in a two-semester sequence, Fundamentals of Computing I covers the foundational ideas upon which the discipline of computer science is based, and is the introductory course for cs and cse majors. Building on the core ideas that define structural programming, students learn procedural programming, then extend the concept with object-oriented programming. The fundamentals of algorithmic problem solving, modularity, efficiency, and the design of simple, user-friendly interfaces are also covered.

list Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will understand...

• How to develop optimal programming practices;
• How to configure a development environment using a modern toolchain;
• How to employ revision control practices that last the span of an engineer’s career;
• How to strike a balance between documentation and best practices for variable/function naming;
• The difference between strongly- and loosely-typed languages;
• Which questions to ask when learning any subsequent programming language;
• Articulate some basic ethical issues confronting computing professionals;
• The building blocks of object-oriented programming; and,
• How to apply the concepts of structural programming to most other programming languages.

file_download Software Requirements

All the software required for this course is free and listed below. For Mac users, the entire installation process is automated using this script. Windows and Linux users, however, will need to install the software manually.

Java jdk (Mac, Windows, Linux)

This is the software needed to build and run your Java programs. The latest Java Standard Edition Development Kit, or sdk, is available from https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads/.

Javafx sdk (Mac, Windows, Linux)

The examples from our textbook that involve graphics use the Javafx library. To work with those examples, you’ll need to download and configure the library, which is available from https://gluonhq.com/products/javafx/#javafx-builds.

Processing (Mac, Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi)

Processing is a free Java library and integrated development environment, or ide, that is designed for artists and designers to learn computer programming. It’s visual in nature, and we’ll use it — along with Javafx — to work with computer graphics in this course. Download Processing from https://processing.org/download.

Git Client (Mac, Windows, Linux)

All in-class examples, assignments, and help is done via GitHub. Download the client for your computer here.

Package Manager (Mac, Windows)

Package managers provide an easy way to install software via your cli from a single registry. Install Homebrew for macos via The Terminal from https://brew.sh/; install Chocolatey for Windows via PowerShell from https://chocolatey.org/install.

Text Editor (Mac, Windows, Linux)

The code you write will require a text editor. Although there are many on the market, such as Sublime Text (nagware), for example, vs Code (open source) is the only editor supported in class. Download the Linux, Windows, or macOS version from https://code.visualstudio.com/.

EditorConfig (Mac, Windows, Linux)

EditorConfig is a tool that enforces consistent coding styles for everyone who works on a codebase. In our case, that codebase consists of all the examples in class and all the assignments you’ll submit throughout the semester. EditorConfig consists of an extension and a configuration file (.editorconfig) that goes in your home — or project — folder. Some editors and ides have EditorConfig built in. vs Code, unfortunately, is not one of them. Install the EditorConfig extension for vs Code from here, then download this .editorconfig file and place it in your home folder. Ensure the file name is exactly .editorconfig, starting with a dot and without a file extension.

VS Code Extensions

Linters, or static code analysis tools, are used by all professional software engineers. Start using one now. Install the following linter extensions for vs Code.

• Extension Pack for Java, extension id vscjava.vscode-java-pack
• IntelliCode, extension id VisualStudioExptTeam.vscodeintellicode
• Language Support for Java, extension id redhat.java
• Makefile Tools, extension id ms-vscode.makefile-tools
• Processing language support for vs Code, extension id Tobiah.language-pde

Make (Mac, Windows, Linux)

The make cli utility acts like a script that automatically determines which files of a multi-object program need to be recompiled, then issues commands to recompile them. The official documentation is available from gnu, while a more accessible tutorial is available from Makefile Tutorial.

If you’re using Windows, simply run choco install make from your cli, assuming you’ve already installed Chocolately. Linux and macos users already have make installed.

Fonts (Mac, Windows, and Linux)

In addition to the stock issue, monospace/fixed-width fonts included with your os, here are a few more fonts to explore in your text editors:

IBM Plex | Ubuntu Mono | Fira Mono | Anonymous Pro | Inconsolata

menu_book Textbook

The textbook listed below is the only book used for this course. Ensure all the details match before making your purchase.

Textbook-related Info

Book Cover
Title	Java Software Solutions: Foundations of Program Design
Edition	9
Authors	John Lewis and William Loftus
isbn-10	0-13-446202-5
isbn-13	978-0-13-446202-8
Publisher	Pearson

calendar_month Schedule

Important Notes

In the schedule below, lectures take place on Mondays and labs on Wednesdays, starting in week three. Any changes to this schedule will be announced the week before.

You should get accustomed to using your own laptop for computer science courses. Thus, you will need to bring your own laptops to class. We will use a considerable portion of the first week of classes to install the software you need on your personal machines.

Notable Dates

• Monday, 26 August 2024 (Week 1) — First day of classes
• Monday, 2 September 2024 (Week 2) — No class (Labor Day)
• Friday, 1 November 2024 (Week 10) — Last day to change to pass/no pass, or vice versa; last day to withdraw with a grade of W
• Monday, 25 November, and Wednesday, 27 November 2024 (Week 14) — No class (Thanksgiving recess)
• Monday, 9 December 2024 (Week 16) — Last day of classes

assignment Assignments

The workload for this course involves four programming assignments. (See the Grading section to learn what percentage of your final grade each is worth.) As noted in the instructions for each assignment, No late work is accepted.

Note: Broken links in the list below will be updated once each assignment is assigned a due date.

• Assignment I
• Assignment II
• Assignment III
• Assignment IV

countertops Labs

There are 10 labs designed to reinforce the material covered in the lectures. A link to each is provided in the Schedule section of this syllabus. You don’t submit them; None is graded. Labs take place during class time on Wednesdays in the same classroom in which the Monday lectures take place. Lab solutions will be shared — lecture-style — in class the following Monday. Doing well on the labs correlates with how well you’ll do on the assignments and exams. Thus, you’re strongly advised to do each one before Monday’s lecture, so you can compare and learn.

info Grading

Your grade for this course is computed as follows:

1. Programming assignments (60%)
   • Assignment 1 — 15%
   • Assignment 2 — 15%
   • Assignment 3 — 15%
   • Assignment 4 — 15%
2. Midterm exam (20%)
3. Final exam (20%)

To calculate your final grade, convert the percentages listed above and your grades to decimal. For example, 15% becomes .15, 20% becomes .20, etc. Imagine you earned an 80 on the first programming assignment, a 93 on the second, a 60 on the third, a 50 on the fourth, a 95 on your midterm, and, a 100 on the final exam. You’d calculate your final grade as follows:

(.80 × .15) + (.93 × .15) + (.60 × .15) + (.50 × .15) + (.95 × .20) + (1 × .20) = 80%

You can convert your percentage grade to a letter grade at http://vanegas.cs.hartford.edu/grading/.

This grading formula is unbending and will be adhered to strictly.

Note: I do not give grades; students earn them. The grade you earn is based strictly on the outlined formula above.

Important Note

Please do not try to negotiate a grade with me. By asking me to treat you favorably, you’re requesting that I put you above your classmates. Manage your time well; I do not accept late work.

balance Class Policies

• Masks. I don’t require students to wear masks in class, per university policy dictated in spring 2022: Effective immediately, masks are now optional in most University facilities and settings. They [masks] will continue to be required in the classroom or personal office spaces, unless otherwise specified by faculty members or staff. And, of course, you’re welcome to wear a mask in class, should you feel more comfortable doing so. You may read more about the policy regarding face coverings here.
• Consuming food in class. There is no eating inside our classroom, either during class or while on break. Eat before or after class. Drinks in covered containers, however, are allowed.
• Digital devices. Silence your mobile devices before class starts.

psychology No AI Use in Class

The use of generative ai tools is strictly forbidden in this course. All programming assignments — and any labs — associated with this course must be completed without the assistance of ai-generated content. This policy is in place to ensure that the work submitted is authentically yours and reflects your personal understanding and capabilities. Violations of this policy will be considered academic dishonesty and will be subject to disciplinary actions as outlined in the university’s academic honesty policy.

warning Academic Honesty

Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated in this course; make certain that all the work you submit is your own. Refresh your understanding of the college’s policy on academic honesty.

accessible Students with Disabilities

If you have a documented disability for which you are requesting accommodation, you are encouraged to contact Access-Ability Services as soon as possible by calling 860.768.4312, emailing tlopez@hartford.edu, or by stopping by the Access-Ability Services office in Auerbach Hall, Room 209. If your request for accommodations is approved, an accommodation letter will be emailed to your instructor(s) upon your request. Please discuss your accommodations with the instructor as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements. Note: Student requests for accommodations must be filed each semester. Visit https://www.hartford.edu/academics/academic-support/accessibility-services/ and click the “Registering” link for more info and a link to a video that walks you through the process.

help_center Tutoring

On occasion, this course is assigned a preceptor — a high-achieving computer science student with advanced standing who holds office hours to answer questions about the material. This is in addition to the professor’s office hours. If a preceptor is assigned to this course, they’ll be introduced on the first day of class.

Tutoring — unrelated to a preceptor — is available from the Centralized Tutoring Center. Students can make one-on-one peer tutoring appointments by visiting, emailing, or calling the Center. Students can also book appointments directly in Compass.

balance Title IX and Sexual Assault

Sexual violence and other forms of sexual misconduct and harassment, including stalking and intimate partner violence, are prohibited under Title ix, federal and state law, and University of Hartford policy. Information on the University’s policies against sexual violence can be found at https://www.hartford.edu/about/policies/title-ix/. Resources regarding sexual violence can be found at https://www.hartford.edu/about/policies/title-ix/on-off-campus-resources.aspx

Note: University of Hartford faculty, staff, and ras are required to report incidents of sexual misconduct to the Title ix Office (title9@hartford.edu). For further information on The University’s policies and resources, please contact Jason Martinez (860.768.5255; jamartine@hartford.edu) or Justin Bell (860.768.4880; jbell@hartford.edu).

psychology Mental Health and Well-Being

Mental Health is an important aspect of students’ well-being and integral to positive academic experiences and success. If, during the semester, you experience difficulties and would like support, consider contacting the University of Hartford’s caps, or Counseling and Psychological Services, which offers a range of short-term counseling services available to full-time undergraduate students at no additional cost, and to part-time undergraduate and graduate students for a small fee.

caps is located in Gengras Student Union, Room 313 map, and can be reached by calling 860.768.4482 or emailing Liz Inkel at inkel@hartford.edu. Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.

info Advice on Succeeding in Class

Read over the following to understand procedures for maximizing your chances of succeeding in class.

• Advice for Succeeding in Class (in pdf)
• Advice for Succeeding in Class (in Markdown)

door_front Office Hours

• Tuesday: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

contact_mail Contact

Nowadays, I only use email for emergency situations, such as a pet emergencies, personal tragedies, etc. For matters related to our course, you’re advised to see me before or after class, during my office hours, or by appointment. My contact info is listed in the Preamble.