Miscellaneous Documents & Ramblings

• Downloading CodeBlocks

  • As mentioned on the Syllabus, your programs MUST compile and run in CodeBlocks.   The first link below is the link to a direct download of CodeBlocks with the needed compiler   There is no need to install a seperate compiler, as this is one file has all that you need.   The next link is simply a PDF document, that shows how to download, install, and run a program in CodeBlocks.

  • Download CodeBlocks here (choose the file codeblocks-10.05mingw-setup.exe)
  • PDF Instructions on CodeBlocks
  
  
• Community Service Form
  • Remember, this is due, signed, by Wednesday, March 28th by 12:30 PM.
    
    If you miss the deadline, you will be in the minority who have to do Program 6.
  
  
• Links for Community Service.  You must choose from one of the options below:
  • Volunteer UCF
  • Habitat for Humanity - Orlando
  • Habitat for Humanity - Brevard
  • New Hope for Kids
  • Central Florida Red Cross
  • Salvation Army
  • United Way Volunteers
  • Hands On Orlando
  
  

• Thoughts on Global Variables:

  For the purposes of this course and until students gain a high-level understanding of programming, whenever a student inquires about the usage of global variables, I will respond, "They should not be used."

  Why?  The overwhelming majority of students use globals as a "cop-out", as a way of lazy programming. They know that local variables should be used instead, even if they are unsure as to the reasons or wisdoms. And they further know that, when using functions, you should pass these local variables to the functions, and this is where the problem usually comes in. Students get confused on parameter passing, try various "workarounds", and when all else fails, "just use a global"!

  Note:  Globals do indeed have a purpose, and you can go research as to the intended (and rare) usage of globals (see links below). However, the reality is that most beginning programmers (and even intermediate programmers) end up using globals because they do not remember how to correctly pass parameters to functions or simply out of laziness.

  So in summary, yes, for our purposes in this course, globals are "bad" and should not be used. See the links below for additional insight.

  • Wikipedia - Global Variables
  • Global Variable Explanation from Learn CPP
  • Global Variables are "Bad"
  • 10 Reasons for Never Using Global Variables
  
  

© 2012, Jonathan Cazalas