Liam's Computer Science Learning Journal

  Journal Prompt Reflections With whom did you work? Ethan G, Keshab N What was your strategy for solving the assignments? I first got all the fields/variables/methods in place until I matched the UML diagram, looked over the entire assignment prompt, and then flew blindly along to each method description. I wrote TODOs for what I couldn’t solve right away and sort of manically switched between each method until the test file could run. From there homed in on each failing test one by one. The first tests I singled out called methods that relied on other methods the least.  Did you start writing code right away? Did you plan it out on paper? I did initially attempt to create a checklist document but it became so overwhelming that I chose to just start working on it and the tasks that still needed to be done were readily apparent anytime I checked the tests or output. TODO’s and getting the UML matching were essentially the planning aspect.   What was THEIR strategy for sol...

Journal Prompt Reflections Was any part of the code a struggle for YOU? I particularly struggled with getting the defense and attack points tests to work properly as I was not following the instructions for the subclasses, I set the individual monster values but just kept failing to read “USE THE GETTERS/SETTERS”  from the method description. My toString test was failing due to somehow accidentally trying to resolve damage and health in that method, I was reading the wrong method description while working on it. Figuring out how to code up the type mashup between defender and attacker was tough as well. Was any part of writing the code easy for YOU? Ironically, I felt comfortable getting some code together based off somewhat plain/not-completely-technical language, I just cannot stress enough that I kept misreading descriptions. As OOP was a distinctly spooky aspect of programming for me in the last couple years, that is being well taught right now so troubleshooting/writing code f...

         Markov Text Generation Assignment Reflection           Any week where you have two concurrent OOP-related software projects in progress is going to be riveting, challenging, rewarding, and exhausting. I am positing my thoughts hot off the heels of completing the Markov assignment, having passed the unit tests last night and waiting until the morning of 3/16 to face cleanup and proper documentation before heading back into LDPM. Markov was a great assignment to get familiar with collections to as the thought of sticking an arrayList inside of a HashMap and doing some key/value handoffs across different collections and functions is not remotely daunting nor mysterious as I thought it might have been prior to the start of this class. The biggest challenge for me remains to be commenting with Javadoc instead of my familiar low-brow double back slash Java commenting which I love.          I wish tha...

Journal Check-In           I'm pleased to announce that the computer science rubber is truly hitting the road as CST338: Software Design is off to a strong start with refreshing assignments, compelling projects, and a professor whose intelligence, compassion, and comical genius are readily apparent. To kick off this batch of journal entries, I will discuss my problem-solving process with the coding challenge site Coding Bat. Coding Bat Questions and Reflection Did you plan it out or throw code at it?              A core principle of my process in all matters could be boiled down to "floundering forward" and as such I endeavored to fly blindly into a handful of the challenges. At a less granular level, this approach mostly worked for the more rudimentary challenges. Most of my early Java learning involved jumping through formatting and logic hoops so I am accustomed to wildly throwing as many approaches as I can rememb...

Part 1   Code Busters - Preventing Cyber Attacks With AI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4WZz3PkMGQ Use of AI to Prevent Cyber Attacks 1. is the topic well covered?  In both the pro and general videos, the topic remains clear and pointed throughout the presentation with a clear structure establishing the reality of cyberthreats and presenting AI as the solution.  2. is the presentation clear? The presentation is well laid out for both general and pro audiences providing consistently meaningful details that illustrate the bigger idea driving the content. 3. how is the quality of the research? The research appears to be very solid, that would be hard material to synthesize out of thin air. 4. how is the quality of the video production? The slides were well composed, the general audience video had a great use of a news clip, and the voices were clear. There was even a little background music which was a nice addition. 5. is the video engaging and interesting? The video plea...