Block 1 Pack

This pack contains Units 1-4 which make up Block I.Unit 1 Data: Form and FunctionThis unit introduces data and processes that may arise in an application situation, a supermarket checkout is used to illustrate this.Unit 2 Introduction to code This unit introduces the course language for expressing computer code. A data type is a form of data together with operations available to data of that form.Unit 3 Data TypesThis unit describes primitive data types, based on integers, characters and Boolean values, and also collections of these types in arrays or stacks. These data types provide basic tools available in writing code in the course language, where each variable must be of a declared data type. To make types of data beyond the primitive types available in code, we construct classes.Unit 4 Introduction to Classes. This unit introduces the idea of class. Fundamental techniques for building new classes (extension and composition) are introduced. Modularity and abstraction are emphasised. The specification of a code module gives an external view of the behaviour of the module (for a single process, the specification gives a signature and pre and post conditions). The specification is separate from the code implementing it. The idea of correctness of code (to implement a given specification) is introduced, and tracing is used to test correctness.It is recommended that you purchase the Building Blocks of Software CD-ROM (order code M263/CDR1027) if you wish to complete the activities in each unit.