Undergraduate - UnitFIT1008 - Introduction to computer science

At the completion of this unit, students will have

Developed the ability to:

• understand abstract data types and, in particular, data structures for stacks, queues, lists, trees, and heaps, as well as the associated algorithms for creating and manipulating them. Evaluate the appropriateness of different data structures for a given problem;
• understand basic searching and sorting algorithms, analyse their properties and be able to implement them. Understand the concept of algorithmic complexity. Analyse the complexity of these searching and sorting algorithms as well as other basic algorithms. Compare the complexity of different algorithms for solving a given problem;
• analyse different implementations of abstract data types and determine their implications regarding complexity, functionality, and memory usage;
• understand the uses of recursive algorithms and data structures, their advantages and disadvantages. Analyse the complexity of simple recursive algorithms, and their relationship with iteration. Understand basic recursive algorithms for lists and trees, and develop new ones;
• understand the different compilation targets, including abstract machine code, assembly language, object code, and machine code. Understand the relationship between simple code in a high level imperative language and its low level translation into assembly code;
• learn the structure and design of a particular processor simulator. Analyse the execution in this simulator of simple iterative algorithms learned before, thus gaining a deeper understanding of the connection between software and hardware, between an algorithm and its execution;
• understand how the simulator implements function calling, and use it to reinforce the connection between recursion and iteration.

Developed attitudes that enable them to:

• conform to programming standards when writing software;
• use good design principles when constructing systems;
• take a patient and thorough approach to testing;
• acknowledge any assistance they have received in writing a program;
• search for information in appropriate places when necessary.

Developed the skills to:

• implement their own data-structures. Design and implement programs using a variety of data structures and algorithms;
• construct a test harness for testing a program;
• debug and modify an existing program (written by somebody else);
• use an Integrated Development Environment when developing their programs.

Demonstrated the communication skills necessary to:

• document a program correctly;
• explain how parts of a program work.