POS 371 Week 4

Individual Assignment: Basic Alice Programming: Lists and Arrays

This assignment will develop your programming skills and introduce simple lists and array data structures.

Submit an Alice A2W file and either a flowchart or pseudo-code for each of the following projects:

Leaving on a Jet Plane: Create a world with an array containing three Grayjumpjets (Web Gallery). You may have to resize the objects. Have each jet lift off the ground, one at a time. Together, all three should turn and fly off together. Reference the objects by its array name.

Helicopter Squadron: Create a world with a list containing four Helicopters (Local Gallery). Again, you may have to resize them to fit in the worlds view. One at a time, each helicopter should have its propeller turn, and rise to the same height, still in the cameras view. A message should appear from each windshield, indicating its readiness for the mission. At that point, all four helicopters should move off the cameras view in the same direction. Once started, each helicopters propeller should turn throughout the story. Reference the objects by its list name.

Discussion Questions

Based on Wirfs-Brocks (2007) article, discuss whether there is more to good design than beautiful code.

The use of open source products and solutions is popular. What is open source? Identify open source languages. What is their intent? How should open source products be used or not used? How do open source products relate to functions in a programming language? What are some pros and cons of its use?

What are application programming interfaces (APIs)? Identify several APIs that could or do exist in the software developed and maintained by a company for which you work or want to work. What is the basic limitation of APIs? Are they useful as opposed to object-oriented programming? Explain your answer.

Based on Bookers (2007) article, explain widgets in terms of programming functions. What are the advantages to a company in developing and using widgets? Are there any disadvantages from a business or technical perspective? Explain your answer.

Based on the Cherbakov, Bravery, Goodman, Pandya, & Baggett article (2007), discuss how grassroots computing changes the way software is designed, developed, tested, and maintained in a typical organization. What are the advantages and disadvantages of grassroots computing?