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Introduction To Programming: Pass Task 2.1T: Debug

This document provides instructions for a debugging task that requires students to correct errors in a Ruby code sample. The code is meant to ask a user for their name and age, calculate their birth year, and output the results. Students are asked to submit their corrected code and a screenshot of it running successfully. The document outlines the expected behavior, errors to fix like undefined variables, and tips for submitting the completed task through the Doubtfire online portal for assessment.

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Syed Mohiuddin
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35 views4 pages

Introduction To Programming: Pass Task 2.1T: Debug

This document provides instructions for a debugging task that requires students to correct errors in a Ruby code sample. The code is meant to ask a user for their name and age, calculate their birth year, and output the results. Students are asked to submit their corrected code and a screenshot of it running successfully. The document outlines the expected behavior, errors to fix like undefined variables, and tips for submitting the completed task through the Doubtfire online portal for assessment.

Uploaded by

Syed Mohiuddin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology

Introduction to Programming
Pass Task 2.1T: Debug
Overview
This program will allow you to demonstrate simple debugging of Ruby code.
Purpose: Learn to correct programming errors.
Task: Correct the provided code so it works according to the specification.
Time: This task should be started in your second lab class and submitted for
feedback before the end of week 3.
Resources: Pine, C 2013 Learn to Program, The Pragmatic Programmer. (available in the library).

Learning Material for Week 1 and Week 2.

Submission Details
You must submit the following files to Doubtfire:
■ Corrected debug.rb source code

■ Screenshot of the Terminal showing the execution of the debug program.

Make sure that your task has the following in your submission:
■ The program must read the required details from the user, and respond correctly

■ Code must follow the Ruby coding convention used in the unit (layout, and use of case).

■ The code must run and the screenshot show it working.

■ Your program must have a procedure for Main.

■ Your program must have the indicated local variables, and use them appropriately.
Introduction to Programming Pass Task 2.1 Debug

Instructions
To explore this topic, we will correct a Terminal program that:
■ asks the user to enter their name and their age.
■ calculates and outputs the year the user was born

Note: these are tasks you have already done by now in other programs.

Look at the debug.rb program shown below and available in the Resources for the task:

# Fix up the following code that it works and produces the


# expected output in the task specification.

# Asks the user to enter their age and returns an integer age
def get_age()
puts "Enter your age in years: "
age = gets
return age_in_years
end

# takes a prompt and displays it to the user then returns the


# entered string
def get_string()
puts prompt
s = gets
return s
end

# Calculate the year born based on the parameter age and print
# that out along with the user’s name.
def print_year_born(age)
year_born = Date.today.year - age
puts "You were born in: " + year_born
end

def main()
age = get_age()
name = get_string()
print_year_born(age)
end

main()
Introduction to Programming Pass Task 2.1 Debug

An example of the expected operation of the debug program is as follows:

1. You may need to add the following code elements to correct the program:

1. .to_s – converts a type to a string.


2. .to_i – converts an integer in string form to numeric form.
3. require ‘date’ – includes the date library.
4. .chomp – removes whitespace from a string (eg: newlines,
tabs, spaces).

Example of how to fix the program:

We are looking for the where and the what.

The first error message you encounter looks as follows:

The part that says:


indicates both the line and the function where the error occurred, in this case line 10
which is in the function get_age().

The part that says:


indicates the what – in this case the code refers to something called age_in_years which
we have not defined as either a variable or a function – so Ruby does not know what it is.

So how do we fix this problem?

This variable age


should be called
age_in_years

Without the change in


name (see box above) this
So now you need to continue with the other errors that arise. variable has not been
declared.
Introduction to Programming Pass Task 2.1 Debug

Now that the Task is complete you can submit it for assessment, which will help prepare it for
your portfolio.
1. Use Skitch (or your preferred screenshot program) to take a screenshot of the
Terminal, as this is one of the things you will need to submit.
2. Save the document and backup your work to multiple locations!
• Once you get things working you do not want to lose them.
• Work on your computer’s storage device most of the time... but backup your
work when you finish each task.
• Use Dropbox or a similar online storage provider, as well as other locations.
• Doubtfire is not a Backup of your work, so make sure you keep a copy!
• A USB key and portable hard drives are good secondary backups... but can be lost/
damaged (do not rely upon them).
3. Login to Doubtfire, and locate Tutorial Task 2.1
4. Change the status of the task to Ready To Mark
5. Upload your completed code and the screenshot.
6. If you check back later Doubtfire will have prepared these as PDFs for your tutor to
assess.
You now have another of your first portfolio pieces. This will help demonstrate your learning
from the unit.

Note: This is one of the tasks you need to submit to Doubtfire. Check the assessment
criteria for the important aspect your tutor will check.

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