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Computer Science 197c - Programming in C++
Winter Session 2001
Brent Heeringa
Work Phone: 413.545.3616
Home Phone: 413.549.9619
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General Information |
Lectures |
Office Hours |
Assignments |
References
]
This is a first course in C++ for people who are comfortable
with Java. I'm not exactly sure what comfortable
means, but you probably should be able to tell me about abstract
and concrete classes, objects, interfaces, inheritance,
visibility, encapsulation, polymorphism, exceptions, packages
and some procedural programming constructs like condtionals,
iteration, and recursion. I also expect that you are familar
with the Java environment including the compiler (javac), the
classpath environment variable (CLASSPATH) and the Java
virtual machine (java).
I'm not really into traditional exams and for a straight-shot
programming course it seems fairly innapproriate to require a
final, so I'd much rather write a lot of code and then talk
about our experiences in doing it.
I really want the first few lectures to be a solid introduction
to C++, and the final few to be a friendly, involved discussion
about the language. There are seven lectures, so that leaves us
about three lectures to ooze into on both sides. If the class
turns out to be one big question and answer session after the
first few periods, I'd be thrilled. If it doesn't, that's cool
too.
Just so you know, I'm not really into hand-raising. General
shouting, interruption, voice-clearing, or other methods of
attention seem to work best for me. If you want to raise your
hand, there's a non-trivial chance I'll call on you. Just
realize you don't need to go about things that way.
How about Tuesdays and Thursdays from 16:00 to 17:00 in Room 264
of the new computer science building. Send email anytime.
I'll post assignments here along with due dates,
corrections, digressions, general comments, sonnets, movie
reviews, and witty banter.
- Assignment 0
The best mechanism for learning a new language is to write code
using that language. So, it seems reasonable that the first
exercise should be a straight-forward programming assignment.
Chapter 14 of Budd [page 215] introduces rational numbers (or
fractions) in a case study. Most of the implementation is given
in bits and pieces throughout the chapter. I've implemented my
own Rational number class that closely resembles that given in
the text but highlights a number of constructs available in the
C++ programming language. I've also implemented a Complex
number class in Java. This class contains the common algebraic
operations addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
as well as exponentiation, equivalence, and formatting methods.
The assignment is to implement the Complex number class in C++
using a style similar to that given in the Rational class I've
written. By style, I don't mean you must use the same
conventions for bracket placement but rather, use the natural
C++ conventions for implementing functions and operations. For
example, use the operator overloading capabilities of C++ to
implement the algebraic operations so that plus appears like
const Complex operator+(const Complex& c1, const Complex& c2) {
// logic goes here
}
instead of
const Complex Complex::plus(const Complex& c) {
// logic goes here
}
Really, the above two functions are quite different. They both
implement a flavor of addition, but the former is not a member
function, while the latter is.
Make sure to overload the output stream, equality, and
assignment operators. Also implement a copy constructor and any
other supporting routines you deem necessary. Reuse the
DivideByZeroException class I provided in the Rational
example. I realize this is a pretty hefty assignment, but
because the Rational number class is heavily documented and the
syntaxes between the Rational and Complex implmentations are
almost identifical, it should decrease the harshness and be a
profitable assignment.
You can download all the necessary files standalone, in a zip
file, or in a gziped tar file below.
Use the MainComplex.cc file to test your code. Turn in
your Complex.h and Complex.cc files to me on
10 January 2001 by 17:00. This gives us Friday and Wednesday to
talk about crazy stuff that happens. Feel free to write me email or drop by the ol'
office hours.
To compile the Rational number class (and it's necessary
supporting files), download the files to some directory. if you
downloaded a zip file use
% unzip assignment0.zip
If downloaded a tgz file use
% gzip -d assignment0.tgz
% tar -xvf assignment0.tar
The C++ Rational number class will use all the files except for
MainComplex.cc. However, we only need to compile the
implementation (.cc) files. So do a
% g++ -fhandle-exceptions Rational.cc DivideByZeroException.cc Cmpsci197cUtil.cc Main.cc
This will compile all the files into an executable called
a.out. If you want the compiler to dump the executable into a
different file, you can add
-o FileName
to the command.
The best way to compile C++ is probably using a makefile. If you download the
makefile into the same
directory as the source and type
% make
at the command line, this will compile the Rational number class
into an executable called Main. This makefile works for the
version of g++ on oit. Notice that you explicitly need to tell
the compiler to use exception handeling. On newer versions of
g++ this has been changed to be the default.
Assignment 1
Some of you are still reeling from assignment 0, so here is a (I
think) a fun assignment to help you understand the role (and not
the role) of pointers in C++. Download the pointers.cc file and read the
directions given in the comments. There you will find that your
assignment is to fill in 8 blanks in the code, so that the
proper output is produced. The blanks are indicated by literal
__ and comments enumerating them. There are 8 blanks.
Each is worth 5 points. I will take 1 point off for close
answers, 2 points off for answers that reflect some sort of
thought, 3 points off for being in the right hemisphere, and 4
points off for being wicked wrong. If you leave it blank or
comment it out (in which case the file will not compile), you
will get 5 points off. Start early. The assignment is due
Wednesday, 17 January 2001, at 17:00. As always, send me mail if you have
questions or comments.
Assignment 2
Okay. First I apologize for not having this assignment up in a
timely fashion. I want you to become familar with templates, so
I've implemented a very basic linked list class. It is
very similar to the one we talked about in class on 17 January
2001. I have also implemented the header (.h) file for a
parameterized Stack class.
Your assignment is to implement the Stack class. You should use
the LinkedList _list as your underlying data structure. In all
cases but two, the actual implementation of the functions
specified in the header file are one liners. For example, for
the push operation, you should write:
template
void Stack::push(T value) {
_list.add(value);
}
The LinkedList.h and LinkedList.cc files are documented
extensively. For the love of god, read over these files first.
Understand them before you start writing the Stack class code.
If you come to me with a question that is answered within the
comments of the LinkedList implementation I will verbally abuse
you. Well, okay, I won't verbally abuse you, but I will tell
you to shove off and read the comments. Once you understand the
LinkedList class, take a look at the Stack.h file. You must
implement all the functions defined in the header. So, you
should create a Stack.cc file and begin implementing.
A word of warning. The g++ compiler on OIT is old enough that
it doesn't like a small change in the c++ template syntax. I
have made code available that runs on OIT and code available
that runs on newer compilers. If you are having a problem with
the operator== function, you may need to alter the function
prototype according to the comments in the Stack.h
file. Hopefully, everyone who uses OIT will just download the
OIT version of the code and everyone who doesn't use OIT will
download the other version and everyone will be happy. If you
don't use the OIT verion of g++ and the compiler is whining to
you, then go ahead and try the other version. The problem lies
with the friend declaration of the operator== function. In
newer c++ versions, the friend definition looks like this:
friend bool operator==<>(const Stack& s1, const Stack& s2);
and in older c++ versions the syntax should read:
friend bool operator==(const Stack& s1, const Stack& s2);
I have documented this inside both the LinkedList and Stack
class, so hopefully you won't run into any problems.
To compile the files using g++ type:
% g++ LinkedList.cc Stack.cc Main.cc
LinkedList.cc is the low-grade linked list
implementation, Stack.cc is the stack class you'll
create and Main.cc is a small program to help you test
your stack class.
The assignment is due Monday, 22 January 2001 at 17:00. If you
have questions, send me mail, or come to office hours
on thursday. I'll also answer questions on friday, so get to an
early start on this baby.
Assignment 3
This assignment will introduce you to inheritance and
polymorphism. I have written an abstract Shape class and a
concrete implementation (subclass) called Circle. All the code
is heavily commented and should explain all of the aspects of
polymorphism and inheritance we haven't talked about yet.
The assignment is to write two new classes:
- Rectangle
- Square
where Rectangle is a conrete subclass of Shape and Square is a
concrete subclass of Rectangle. So Rectangle should look a lot
like circle except it will have two data members (_length and
_width) and the functions to compute perimeter and area will be
different. Square will only require a small amount of
functionality. In fact, all you'll have to do is implement a
constructor that takes one argument for the side length, set
both the _width and _length vars to it and then overload the
getDescription() function.
I plan on spending class on wednesday talking about the
assignment and definitely stop by my office hours if you have
questions.
To compile the code on OIT, use:
% g++ Shape.cc Circle.cc Main.cc
when you are done with you're Rectangle and Square classes, use:
% g++ Shape.cc Circle.cc Main.cc Rectangle.cc Square.cc
You'll get a binary executable called a.out
The assignment is due Friday, 26 January 2001 at 17:00.
If you're looking for a good C++ reference, you should pick up
The C++ Programming Language by the creator of C++, Bjarne Stroustrup. I
have a copy and will reserve a copy in the physical sciences
library. Bjarne matains a list of
links to various C++ resources such as faqs, tutorials, and
references. Maybe you'll find them useful.
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