Introduction to Computer Science II, Summer 2001
Table of Contents
This page describes the objective and procedures for the lab assignments in CS
176 for the Summer Session, 2001.
The objective of these lab assignments is to develop an important skill needed
by every good programmer: the ability to test for, find, and fix errors in
Nobody writes perfect code the first time; there's always some errors lurking
around in your programs. Good programmers, when done writing their code, don't
just toss it over the wall and go on to the next problem. Instead, they test
their code first to make sure they haven't made any dumb errors; then they
throw it over the wall.
In addition, the traditional starting job for neophyte programmers is testing
and maintenance; that is, finding and fixing errors in other people's code.
Even after you get promoted out of the test department, you still do testing
and maintenance; it's just that you do lots of other things too.
All the labs will follow the same general procedure: you'll be given a broken
lab program at the start of the lab, and you'll have until the end of the lab
(about an hour or so) to do two things:
- Create three sets of test input data, at least one of which shows the
presence of an error in the lab program.
- Fix the error in the lab program your test data discovered.
A lab program may have several errors; you should try and find as many as you
can, but make sure you find and fix at least one error.
You may use your book and class notes during the lab assignment.
You should work on these lab assignments in groups of two. If there are an odd
number of students in the lab, then one group may contain three students. The
intention is that groups remain together for a month, and that every month new
At the end of the lab, you need to turn in four things: your three test sets
and your improved lab program. For the moment, you should submit them on
paper; eventually you'll be able to do it via e-mail. Make sure all the names
of the group appear somewhere in the turned-in assignment.
This page last modified on 21 May 2001.