CSCI N343/INFO I210

Welcome to CSCI N343 / Informatics I210

The purpose of this course is to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the tools and problem-solving methodologies related to computer programming. Our primary focus will be underlying problem-solving and information-management techniques. The lecture will discuss general concepts and syntax, whereas the lab will focus upon implementation and practice. The specific language implementation will be in Python, a language known for its straightforward syntax and wide extensibility.

Spring 2007 Information

Instructor: Andy Harris, email aharris@cs.iupui.edu

I'm in my office (SL 280) Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 11:00 until 12:00 or email me for another appointment.
Email is the best way to reach me. Phone messages are not usually recieved in time.

Schedule
Lecture: TR 12:00 SL 251

Informatics Students

This class is cross-listed as CSCI N343 (Object-Oriented Programming for the web) and INFO I210 (Information Infrastructure I.) The informatics section is 4 credits and the CSCI section is 3 credits, so INFO students will be assigned an extra paper around midterm to make up for the extra credit hour.

Problem-Solving

Here's some links to potentially useful materials on problem-solving techniques:

• STAIR An old essay on problem-solving, but still relevant (don't blame me for the color scheme...)
• STAIR problem-solving notes
• Polya Summary Encapsulation of George Polya's seminal problem-solving book, "How to Solve it."
• Pseudocode definition from wikipedia

Background, History, and Fundamentals of Computing

• History Powerpoint presentation outlines main players, milestones in computing history
• Essense of computation Powerpoint presentation
• Binary Lights Turn lights on and off to understand binary notation (javascript)
• Binary Bricks Move lego bricks to understand binary notation
• tinkertoy logic experiment with basic logic gates (flash)
• N100 Videos Videos explaining binary, STAIR, essence of computation
• conversion reading an excellent description of number conversion
• homework! binary conversion quiz

XHTML and CSS

• XHTML Primer
• XHTML template
• XHTML lab Build a basic web page. Turn in via oncourse drop box.

Machine Language Materials

• abniac Absolute Beginner's Numerical Integrator And Calculator
• N100 Videos Videos explaining abniac
• abniac challenges
• Homework!!! Abniac assignment

Python Notes

• Python 2.4 The version we'll use in this class
• Intro and String manipulation
• Working with Data in Python
• Control Structures in Python
• Building a Game Foundation
• Drawing and Events
• Audio and Sprites
• GameEngine Windows installer
• GameEngine docs
• Miracle - Python summary
• GUIBoa.py Example GUI app using Boa Constructor
• Frame1.py Frame created in Boa Constructor
• Boa Constructor Terrific free Editor for creating wx GUIs in Python. Requires wxPython below (latest version of wxPython doesn't seem to work right with Boa)
• wxPython 2.6 for Python 2.4 Use this link to download the appropriate version of wxPython for Boa Constructor or SPE if you're using python 2.4
• wxPython 2.6 for Python 2.5 Use this link to download the appropriate version of wxPython for Boa Constructor or SPE if you're using python 2.5

Building a GUI

• tkDemo.py a basic hello world in TK
• tkControl.py Build a button, input, and control
• smilTimer.py a simple timer using tk
• tkMadlib.py a mad lib game using tk
• hiTK.py Using a list box

Relational Databases

• SQLite database package for windows
• SQLite main page
• LiteQuery a free database tool using SQLite
• buildHero.sql SQL Script to build the hero database
• buildSpy.sql SQL script to build the spy database
• Basic ER diagram for spy
• More complete ER for spy database
• SQLCourse A nice interactive SQL tutorial

Python and SQL

• dvd.sql SQL code for th DVD database we did in class
• SQLite in Python A program demonstrating data access in Python
• APSW Another Python / SQLite wrapper. pysqlite seems to be down
• APSW Demo Connecting Python to SQLite with APSW library
• mysqlTest connect mySql to python
• mysqlCGI connect mySql to python CGI (source)
• mysqlCGI connect mySql to python CGI (running)

Server-side programming in Python

Setting up a practice session

To use Python as a CGI environment, first you need to set up your system. Fortunately, everything you need is supplied with Python. Here's the steps to practice on your Windows machine...

• Open a DOS shell. Use start menu-run and type "command" in the box. (note it's the older "command" you should use, because "cmd" doesn't seem to work if Python is installed in the program files directory.)
• Navigate to the directory you want to use as a web root with cd commands.
• Start the built-in python server with this command:

  python -m CGIHTTPServer

• Keep the resulting DOS window open. It will provide feedback, especially if there are errors in your code
• Point a web browser to localhost:8000 You should see a list of the files in your current directory
• Create your CGI programs in a directory called cgi-bin directly under the main web root

Example CGI programs

Note these programs are not currently operational on this server - they are simply source code. Copy them to your own cgi-bin directory and run under your own server to test.

• hiCGI.py Hello world done in CGI and python
• hiCGI.py Source of hiCGI
• askName.html HTML page that interacts with sayHi.py. View source to see how page is organized with form and inputs. (calls sayHi.py)
• source of sayHI.py Retrieves data from askName.html and reports it back. (run by calling askName.html)
• qAndA.py A program that creates its own form if necessary
• qAndA.py Source of qAndA.py
• dvd.db The SQLite database used in previous examples. Used to demonstrate cgi and sql combined
• CGI_DB.py Use a cgi script to interact with an SQL database