The Stack Pictures Laboratory

Introduction

The Stack Pictures laboratory is designed to provide students with exposure to the Stack data structure. The traditional methods of a Stack are specified in an ADT encapsulated in a Java interface. The student writes two implementations of the ADT: one built using the dynamic array design pattern, and one built by adapting a Java Vector using delegation.

Implementations are tested in an environment where a number of independent stacks, containing Color objects, are placed next to each other to form a picture. Within the graphical user interface, students can also view the picture as drawn by an implementation known to be correct. The application is capable of displaying stacks as push-down (the cafeteria tray metaphor) or pile-up (the office inbox metaphor).

A screen snapshot from the laboratory is available below.