Computer Science @ UC Davis | Course Descriptions

ECS 145 SCRIPTING LANGUAGES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS (4) III

Lecture: 3 hours

Discussion: 1 hour

Prerequisite: Programming skill at the level of course 60

Grading: Letter; 2 midterms (25% each); final exam (25%); programming homework (25%)

Catalog Description:
Goals and philosophy of scripting languages, with Perl and Python as prime examples. Applications include networking, threaded programming and graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Offered in alternate years..

Expanded Course Description:
Intended audience consists of both majors and nonmajors.

Basic Perl and Python programming, especially the object-oriented features.
Comparisons between the two languages, in terms of power, clarity, degree of object-orientation, etc
Introductory-level use of scripting languages for advanced applications such as TCP/IP network programming, multithreaded programming, Web work, discrete-event simulation etc.

Textbook:
Instructor's notes

Computer Usage:
Extensive programming projects typical of upper-division ECS courses. Work may be done either in CSIF or on the students' own PCs.

Engineering Design Statement:
Engineering design skills are developed through a series of progressively more complex programming assignments, in which the emphasis is on functionality, clarity and efficiency.

ABET Category Content:
Engineering Science: 2 units
Engineering Design: 2 units

Goals:

be able to write reasonably complex programs in the scripting languages studied
be able to assess real-life situations as to the appropriateness of these languages for specific applications

Student Outcomes:

An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
A knowledge of contemporary issues
An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Instructor: N. Matloff

Prepared by: N. Matloff (October 2006)

Overlap Statement
Perl is used to some degree in course 124, but with a different and a much narrower emphasis than in this course. Network programming is covered in course 152B, but in much greater depth and in a largely language-independent format, whereas in this course the topic is treated as an application of Perl and Python, with the focus on those languages.

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