CSIS 420 Structures of Programming Languages


Course Description

A study of the basic design of computer programming languages, with greater emphasis placed on semantics (over syntax). A comparative analysis is made among several of the common languages.


Instructor

J. Walker Orr, Ph.D.
Office hours: WMR 221 (see schedule)


Texts

required


Resources


Objectives


Course Organization

This course will consist primarily of active student-collaborative lectures, in-class presentations, homework assignments, and hands-on experience with one or more new and novel programming languages. This course will include an on-going programming language project. This project will require students to acquire in-depth knowledge about a chosen, unfamiliar (to them) programming language, along with minimal programming competence in their chosen language. The project will include both a written and oral report.

The course will include regular homework and/or programming assignments. Unless otherwise specified, assignments are due 5 minutes before midnight on the due date. There will be no credit given for late assignments (without an excused absence)—turn in as much as you can.

Reading assignments should be completed before the lecture covering the material. Not all reading material will be covered in the lectures, but you will be responsible for the material on homework and exams. Quizzes over the assigned reading may be given at any time.


Collaboration

See the GFU CS/IS/Cyber policies for collaboration and discussion of collaboration and academic integrity. Most students would be surprised at how easy it is to detect collaboration in programming—please do not test us! Remember: you always have willing and legal collaborators in the faculty.

Almost all of life is filled with collaboration (i.e., people working together). Yet in our academic system, we artificially limit collaboration. These limits are designed to force you to learn fundamental principles and build specific skills. It is very artificial but intensional for your own benefit. The only way for you to learn is by doing the work.

To be clear, do not:


Engineering Your Soul

The mission and vision statement of the Computer Science & Information Systems (CSIS) program states that our students are distinctive by "bringing a Christ-centered worldview to our increasingly technological world."

As one step towards the fulfillment of this objective, each semester, the engineering faculty will collectively identify an influential Christian writing to be read and reflected upon by all engineering faculty and students throughout the term. As part of the College of Engineering, CSIS students participate in this effort, known as Engineering Your Soul (EYS). This exercise will be treated as an official component of every engineering course (including CSIS courses) and will be uniquely integrated and assessed at my discretion, typically as a component of the quiz grade.

Students have three options for satisfying the EYS requirement.

The deadline for all of these options is the Wednesday the week after the group meetings.

All the reflections should be posted to the canvas EYS course. A reflection should be 100 or more words and should consist of your personal thoughts on the book and/or meeting, not simply a summary of the book.


University Resources

If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office as early as possible so that your learning needs can be appropriately met. For more information, go to ds.georgefox.edu or contact Rick Muthiah, Director of Learning Support Services (503-554-2314 or rmuthiah@georgefox.edu).

The Academic Resource Center (ARC) on the Newberg campus provides all students with free writing consultation, academic coaching, and learning strategies (e.g., techniques to improve reading, note-taking, study, time management). The ARC, located in the Murdock Learning Resource Center (library), is open from 1:00–10:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 12:00–4:00 p.m. on Friday. To schedule an appointment, go to the online schedule at arcschedule.georgefox.edu, call 503-554-2327, email the_arc@georgefox.edu, or stop by the ARC. Visit arc.georgefox.edu for information about ARC Consultants' areas of study, instructions for scheduling an appointment, learning tips, and a list of other tutoring options on campus.


Anonymous Feedback

At any point in the term, you can leave anonymous feedback via this form. If there is something you want or need to tell me about the course feel free to leave a comment.


Spiritual Formation

Besides EYS, I am always available to discuss the Christian faith if you have any questions or doubts. Send me an email, come by my office hours, or talk to my after class, Christ is the reason I am at GFU, I always have time to talk about faith.


Grading

The final course grade will be based on:

Grading Scale


Tentative Schedule

Week 1

Introduction: Design, History & Implementation of Languages

Reading: 1.1 – 1.8 & 2 & Project

Week 2

Describing Syntax, Grammars & Semantics

Reading: 3.1 – 3.5

Week 3

Lexical Analysis

Reading: 4.1 – 4.2

Week 4

Parsing

Reading: 4.3 – 4.4, skim 4.5

Week 5

Names & Variables, & Scope

Reading: 5.1 – 5.6

Week 6

Primitive Types, Arrays, Structures, Pointers & References, Type Checking

Reading: 6.1 – 6.14

Week 7

Arithmetic & Boolean Expressions & Assignments, Midterm

Reading: 7

Week 8

Sequential & Conditional Flow & Iteration

Reading: 8.1 – 8.3

Week 9

Subprogramming, Parameter-Passing Mechanisms, & Functions

Reading: 9.1 – 9.12

Week 10

Object Oriented Programming

Reading: 12

Week 11

Functional Programming

Reading: 15

Week 12

Student Presentations

Week 13

Student Presentations

Week 14

Student Presentations

Week 15

Student Presentations


This page was last modified on 2024-01-03 at 09:14:02.

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