COURSE TIMES:

PREREQUISITES: Introduction to Programming (COP-2210, or equivalent). You must drop the course if you haven't gotten a C or better in a basic programming course. No knowledge of C or C++ is assumed. Basic program development skills and debugging skills are assumed. This course is lots of work. If you are thinking about taking an extra course, you are strongly encouraged to pick another semester in which to do it.

INSTRUCTOR: Prof. Mark Allen Weiss

OFFICE HOURS: You are free to stop by my office (ECS-355) any time you can find me. My office hours represent a time when I am (more or less) guaranteed to be available. This semester this is Tuesday and Thursday, 1:45 - 2:45 PM and 3:45 - 4:45 PM, and after 7:45 PM (except September 7 and 21). You can also contact me by email to weiss email address. My office phone is FIU-2036.

LANGUAGES AND PLATFORMS: This course will be conducted in C++. The assumed compiler is Visual 6.0, running on some version of Windows. If you want to work at home, the bookstore sells the compiler at a student price that is not too high.

No prior knowledge of C or C++ is assumed. This is not a course on C++; it is a course on general programming principles. However, since we will be doing C++, we might as well do it right. I will cover all important language features including inheritance. I assume that you are reasonably comfortable in one of the following: Pascal, C, C++, Ada. If all you know is Basic or Fortran, you are in the wrong course.

I am not using any book. If you have never programmed in C++, I suggest you get a C++ book; there is a text that is being used in other sections of this course. We will be using a preliminary draft of portions of my forthcoming textbook. Click here for the draft. It is in PDF format. You will need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader.

COURSE GRADING: Grades will be based on approximately 9 programs, two exams, and a final. Each exam is worth 2 programs; the final is worth 3 programs. You need 70% to get a C. I reserve the right to change the method of assigning grades, including changing the number of assignments or exams, but in no case will a curve be applied.

PROGRAMS: Barring tragedy, I will not accept late programs. Your submission must include source code and sample output. I will generally specify what the data is. You must work on your own. The assignments and if appropriate, input data, will be placed here.

COURSE OUTLINE (OPTIMISTIC):