Programming Assignments
Fundamental Data Structures
ICS-23: Lecture A/Labs 1-4
Winter 2013
Submitting Programs
Programming assignments are typically assigned in Lab on a Thursday and are due
~1-2 weeks after they are assigned, at 11:30pm, on a Thursday night.
To turn in programs use the
Homework Dropoff system (Checkmate), which is also available on the
standard frame index on the course website: it uses UCInetID Secure Web
Login.
You receive NO POINTS for late programs, unless you have discussed the
matter with me and gotten my official permission (typically, granted prior
to the due date via email).
IN ALL CASES, you must drop off (on time) whatever part of the program you
have written, if you are to receive ANY PARTIAL credit for a late
submission; if you drop off no files, I must assume that you have done
NO WORK on the assignment, so please drop off partial solutions.
Pair Programming
I encourage you to use pair programming on all the assignments.
In pair programming, students closely collaborate with their partners,
turning in a single, joint program.
Only ONE STUDENT from the pair should drop off (all parts of) the
program -which one doesn't matter- but the Names and
Lab Numbers of both students MUST APPEAR IN A COMMENT inside
the code file(s).
See Pair Programming for
details about pair programming, and the right and wrong ways to do it.
There is a tremendous amount to be gained by both group members, if they
pair program in the right way.
A typical assignment spans 3 labs and 2 weekends.
Expect to spend time outside of lab working on the programming assignments
together, so chose a partner you can get together with frequently and onew
with compatible work habits.
Starting Programs
Please read each assignment completely and carefully before starting it.
I suggest that you print and then read it, marking relevant material with a
highlighter: there are lots of details and it is easy to forget to do
easy things.
We will typically discuss each new assignment in Lab on Thursday, and start
working on it then.
Grading Programs (Generally)
For most programming assignments, there will be a JUnit test, which you
will learn about in Program #0.
Some programs will specify other kinds of testing (as well).
Extra Points for Submitting Early
If you drop off your program early, you will receive extra points: 2 points if
you submit it 24 hours early, 3 points if you submit it 48 hours early.
But, the program must substantially work to get these extra credit points (if
not, you are better off continuing to work on the program).
Since each program is worth 60 points, you can raise your grade on a program
by 5% (half a letter grade) by turning it in two days early.
Note that turning in a program more than two days early still results in just
3 extra points; therefore, I encourage students to finish their programs as
early as possible, but continue to think about them (and ask questions about
them) until two days before the due date, and submit them early at that time.