Course contents (draft)

Week 1

Session 1: Introduction to the command-line, first steps

• the command-line
• navigating the filesystem
• invoking the compiler
• using an editor: micro (or notepad++)
• writing our first hello_world.cpp
• plain old data (POD) types: bool, int, float, double
• the std::string class
• command-line arguments
• the std::vector class
• range-based for loop
• the auto keyword

Exercises??

Session 2: formalise control flow, terminal IO & functions

• terminal I/O
• the while loop
• functions
• introducing first project: DNA shotgun sequencing

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Week 2

Session 1: file IO

• file input/output
• introduce concept of RAII?
• handling file paths
• implement loading function for project

Session 2: split project files

• separate code into header and cpp files
• how to compile and link at the command-line
• explain C preprocessor in more detail
• automated build systems (and introduce our custom build script)
• introduce namespaces?

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Week 3

Session 1:

Session 2:

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Week 4

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Session 2:

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Week 5

Session 1:

Session 2:

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Week 6

Session 1:

Session 2:

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Week 7

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Session 2:

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Week 8

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Session 2:

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Week 9

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Week 10

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Session 2:

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Unsorted topics to be (or not) covered:

• difference between compiled and interpreted languages

• the preprocessor and directives

• the #include statement

• the compile & link process

• C vs. C++

• dynamic vs. static type checking

• namespaces - the std:: namespace

• namespaces - how to define & use your own

• single-line comments

• multi-line comments and why they're usually best avoided

• editing a file

• compiling a program

• using the command-line

• file path concepts (absolute, relative)

• shortcuts for special folders (., .. , ~)

• running a command - even when not in the PATH, or in the current folder

• debugging a program - using a debugger?

• anatomy of a command - arguments & options

• statements

• compound statements

• std::vector

• std::string

• difference between std::vector::operator[] and std::vector::at() in terms of bounds checking

• checking for errors

• throwing exceptions

• handling exceptions

• standard arithmetic operators

• comparison operators

• logical operators

• operator precedence

• standard data types

• expressions with mixed types, implicit type casting, integer promotion, ...

• const for variables

• const for pass-by-reference

• const for member methods

• the <cmath> header and associated functions

• list initialisers

• control flow

• if statement

• nested if statements

• regular for loop

• range-based for loop

• while loop

• do-while loop

• switch statement

• jump statements: break and continue

• conditional (ternary) operator (?:)

• references

• using functions

• defining functions

• pass by value vs. pass by reference

• returning values from functions

• default arguments for functions

• function overloading

• variable scope: global, block, function

• spreading projects over multiple files

• multiple files: implications for compiling & linking

• function recursion

• the program stack

• inline functions

• struct

• enum

• file I/O

• OOP principles: encapsulation, polymorphism, inheritance, abstraction

• classes

• member functions: mutators, accessors, facilitators

• constructors

• member initialisation

• destructors

• static data members

• copy constructor

• virtual functions

• pure virtual functions

• abstract and concrete classes

• inheritance vs. composition

• member function overloading

• difference between virtual and overloaded functions

• static / dynamic binding

• OOP design - REQUIRES A LOT OF THOUGHT!

• composition / aggregation / inheritance

• operator overloading

• friend functions

• overloading the stream insertion operator

• operator overloading: global or member?

• this pointer

• overloading the assignment operator

• function templates

• class templates

• runtime vs. compile-time/static polymorphism

• new / delete

• memory leaks

• double free

• array new[] & delete[]

• using constructor / destructor / copy constructor / assignment operator to manage memory

• RAII

• object lifetime & ownership

• OOP design principles (SOLID):

  • DRY (Don’t repeat yourself)
  • Encapsulate What Changes
  • Open Closed Design Principle
  • Single Responsibility Principle
  • Dependency Injection or Inversion principle
  • Favor Composition over Inheritance
  • Liskoff substitution principle
  • Interface Segregation Principle
  • Programming for Interface not implementation
  • Delegation principles

• blog abour OOP design process

  • how to teach design?
  • how to assess design?