ESC180: Introduction to Computer Programming

Fall 2024

Course staff

Course description This course serves as an introduction to computer programming and computer science. We will introduce the Python programming language. We will use Python to solve a variety of problems, and practice problem-solving techniques that are applicable to computational problems. We will discuss good practices in software engineering (designing and building large software systems). We will analyze the efficiency of algorithms, and discuss designing efficient algorithms. Various research areas in computer science (AI, software engineering research, the theory of computation, etc.) will be introduced throughout the term. No previous knowledge of programming or computer science is assumed.

The course syllabus is available here.

Projects

Project 1: Gamification. Due Sept. 29 at 3p.m.(5%), assigned Sept. 20. gamify.py

Project 2 (draft, but no major updates will be posted). gomoku.py (5%). Due Nov. 17 at 10:59p.m.

Project 3. synonyms.py, test.txt Due Dec. 4 at 10:59 p.m. (5%). public tests

Labs

(schedule is tentative)

Lab 1: Tracing, Functions, and Conditionals (assigned Sept. 11, show the TA during the lab). Solution session

Lab 2: Functions and Local and Global Variables: Simulating a Pocket Calculator (assigned Sept. 18, show the TA during the lab). Solution session

Lab 3: Project 1 warm-up (state machines) (assigned Sept. 25). Solutions session

Lab 4: Loops (assigned Oct. 2) Solution session.

Lab 5: Lists (assigned Oct. 9) Solution session.

Lab 6: Hopfield Networks and Tic-tac-toe ttt.py. Solution session

Lab 7: Debugging (Part 1) and Gaussian Elimination (Part 2) , use_numpy.py. Sample run. Solutions session

Lab 8: Getting started with Project 2 (optional), dictionaries, using Python functions Solutions session

Lab 9: Memory model review, time complexity, using Python functions. Solutions session

Lab 10: Recursion. Solutions session

ESC190 Lab 1: Intro to C.

ESC190 Lab 2: More C, strings, and recursion

Online exercises

Online exercise 1
Online exercise 2 (0.5%). Video

Exams

Midterm

The midterm was held on Oct 27.
Midterm sessions: Oct 13, Oct 14

2023 midterm paper
2022 midterm paper, Solutions
2021 midterm paper, Solutions
2020 midterm paper, Solutions
2016 midterm paper, Solutions + notes on marking

2015 midterm paper. Reference sheet. Solutions: Part 1, Part 2 (contains optional advanced material).
2014 midterm and aid sheet. (Solutions). Note: in Q2d, True and False should switch places. Another solution is to go return not (a==b==c).
2010 midterm. (Solutions; note that there is a small bug in the solutions to the last question and that the midterm was written in Python 2, which means that it uses print <things-to-print> instead of print(<things-to-print>).)

Exam

The exam will be held in December. Past exams are below.

2022 exam paper, solutions
2020 exam paper, solutions (files download)
2016 exam paper (reference sheet). Solutions + marking scheme.
2015 exam paper (reference sheet). Partial solution of the challenging problems. I encourage people to work on the problems in the beginning of the exam by themsleves. (Note that Q8 and Q9 were supposed to be very challenging -- exam grades were adjusted.)
2014 exam paper (reference sheet). Solutions and my favourite solution of Q7. Video solution of Q7.

2010 exam paper. Some solutions.

An inclusive environment

We strive to build and maintain an inclusive environment in class — an environment that allows every student to reach their full potential. Please do not hesitate to contact me and/or your preceptor to let us know if you need special accommodation or with any concerns.

Design credit: CS229, Jan 2019.