This course examines the semantics of programming languages. Topics include formal specifications of syntax, declarations, binding, allocation, data structures, data types, control structures, control and data flow; the implementation and execution of programs; and functional programming versus imperative programming. Other possible topics include non-procedural and logic programming; object-oriented programming; and program verification. Programming projects will provide experience in a number of computer languages.

CS 201

This class will cover some of the important concepts underlying computation and programming languages. We will also look at a variety of programming languages as case studies. One goal of the course is to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of different languages and programming paradigms for particular kinds of applications.

I expect that you start the course with a solid grasp of programming.

The course will consist primarily of lecture and discussion, with occasional in-class lab activities.

Two in-class midterm exams will be given.

A scheduled final exam will be given.

There will be a number of quizzes, about 8, of which the lowest 2 will be dropped.

The learning outcomes for this course include, but are not limited, to the following.

• write programs that write programs in a variety of contexts
• using parsing, representing and processing expressions as trees in various forms, such as prefix, infix and postfix
• use top-down design and structural induction to specify and solve, via program code, recursively defined problems
• using regular expressions/languages to do nontrivial pattern recognition and processing of arbitrary text
• using context-free grammars to describe and process parts of programming language syntax and semantics
• using finite automata and state machines in applications
• use functional programming concepts in traditional and non-traditional functional languages for code abstraction, data flow programming and single-assignment programming
• using logic languages to specify and solve constraint and programming problems in a declarative way
• using simple axiomatic proof rules to formally verify code fragments for correctness

Grades are assigned on a 1000 point scale.

Your overall grade for the course will be determined as follows:

• Homework and programming assignments: 20%
• Midterm exams: 30% (15% each)
• Paper (4 to 5 pages) on collection of assignments (10%)
• Project/paper (8 to 10 pages) on topic in programming languages (10%)
• Final exam: 20%
• Quizzes, labs, attendance/participation: 10%

The course web site is at https://ycp.powersoftwo.org/CalendarCS340 .

Any reading assignments posted in the schedule on the course web page should be read and studied before class and then again after class.

Most of the material covered builds on previous material covered, so do not fall behind.

You must make a legitimate attempt to complete every homework assignment. I reserve the right to fail any student who does not make a good faith effort to complete all of the homework assignments.

Assignments and labs will be posted on the course web page.

Details will be provided for how assignments will be submitted.

The following policy pertains to homework and graded (individual) programming assignments:

Because the individual assignments are essential for working towards and demonstrating the achievement of the course outcomes, and outcome 6 in particular, you must solve them on your own. You may discuss the problem and high-level (pseudo-code) approaches to solving the problem with other students. You may not, under any circumstances, discuss or share concrete implementation techniques or code. Examples of forbidden types of collaboration include, but are not limited to: looking at another student's code, allowing another student to see your code, viewing and/or using code from an external source such as a web page, discussing the use of specific API functions to solve a problem, giving or receiving help debugging specific code.

Exams must be completed individually.

You may work with other students on lab activities.

Any violation of the course’s academic integrity policy will be referred to the Dean of Academic Affairs, and could have consequences ranging from a 0 on an assignment to dismissal from the college.

In order to receive credit for completing a lab, you need to get a sign-off from your instructor in person. There are two options for this:

For 100% of full credit: Get a sign-off by the end of the next class (i.e., the class that follows the one in which we work on the lab in class.)

For 80% of full credit: Get a sign-off sometime before the next exam.

I strongly recommend that you work on the labs before you come to class, so that when you come to class, you have made a good start on it and are ready to ask questions about it.

Late assignments will be marked down 10% per day late. No credit will be given for assignments that are more than two (2) days late.

No make-up exams will be given without approval of the instructor prior to class unless proof of extreme emergency or illness is provided.

I expect you to attend class and participate regularly in class activities. If you miss a class, please notify me in advance. You are responsible for all material covered in class, regardless of whether or not you were present. If you attend and participate in class regularly, you can expect to receive full credit for attendance and participation. Frequent absence and/or lack of participation will reduce the credit you receive for attendance and participation. You are responsible for keeping up with the reading assignments as described in the course schedule.

If you had an IEP or 504 plan in high school or if you have a disability or health condition that impacts you in the classroom, please contact Linda Miller, Director of Disability Support Services, at 815-1785 or lmille18@ycp.edu to discuss obtaining the accommodations for which you may be eligible. If you already have an accommodation memo and wish to access your accommodations in this class, please see me confidentially to discuss.

While York College recognizes students’ need for educational and emergency-related technological devices such as laptops, PDAs, cellular phones, etc., using them unethically or recreationally during class time is never appropriate. The college recognizes and supports faculty members’ authority to regulate in their classrooms student use of all electronic devices.

York College recognizes the importance of effective communication in all disciplines and careers. Therefore, students are expected to competently analyze, synthesize, organize, and articulate course material in papers, examinations and presentations. In addition, students should know and use communication skills current to their field of study, recognize the need for revision as part of their writing process, and employ standard conventions of English usage in both writing and speaking. Students may be asked to further revise assignments that do not demonstrate effective use