Course contents (draft)

Week 1

Session 1

• the command-line
• navigating the filesystem
• invoking the compiler
• using an editor: micro (or notepad++)
• writing our first hello_world.cpp
• plain old data (POD) types: bool, int, float, double
• the std::string class
• command-line arguments
• the std::vector class
• range-based for loop
• the auto keyword
• introducing first project: DNA shotgun sequencing

Exercises??

Session 2

• file input/output
• the while loop
• functions

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Week 2

unsorted

• difference between compiled and interpreted languages
• the preprocessor and directives
• the #include statement
• the compile & link process
• C vs. C++
• dynamic vs. static type checking
• namespaces - the std:: namespace
• namespaces - how to define & use your own
• single-line comments
• multi-line comments and why they're usually best avoided
• editing a file
• compiling a program
• using the command-line
• file path concepts (absolute, relative)
• shortcuts for special folders (., .. , ~)
• running a command - even when not in the PATH, or in the current folder
• debugging a program - using a debugger?
• anatomy of a command - arguments & options
• std::vector
• std::string
• difference between std::vector::operator[] and std::vector::at() in terms of bounds checking
• checking for errors
• throwing exceptions
• handling exceptions
• standard operators
• standard data types
• expressions with mixed types, implicit type casting, integer promotion, ...
• const for variables
• const for pass-by-reference
• const for member methods
• the <cmath> header and associated functions
• list initialisers