Programming

Program Specification and Documentation

Novice

Examples

Analyze simple problem statements, identify relevant information, represent it as data

Variety of data: numeric, text, images, colors, logical, …

Problems that involve compound data, variants, self-reference, mutual reference

Produce data from the given information

Describe the information represented by the given data

Advanced Beginner

Examples

Use diagrams to represent the relationships among classes and amongmethods

Define and use class diagrams to represent class hierarchies

Define and use interactions diagrams to represent the program dynamic behavior

Competent

Examples

Turn requirements into specifications and contracts

Understand and use at least one standard methods for program specification

Proficient

Examples

Design program specifications based on interactions with clients

Some students will have the opportunity to reach this level at their coop assignments or while working on a research project

Program Design Skills

Novice

Examples

Design functions/methods for a variety of data types, including programmer-defined types

Advanced Beginner

Examples

Design programs that implement contracts for abstract data types

Competent

Examples

Design moderate sized programs that implement complex (possibly formal) contracts

Proficient

Examples

Design small application programs that utilize technical knowledge, such as data base design, networks, operating systems,

mathematical methods, programming language theory, artificial intelligence, or domains such as physics, biology, business processes, HCI

Program Contracts

Novice

Examples

Understand the meaning of simple contracts and design programs that satisfy these contracts – e.g.classes that extend an abstract class, or implement an interface

Advanced Beginner

Examples

Understand the meaning of contracts that define abstract data types

Competent

Examples

Understand the use of libraries and frameworks, especially GUI frameworks

Proficient

Examples

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Program Testing

Novice

Examples

Understand and utilize white-box testing

Advanced Beginner

Examples

Understand and utilize stress tests

Competent

Examples

Understand and use black-box testing and unit testing

Proficient

Examples

Understand and use test harnesses and integration tests

The Nature of Computation and Program Evaluation

Novice

Examples

Understand the basic principles of computation: expression evaluation, variable substitution, method dispatch

Advanced Beginner

Examples

Understand the different ways of defining and assessing the equality of compound structures

Programming as a Teamwork

Examples

Understand and use the basic measures of program complexity

Proficient

Examples

Evaluate the complexity of the program, use tools to measure the performance and to identify hot spots

Abstractions in Program Design

Novice

Examples

Design abstractions over data and functions

Advanced Beginner

Examples

Understand and use basic refactoring techniques, such as abstracting over data representation and behavior

Competent

Examples

Use scripting languages when appropriate

Proficient

Examples

Select the appropriate language and framework for a proposed application

Programming as a Teamwork

Novice

Examples

Understand and practice pair programming

Advanced Beginner

Examples

Understand and practice code walks

Competent

Examples

Work effectively in a programming team

Proficient

Examples

Work as a leader or co-leader of a programming team