CPSC 231: Mini-Assignment 4, lists

Computer Science I for majors by James Tam

CPSC 231: Mini-Assignment 4

Due at 4 PM. For assignment due dates see the main schedule on the course webpage.

New Concepts to be applied for the assignment

Traversing a 2D list
Accessing elements in a list
Finding and replacing list elements

Description:

In order to get credit for this assignment you must use the starting code ("map_starting.py") found in UNIX under: /home/231/assignments/miniAssigment4 or by going to the following [shortcut link]. The starting code will randomly populate a 4x4 list and display the current state. Because the initialization is random you will get a different pattern each time that you run the program so your program must work regardless of the starting pattern.

Here is an outline of the entire program:

def clean(world):
# You must implement

def count(world):
# You must implement

# Randomly generates an 'occupant' for a location in the world
def createElement():
# It's been pre-written for you

# Creates the SIZExSIZE world (SIZE = a named constant). Randomly populates it with the
# return values from function createElement
def createWorld():
# It's been pre-written for you

# Shows the elements of the world. All the elements in a row will appear on the same line.
def display(world):
# It's been pre-written for you

def start():
    world = createWorld()    # Randomly generate world using the above two functions: createWorld and createElement
    display(world)
    element,number = count(world)    # Count # instances (in the world) of a user entered character

print("# occurances of %s=%d" %(element,number))

clean(world) # Remove the "undesired debris" from the world

display(world) # Show again the 'cleaned' world

start()

Below is the additional details of the two functions you are to implement for this assignment: count() and clean():

def count(world):
    print("Counting number of occurances of a character")
    number = 0
    element = input("Enter character: ")
    # Insert your answer here for counting occurances
    return(element,number)
Description of Count():

Input/parameter/argument: a reference to a 2D list (already randomly initialized)

Return value: an integer (count) and string (entered by the user)

The function will search through the list and count the number of occurrences of the character (single character String) entered by the user.

The return values will be used by the start() function to show the user the number of occurances of this character:
element,number = count(world)
print("# occurances of %s=%d" %(element,number))

def clean(world):
    print("Scooping the poop")
    # Insert your answer here for removing instances of the 'poop' character - another pre-defined named constant

Description of Clean():

Input/parameter/argument: a reference to a 2D list (already randomly initialized)

Return value: None

The function will find and replace all occurances of the 'poop' character (POOP = "O") with the 'cleaned' character (CLEANED = ".")

Note: that in the start() function after returning from clean() the 'world' list will be displayed again so the user can see the updated world.

There is a sample run of my solution ("output.txt") that you can find in the assignment directory or by going directly to the following [shortcut link].

You can still practice applying good style in your solution (e.g. using the predefined named constants such as 'CLEANED' rather than directly using an unnamed constant '.') as well as writing documentation. Unlike the full assignments you will be just graded on program functionality for the mini-assignments.

D2L configuration:

Multiple submissions are possible for each assignment (may not apply for all assignments but I have the same configuration to be consistent(: You can and should submit many times before the due date. However, this means that TAs will only mark the latest versions of each file submitted via D2L. Even if the version of a document that you want marked has been uploaded into D2L if it isn't the latest version then you will only get marks for the latest version. (It's unfair to have the TAs check versions or to remark assignments simply because you didn't check that the latest version was the correct one).
Important! Multiple files can be submitted for each assignment. I am allowing you to submit multiple files for each assignment so don't archive/compress multiple files using a utility such as zip otherwise your work may not be graded.

Marking

Assignments will be marked by your tutorial instructor (the "Teaching Assistant" or "TA"). When you have questions about marking this is the first person that you should be directing your questions towards. If you still have question after you have talked to your TA, then you can talk to your course (lecture) instructor.
As well as being marked on whether "your program works" for full assignments you will also be marked on non-functional requirements such as style and documentation (this is not the case with mini-assignments). This assignment will include a separate [marking checklist] so you can tell ahead of time how marks will allocated. As well you can see how marks were and were not awarded after marking is done. Besides seeing your grade point in D2L you can also see the detailed feedback that your TA will enter for each student. You can access the grading sheet in D2L under Assessments->Dropbox and then clicking on the appropriate assignment link. If you still cannot find the grading sheet then here is a [help link]

Points to keep in mind:

Due time: All assignments are due at 4 PM on the due dates listed on the course web page. Late assignments or components of assignments will not be accepted for marking without approval for an extension beforehand. Alternate submission mechanisms (non exhaustive list of examples: email, uploads to cloud-based systems such as Google drive, time-stamps, TA memories) cannot be used as alternatives if you have forgotten to submit work or otherwise have not properly submitted into D2L. Only files submitted into D2L by the due date is what will be marked, everything else will be awarded no credit.
Extensions may be granted for reasonable cases by the course instructor with the receipt of the appropriate documentation (e.g., a doctor's note). Typical examples of reasonable cases for an extension include: illness or a death in the family. Example cases where extensions will not be granted include situations that are typical of student life: having multiple due dates, work commitments etc. Tutorial instructors (TA's) will not be able to provide extension on their own and must receive permission from the course instructor first.
Method of submission: You are to submit your assignment using D2L [help link]. Make sure that you [check the contents of your submitted files] (e.g., is the file okay or was it corrupted, is it the correct version etc.). It's your responsibility to do this! (Make sure that you submit your assignment with enough time before it comes due for you to do a check).
Identifying information: All assignments should include contact information (full name, student ID number and tutorial section) at the very top of your program in the class where the 'main()' method resides (starting execution point). (Note other documentation is also required for most assignments). Not necessary graded for mini-assignments but still a good idea to do this.
Collaboration: Assignments must reflect individual work; group work is not allowed in this class nor can you copy the work of others. For more detailed information as to what constitutes academic misconduct (i.e., cheating) for this course please read the following [link].
Execution: programs must run on the computer science network running Python 3.x. If you write you code in the lab and work remotely using a remote login program such as Putty or SSH then you should be okay (assuming you don't login to a non-Linux computer). If you choose to install Python on your own computer then it is your responsibility to ensure that your program will run properly here. If it's not running in the lab computers using Python 3.x then it won't be awarded credit. It's not recommended that you use an IDE for writing your programs but if you use one then make sure that you submit your program in the form of text ".py" file or files.
Use of pre-created Python libraries: unless otherwise told you are to write the code yourself and not use any pre-created functions. For this assignment the usual acceptable functions include: print(), input() and the 'conversion' functions such as int(), float(), str(). Look at the particular assignment description for a list of other classes that you are allowed to use and still get credit in an assignment