Instructor: Russell Manning
Email: rmanning@cs.wisc.edu
Office: Room 1349, Computer Science
Hours: Monday and Tuesday, 3:00-4:00
Thursday, 2:00-3:00
Except for this handout, all class documentation and assignments will only be available ``online.'' This means you will only be able to get the assignments and handouts by computer. The first assignment is already ``online'' and it's due a week from today, so you must learn how to access the online information soon.
All programming assignments will be done on the computers in the ``Vectra Lab.'' You will also turn in your assignments through the computers in the Vectra Lab, so in addition to learning how to access online class info you must set up an account in the Vectra Lab very soon.
The online information (assignments, handouts, syllabus, corrections, etc.) should be accessed via the "World Wide Web" using a web browser like Netscape or Mosaic. If you've used the libraries here at UW Madison then you've used Netscape to access their electronic card catalogs. In fact, you could use the library terminals to retrieve online information for this course. You could also use Netscape from the various DoIT computer centers around campus, or from home if you have the right equipment. The main way, however, is to use Netscape from the computers in the Vectra Lab.
Hopefully you already know how to use a web browser--if not, you can see me or ask a consultant in the Vectra Lab (consultants are graduate students who get paid to sit in the Vectra Lab and answer your questions, so make use them!). The important part is to "point" your web browser at the following address:
http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~rmanning/cs110.html
You will program and turn in all your assignments in the Vectra Lab, so it's important to establish an account there as soon as possible. Your first assignment is due in one week and, although you won't have to write an original program, you will need to work on the Vectra machines. The Vectra Lab is room 1350 of the Computer Science building (1210 W. Dayton Street). If you enter the building from Dayton Street, go straight ahead until you pass some elevators and come to a water fountain. Turn left and you'll see the Vectra Lab. The lab is open from 7:00 am to 1:00 am, 7 days a week, so you shouldn't have much trouble getting access to the machines.
When you get to the lab, find a vacant seat and ``activate'' your CS110 account. There are instructions for this posted on the walls, but it really isn't too hard: at the ``WILEY login:'' prompt simply type ``newuser'' and press the ENTER key. When prompted for a password, press ENTER again. Now follow the instructions, entering information such as your student id number (be sure not to type in the dashes in your id number!). Check the information and read the policies for your account. Finally, you will be prompted to choose a password. You will need this password to login to the system in the future, so PLEASE choose one that you can remember! It is not generally a good idea to write your password down in case you forget it -- but if necessary, write it down in a safe place. You will probably want to write down your login name in any case (e.g., my login name is ``rmanning''). When you login next time, you will use your assigned login name and your newly chosen password, not ``newuser.''
Once you have logged in, the computer will (annoyingly?) ask if you plan to use any floppy disks during this session. Hit ``n'' to indicate you don't. Now Microsoft Windows will start up; you will see lots of little pictures, or ``icons,'' all over the screen. Each icon represents a program you can run.
In this class, you will use the following three programs primarily: Borland C++ 4.5, Netscape (represented by a big N), and File Manager. (Note: Be sure to use Borland C++ 4.5, not 4.0.)
Hopefully you already know how to use Microsoft Windows--you just double-click the mouse on the picture (``icon'') of whatever program you want to run. Again, you can ask me or a consultant for help, and there's also a tutorial you can run from Netscape.
The first assignment is just designed to help you get "settled in" to the class before you start actually learning how to program. Basically, I give you a very short program to ``compile'' and ``run'' on the Vectra machines. When you get it working, you turn it in electronically.
To get the assignment, you must visit my CS110 homepage on the Web (using Netscape as discussed above).
Good luck, and have a great semester!
(1) Do the four programming assignments and take at least 3 quizzes.
(2) Do the four programming assignments and a fifth programming assignment of your choice from any on the homepage.
IMPORTANT! You are allowed and encouraged to discuss assignments with other students, but every student must write his/her own programs. It is not permissable for two students to write one program and turn it in jointly, or to turn in a joint effort after making individual changes to it.