CS 106X –

Programming
Abstractions in
C++
Dr. Cynthia Bailey Lee
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Today’s Topics
1. Course structure and procedures:
 Your Grade
 My role
 Your role
2. What is this class? What do we mean by
“abstractions”?
Next lecture:
 Introduce the C++ language from the Java
programmer’s perspective
 (But it’s ok if you are not a Java programmer)
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Who Am I? Cynthia Lee

 Research:
 PhD: Supercomputers
 Lately: improve computer science
education
 Teaching:
 5 years at UCSD
 Courses: architecture (hardware),
theory of computation, discrete
mathematics, beginning &
advanced Java, data structures,
MATLAB
 Software engineer:
 iPhone educational games
 Machine learning for search
engines
 When I’m not working:
 Climbing, hiking, volleyball
 4

The Basics: Your Grade

 6% Class participation
 4% Section participation
 20% Midterm
 30% Final
 40% Programming assignments
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What do I do in class?
 Think of me as your tutor
 Many of you, the programming
aficionados of the incoming class, are
partially or entirely self-taught
 This course is designed to continue the most
beneficial aspects of that learning style, but
in a structured/assisted way, ensuring we fill
in any gaps before you continue on
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What do I do in class?
 That means that what I do is:
 Be your guide in inducing you to explore
concepts
 Create situations and pose puzzles that set
the scene for your exploration
 Answer your questions
 Not spend lecture reading the textbook to
you with slightly different words
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What do you do in class?

(Before class, you prepare yourself by reading the
textbook/handouts)
1. I ask a question
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What do you do in class?

(Before class, you prepare yourself by reading the
textbook/handouts)
1. I ask a question
2. You first answer it by yourself
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What do you do in class?

(Before class, you prepare yourself by reading the
textbook/handouts)
1. I ask a question
2. You first answer it by yourself
3. Then discuss in assigned groups of 3-4 students
 Like a jury, you must come to a unanimous
decision
 Answer the question a second time
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What do you do in class?

(Before class, you prepare yourself by reading the
textbook/handouts)
1. I ask a question
2. You first answer it by yourself
3. Then discuss in assigned groups of 3-4 students
 Like a jury, you must come to a unanimous
decision
 Answer the question a second time
4. I will ask groups to share their insights, and I will
provide additional clarification as needed
 11

FAQ: “But Professor Lee, wouldn’t it be

more efficient if you just taught us the right
answer to begin with?”
 Have you ever heard of an aerobics class where
the instructor did all the exercises at the front of
class, while the class just watched attentively?
 Me neither.

 To
learn, you must do the work with your own
muscle (your brain).
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What do you do in this course?

 Prepare for maximum in-class learning
 Reading, reading quizzes
 Inclass: engage with your neighbors and the
class, engage with the ideas
 Turn them upside down and sideways, think about
what common errors or misconceptions might be
 Seek help and seek to help others
 In class, section, Piazza forum, section leader office
hours, instructor office hours, LaIR
 I expect each class member to contribute to an
environment of mutual aid and cooperation
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Who should you be in this course?

 Be a professional
 Take the time to truly learn and transform yourself into a
professional, not “cram” or work for points
 Be warm and generous
 Be invested in the progress and well-being of your
classmates
 Be earnest
 Let your participation to be characterized by risk-taking and
a headlong dive into the activity. Free yourself of the need
to withhold part of yourself or remain aloof.
 Be honest
 Decide today to follow a path of uncompromised integrity
in your work in this course and throughout your Stanford
career. Envision yourself in the future with the confidence
that can only be purchased with a long record of
scrupulous decision-making.
About the textbook
 Required textbook:
 Programming Abstractions in C++ by Eric
Roberts
 Prof. Roberts is a faculty member here at
Stanford
 Note: do not buy C version
What is this class about?
What do we mean by “abstractions”?
http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/pictures/10000/velka/1-1265899974oKJ9.jpg
http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/pictures/10000/velka/1-1265899974oKJ9.jpg
 Sentence

Subject Verb Phrase Object

Noun Adverb Verb Possessive Noun

CS106X totally rocks my socks

CS106X totally rocks my socks
 Building a vocabulary of abstractions
makes it possible to represent and solve a huge
variety of problems using known tools.
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Getting started to-do list:

 Ensure you are on our mailing list
 Ensure you are on Piazza
 Register your iClicker at http://iclicker.com
 Use SUNet ID
Introduction to C++
From the Java programmer’s perspective
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A first C++ program (ERROR)

firstprogram.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include "console.h"
using namespace std;

int main(){
cout << "|-5| = " << absoluteValue(-5) << endl;

return 0;
}

int absoluteValue(int n) {
if (n<0){
return -n;
}
return n;
}
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A first C++ program (FIXED 1)

firstprogram.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include "console.h"
using namespace std;

int absoluteValue(int n) {
if (n<0){
return -n;
}
return n;
}

int main(){
cout << "|-5| = " << absoluteValue(-5) << endl;

return 0;
}
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A first C++ program (FIXED 2)

firstprogram.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include "console.h"
using namespace std;

int absoluteValue(int n);

int main(){
cout << "|-5| = " << absoluteValue(-5) << endl;

return 0;
}

int absoluteValue(int n) {
if (n<0){
return -n;
}
return n;
}
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Best practices for a good

group discussion
 Formally take turns being the first one to talk
 Once you all agree on the answer, don’t stop!
 Even if your group-mate has said something very
clearly and correctly, I encourage you to repeat it
yourself
 “So, what I think you said was, …”
 Perhaps appears pointless, but your brain will
remember it better
 Pro tip: reverse engineer my question design—how
was I hoping to “trick” somebody by including that
wrong answer? Why might someone be temped by it?
Question: Why does C++ have
the function prototype syntax?
 In other words, why not just have a rule that you
must set up the ordering so you define your
functions before using them, as in the “FIXED 1”
example?
A. C++ could have done that, but such a rule would
be cumbersome.
B. C++ could have done that, but good
programming practice dictates “top-down”
approach that logically puts main() first and
helper functions it calls to follow.
C. C++ couldn’t have done that—sometimes there is
no way to order the functions so that all functions
are defined before being used.
D. All/none/more than one of the above
Mutual recursion
#include<iostream>
#include "simpio.h"
#include "console.h"
using namespace std;

void go(int n);

void stanford(int n);

int main(){
int n = getInteger("Enter a number of times to repeat: ");
go(n);

return 0;
}

void go(int n) {
if (n == 0) {
return;
}
cout << "Go!" << endl;
stanford(n-1);
}

void stanford(int n) {
cout << "Stanford!" << endl;
go(n);
}