ESC190: Computer Algorithms and Data Structures

Winter 2025

Course staff

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Course description   This course serves as an introduction to computer programming and computer science. We will introduce the Python programming language. We will use Python to solve a variety of problems, and practice problem-solving techniques that are applicable to computational problems. We will discuss good practices in software engineering (designing and building large software systems). We will analyze the efficiency of algorithms, and discuss designing efficient algorithms. Various research areas in computer science (AI, software engineering research, the theory of computation, etc.) will be introduced throughout the term. No previous knowledge of programming or computer science is assumed.

The course syllabus is available here.

Projects

Project 1. cities.txt, wiktionary.txt, autocomplete.h, main.c. due Feb 14 at 10:59pm on Gradescope

Project 2. Due Apr. 4 at 10:59p.m. Files/code: seamcarving.h, c_img.c,c_img.h,png2bin.py, 3x4.png, 3x4.bin, 6x5.png, 6x5.bin, HJoceanSmall.bmp, HJoceanSmall.bin. Bill Shi's png<=>bin converter. If you want Python code for png<=>bin (optional): png2bin.py, usepng2bin.py

Labs

(schedule is tentative)

Lab 1: Intro to C.

Lab 2: More C, strings, and recursion

Lab 3: The C Memory Model

Lab 4: The C Memory Model II

Lab 5: Creating a data structure intlist.h

Lab 6: Linked lists

Lab 7: Data structures in Python

Lab 8: Data structures in Python cont'd + dynamic programming

Lab 9: Images and ChatGPT

Lab 10: Vibe coding and a bit of graphs

Online exercises

Exams

Midterm

2024 midterm

2023 midterm, Q1-Q4 solutions, Q5 solution from lecture

2021 midterm

2012 midterm

2011 midterm

Exam

The exam will be held during the exam period.

2024 exam (relevant to 2025: everything except Q10)

2023 exam (relevant to 2025: everything except Q8)

2021 exam (relevant to 2025: everything except Q2, Q3, Q4)

Previous midterms and exams from people other than me are available on skule.ca. APS105 exams can also be good for basic practice.

Relevant questions from previous exams: 2010 (Q3, Q5, Q7) 2011 (Q1a-c, e, f, i, Q2 except preorder_print, Q5), 2012 (Q1a-e, Q2, Q3, Q8), 2015 (Q2, Q3, Q4) 2016 (Q3, Q4, Q5), 2017 (Q2, Q3, Q4)

An inclusive environment

We strive to build and maintain an inclusive environment in class — an environment that allows every student to reach their full potential. Please do not hesitate to contact me and/or your preceptor to let us know if you need special accommodation or with any concerns.

Design credit: CS229, Jan 2019.