Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will have a basic understanding of the imperative programming paradigm, and they will be able to write small programs in the C language.

Goals

The goal of IHDC B131 is to introduce the students to the basic concepts of algorithmics and imperative programming, and to familiarise them with a rigourous approach for the construction of (small) programs.
 

Content

After introducing the key concepts behind the concepts of algorithms and programs, we study the basic elements of imperative programming: variable assignment and control structures (sequence, selection, and iteration). We pay attention to the formal reasoning underlying programming in particular for the construction of loops (the invariant method) and the creation of computation by iteration. We study the use sub-programs including parameter passing (by value and by reference) and emphasize their use for structuring a program. We study the use of tables and structures and introduce some key notions of algorithmics and complexity. The programming language used in this course is C, although the concepts discussed and the methodology to be acquired are independent of a particular language.
 

Table of contents

The contents of the course is divided in 6 units:
  1. Introducing the notions of algorithm and program
  2. Basic elements of C programming
  3. Computing by iteration
  4. Functions being the essential components of a program 
  5. Data structures
  6. Introduction to algorithmics 
 

Assessment method

Students are evaluated during the semester based on their personal exercises portfolio and, in partiuclar, on the exercises that are realised during the guided exercise sessions and submitted to Webcampus.
 

Sources, references and any support material

A course syllabus is available (in french); W. Vanhoof, Introduction à la programmation. Université de Namur, 194 pages.
 
The slides used during the course are available on Webcampus.
 
Some other references that could be used but that go beyond what is seen in the course:
  • M. Sprankle, Problem solving and programming concepts, 2006 Pearson education.
  • Tim Bailey, An Introduction to the C programming language and Software design.
  • N. Dale and C. Weems. Programming and problem solving with C. Jones & Bartlett
  • Kernighan, B.W. and Ritchie, D.M. Le langage C (ANSI). Dunod 2005
 
 

Language of instruction

Français
Training Study programme Block Credits Mandatory
Bachelor in Computer Science (shift schedule) Standard 0 10
Bachelor in Computer Science (shift schedule) Standard 1 10