CSCI 220 Programming with Visual Basic
Your Final Project

  1. The program should be a masterpiece
    1. Show off what you have learned
    2. Explore new areas
    3. Use the best technique you know
  2. The a program will:
    1. Run without error
    2. follow submitted topic
    3. follow pseudocode
    4. (if you change the topic, change the pseudocode)
    5. be as user-friendly as possible (follow Windows standards)
    6. anticipate user error
    7. use appropriate methods, commands, and controls to your program's needs
    8. showcase and expand your abilities
  3. Preparation:
    1. Pseudocode
      1. Start with paragraph saying what you want the program to accomplish
      2. Make sketches of all forms that will appear in the program
      3. Decide the names of all critical controls
      4. Write the values of relevant properties for each control, form
      5. List of variables with short description of what they stand for where they will be declared
      6. Write an algorhythm (sentence or paragraph> for each critical action in the program
      7. (EG what will happen when user presses a buton or changes a value)
      8. Write line-by-line pseudocode for each algorhythm above
        1. Try to anticipate in English what you want to have happen
        2. Make some guesses as to general strategy for commands or methods you will use
        3. (EG get a filename using the common dialog)
    2. Other helpful stuff
      1. Do anything not specific to programming before actually writing code. Examples:
        1. If you will do animations, draw all the pictures in paintbrush
        2. For an adventure game, sketch out a flowchart of the action
        3. for quiz programs, write all the questions on paper.
        4. In shor, let your programming time concntrate on programming.
      2. Let me see the pseudocode FIRST. If your pseudocode is weak, your program will go NOWHERE! (Not my rule. Try it and see.)
      3. AVOID the temptation to just dig in and see where you get. You are bound to have trouble.
  4. Writing the program
    1. Follow the plan outlined in the pseudocode
    2. Step-wise refinement:
      1. Develop startup form first
      2. If that form needs a menu, create the menu early
      3. Add controlsas outlined in your pseudocode
      4. Set the most critical properties as outlined i your pseudocode
    3. Repeat with other forms (if you have any)