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opus:spring2012:smalik2:part3

Part 3

Entries

Entry 9: April 17, 2012

I'm currently doing Unix Case Study B (still a little behind, but catching up quickly!).

The first part has us using the dd command. I found this funny because over the past month I've picked up this habit of flashing different cell modems on my phone. In order to flash them, I have to connect to my phone using the android debugging bridge (which let's me set up a shell on my phone, accessed through my computer), and then use dd to data dump the data in the cell modem files into the proper related phone directories.

It's important because well, I've used it for tasks before. Being able to use this tool is pretty helpful. It allows me to grab parts of files and put them separately, or move parts of files into other files etc.

Just a fun little thing.

Entry 10: April 20, 2012

For the past couple of days I've been doing Lab B for unix. I really like having this newfound power to go through files and sort them and do searches and getting what I want out of the files. Very empowering feeling. I like it so much that writing the scripts for this lab are semi enjoyable, until I run into a huge block (like I am right now) that I can't for the life of me figure out.

It's really important to have this ability because when it comes to information manipulation, this ability is absolutely essential. The lab has some pretty excellent examples of uses, ending with scripts that automate the process so that you can just type in a command with some arguments and get masses of data from an html file.

Entry 11: April 26, 2012

Last night.. or rather earlier this morning, I complete Project 3. Because I love doing things in a timely manner.

Despite the negative Karma, I believe the fact that I made the arrays dynamically allocate themselves so that the answers printed are the TRUE values, instead of being cut off, was well worth the delay.

Once I had the core of the program finished (had it in one gigantic .c file) and working, I had only met 2/3 of the Projects requirements. Now I needed to split up the C source into a multifile version, C++ class based version, and C++ class based multifile version.

Thanks to all the work I put into the class based ,logic gate, C++ multifile program, doing the above was a sinch.

Even though I was half asleep and feeling quite dead after a long day (it was one in the morning) finishing the project was quite effortless. Other than having to look at my logic program for syntax, I already knew precisely what to do. :) It was quite nice, and it's good to be able to do that. Splitting a program into multiple files - even without doing a class based approach - makes the program much more organized.

Classes would make it even more organized: but it is better for longer programs, and the entire structure and gameplan has to be well thought out beforehand. The 'just sit down and spit it out' method doesn't work as well anymore.

Entry 12: May 2, 2012

The semester is rounding up, and I can't wait to continue taking courses next semester. I've learned a lot.

In regards to unix/linux, I really appreciate how well I know the system now. I know I'm not even near towards being a master at it, but the bit that I do now know has made everyday menial tasks much easier. I've even started writing scripts to do stupid little things. I wrote one that turns off my screen using a keyboard shortcut, and one that allows me to change the # of workplaces in ubuntu.

The code for these I majorly got online, I didn't know that stuff off the top of my head. But I then took that code and put it into scripts, so that should I ever need to use it again I could, quite easily. It's pretty cool. My multitasking productivity has gone up nicely because of it.

cprog Keywords

17. Namespaces [C++]
Definition

Namespaces are basically ways to create global variables, but with a sort of 'subscope' type of feeling. Basically, let's say you have the variable of 'health'. You have the health of your character and the health of a creature. Well, you can't use the same health for both. This is where namespaces come in - we can define your health under the namespace 'Character' or something, and the health of the creature under the namespace of 'Creature'. To call health, you need to specify the namespace::health now - ensuring that there is no mix up with the different healths.

Demonstration

The above paragraph is a pretty good example, but I'm going to put down some super basic code just to get the syntax on here.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <time.h>                                                                                                                                             
 
namespace Character
{
    int health=100;
    int combat;
    long long int gold;
}
 
namespace Creature
{
    int health=25;
    int combat;
    long long int gold = 7;
}
 
int main()
{
 
    printf("Do you wish to enter combat with 'Creature'?\n\n0 for no\n1 for yes\n");
    scanf("%u", &Character::combat);
 
    if (Character::combat == 0)
    {   
        printf("Have a nice glory-free day.\n");
        return 0;
    }   
 
    do  
    {   
        if(Character::combat == 1)
        {   
            Creature::combat=1;
        }   
        else
        {   
            Creature::combat=0;
        }   
        Creature::health=25;
        while((Character::combat==1) && (Creature::combat==1))
        {   
            Character::health = Character::health - 3;
            Creature::health = Creature::health - 7;
 
            if (Creature::health <= 0)
            {   
                Character::gold = Creature::gold + Character::gold;
                printf("You killed 'Creature'.\nYou received %llu gold.\nYou have %u health remaining", Creature::gold, Character::health);
                printf("\nYou now have %llu gold\n", Character::gold);
                break;
            }   
 
            if (Character::health <= 0)
            {   
                printf("You have died.\n");
                return 0;
            }   
        }   
 
        printf("Do you wish to fight another creature? 0 for no 1 for yes\n");
        scanf("%u", &Character::combat);
    }   
    while(Character::combat==1);
    printf("You have fled from combat.\n");
 
    return 0;
}

Alternatively (or additionally), if you want to demonstrate something on the command-line, you can do so as follows:

lab46:~/src/cprog/messingaround$ ./Namespaces 
Do you wish to enter combat with 'Creature'?

0 for no
1 for yes
1
You killed 'Creature'.
You received 7 gold.
You have 88 health remaining
You now have 7 gold
Do you wish to fight another creature? 0 for no 1 for yes
1
You killed 'Creature'.
You received 7 gold.
You have 76 health remaining
You now have 14 gold
Do you wish to fight another creature? 0 for no 1 for yes
1
You killed 'Creature'.
You received 7 gold.
You have 64 health remaining
You now have 21 gold
Do you wish to fight another creature? 0 for no 1 for yes
1
You killed 'Creature'.
You received 7 gold.
You have 52 health remaining
You now have 28 gold
Do you wish to fight another creature? 0 for no 1 for yes
1
You killed 'Creature'.
You received 7 gold.
You have 40 health remaining
You now have 35 gold
Do you wish to fight another creature? 0 for no 1 for yes
1
You killed 'Creature'.
You received 7 gold.
You have 28 health remaining
You now have 42 gold
Do you wish to fight another creature? 0 for no 1 for yes
1
You killed 'Creature'.
You received 7 gold.
You have 16 health remaining
You now have 49 gold
Do you wish to fight another creature? 0 for no 1 for yes
1
You killed 'Creature'.
You received 7 gold.
You have 4 health remaining
You now have 56 gold
Do you wish to fight another creature? 0 for no 1 for yes
1
You have died.
lab46:~/src/cprog/messingaround$ 
18. Functions, Parameters (Pass by: Value, Address, Reference), Return Types, Recursion, Command-line arguments
Definition

Functions are basically blocks of code that are run when called, and can be given inputs (parameters). You can pass parameters by value (just give it the identifier), Address (using the & symbol), and by Reference (by pointers, for passing an array).

Functions can return values of different types, whether they be int, float, etc.

Recursion is when you call a function within a function, with a conditional break.

Demonstration
#include<stdio.h>                                                                                                                  
#include<stdlib.h>
 
int sum(int, int, int, int);    //function prototype
 
int main()
{
    int a,b,c,d;
    a=b=c=d=0;
 
    printf("\nEnter four numbers\n");
    scanf("%d%d%d%d", &a, &b, &c, &d);
 
    printf("The sum of %d, %d, %d, and %d is: %d\n", a,b,c,d, sum(a, b, c, d));
 
    return (0);
 
}
 
 
int sum(int a, int b, int c, int d)
{
    int SUM;
 
    SUM = a + b + c + d;
 
    return (SUM);
}

Alternatively (or additionally), if you want to demonstrate something on the command-line, you can do so as follows:

#include <stdlib.h>                                                                                                                
#include <stdio.h>
 
int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
    unsigned char i;
 
    if(argc < 2)
    {   
        printf("%8s must be run with 1 or \
        more arguments, you only provided %hhu\n", *(argv+0),(argc-1));
        exit(1);
    }   
 
    printf("You ran this program with %hhu arguments, they are:\n", argc);
 
    for(i=0; i<argc; i++)
    {   
        printf("argv[%hhu]: %s\n", i, *(argv+i));
    }   
 
    return(0);
 
}
19. Templates, STL (Standard Template Library) [C++]
Definition

Templates are kind of like function overloading. Except, you do the SAME THING given different parameters.

The STL is basically a library just filled with tons of templates to do stuff.

Demonstration
#include <stdlib.h>                                                                                                                  
#include <stdio.h>
#include <cstdio>
#include <iostream>
 
using namespace std;
 
template <class T>  //The T will basically be replaced by whatever 
T larger (T x, T y) //data type is necessary
{
    if (x >= y)
    {   
        return x;
    }   
    else
    {   
        return y;
    }   
}
 
int main()
{
    int a = 1200, b = 12; 
    float c = 3.1415, d = 143.24;
    char e = 65, f = 'B';
 
    cout << larger(a,b) << endl;
    cout << larger(c,d) << endl;
    cout << larger(e,f) << endl;
 
    return 0;
}
lab46:~/src/cprog/messingaround$ ./Template 
1200
143.24
B
20. Classes (Objects, Constructor, Destructor, Access Control, Public, Protected, Private, Friend, “this” pointer) [C++]
Definition

Classes are wonderful little things good for organizing larger scale programs.

Objects are the things in the class, functions or variables or constants or friends, etc. Constructor is what runs when the class is being set up for usage. Optionary. Destructor is what runs when the class is deleted. Optionary. Access Control refers to the Public Protect and Private deal going on.

Public - Anybody can access this part. Protected - Only children can access this part (children are other classes that inherit from this class). Private - Only this class can access these parts. Friends - Allow you to rip through Access control, and access private parts from outside the class they belong to.

“This” pointer - When you make a new class to call and define it as a pointer, you have to use → to refer to it instead of a period.

Demonstration

There's two class-based programs in

cd /home/smalik2/src/cprog/c++

Also, Project 3.

21. Compiler, Preprocessor, Flags, Assembler, Linker, Multi-file programs (how to structure, how to compile)
Definition

The compiler takes your source code and translates it to assembly language.

The preprocessor deals with taking care of stuff before the actual compiling begins.

Flags are the command line arguments to the compiler, such as -02.

Assembler takes the assembly code (step 1 of compiling) and converts it into true machine code.

The Linker takes care of making sure that stuff from other libraries and header files and stuff will work correctly and be there.

Multi-file programs are programs made over multiple files.

Demonstration

I'll compile a multi-file program here.

lab46:~/src/cprog/c++/today$ ls
main.cc  rectangle.cc  rectangle.h  shape.cc  shape.h  square.cc  square.h  triangle.cc  triangle.h
lab46:~/src/cprog/c++/today$ g++ -c *.cc
lab46:~/src/cprog/c++/today$ ls
main.cc  rectangle.cc  rectangle.o  shape.h  square.cc  square.o     triangle.h
main.o   rectangle.h   shape.cc     shape.o  square.h   triangle.cc  triangle.o
lab46:~/src/cprog/c++/today$ g++ -o Program *.o
lab46:~/src/cprog/c++/today$ ./Program 
1 for Rectangle
2 for Square
3 for Triangle
2
You chose square. Enter the width/length: 12

The perimeter is: 48
The area is: 144

Einen schönen Tag noch, Ruck.

lab46:~/src/cprog/c++/today$ 
22. Type Casting Operators, Const-Volatility Specifiers (const, volatile) [C++]
Definition

Type Casting is basically converting some type of data into another type. Const is a keyword that means that the type can not be changed. Volatile is a keyword that means you can modify using some tricks.

Demonstration

We didn't really go into this in class, except for when we used arrays.

When we used malloc to create an array, we were type casting it so that the memory we gave to the array would behave properly - according to the data type that we wanted for the array.

float *Array;
Array = (float*)malloc(sizeof(float)*50);      //(float*) is a type cast.
23. typedef, enum, union
Definition

A typedef basically let's you take something, and create a shortcut for it. This shortcut now represents what you originally typedef, and the two can be used interchangeably. An enum is a data type that consists of named values. A union is kind of like a struct, where it holds a bunch of different types of data. The trick is, you can only have one type of data in it at a given time. Assigning new data, overwrites the old data.

Demonstration

There's a typedef in the EoCE. There's an enum and union in my cprog folder.

24. Structures (Declaration, Accessing Elements, Pointers to)
Definition

Structures are basically The C version of classes. They are heterogeneous data types, and can hold multiple things. Functions and data types. They are really good and useful for organization oriented stuff.

Demonstration

On the EoCE there is a lot of strcuture stuff on 0x6 and 0x7.

cprog Objective

cprog Objective

justify the use of various programming constructs within code solutions

Definition

This objective means being able to build a solution for a problem using some sensible approach. On top of that, you outta be able to come up with very sound reasons for your approach. (Why did I use classes to do this? For example).

Method

I can judge how well I organize my code, and whether or not my methods make sense/ are good.

Measurement

I normally take a very good approach in how I organize and construct my solutions to problems, so I figure I do a pretty decent job of it.

Analysis
  • How did you do? I think I did well.
  • Is there room for improvement? Of course there is!
  • Could the measurement process be enhanced to be more effective? I don't know - perhaps using an outside source. If somebody else can tell why I took an approach that's even better.
  • Do you think this enhancement would be efficient to employ? If people agreed to help me.
  • Could the course objective be altered to be more applicable? How would you alter it? Not particularly, I wouldn't alter it.

unix Keywords

17. Compiler, Assembler, Linker, Loader
Definition

The compiler takes the code and translates it into assembly code.

The assembler takes the assembly code and translates it into machine code - the resulting file being an object file.

The linker looks at the object file (which is linked to other object files and libraries, like the stuff from stdlib etc) and figures out how it all comes together, and assign memory locations to everything.

When it comes to load time, the loader creates a process and basically sets everything up for your program to run, and then launches into the instructions of your program.

Demonstration

It's possible to do these steps one at a time instead of letting gcc / g++ do it all for you. But it's rather painful.

g++ -c *.cc → will give you .o object files. These are compiled and assembled, so they are in machine code.

g++ -o Program *.o → This will link those object files, and give you a running program. yay!

18. Source Code, Object Code, Binary Code, Library
Definition

Source Code is the file that contains the code that you wrote.

Object Code is the file that contains the machine code, after the compiler and assembler are done with it.

Binary Code is the file that contains the machine code, and has been linked.

A library is a file that you can link to that contains many functions. There are math libraries, and then the standard libraries, etc.

Demonstration

We start with c source code files.
Then we translate them into object code files.
Then we finally link it all into a binary code file.
The last step also takes care of attaching the libraries I used and stuff.

lab46:~/src/cprog/projects/CProject2$ ls
Arrays.c  Functions.h  Math.c  Project2Monolithic.c
lab46:~/src/cprog/projects/CProject2$ gcc -c *.c
lab46:~/src/cprog/projects/CProject2$ ls
Arrays.c  Arrays.o  Functions.h  Math.c  Math.o  Project2Monolithic.c  Project2Monolithic.o
lab46:~/src/cprog/projects/CProject2$ gcc -o Program *.o
lab46:~/src/cprog/projects/CProject2$ ls
Arrays.c  Arrays.o  Functions.h  Math.c  Math.o  Program  Project2Monolithic.c  Project2Monolithic.o
lab46:~/src/cprog/projects/CProject2$ 
19. Pattern Matching
Definition

Pattern matching is the ability to find things that you're looking for, by using patterns to search for them.

Demonstration

Compiling a multifile program using patterns, instead of typing out a bunch of different file names.

lab46:~/src/cprog/c++/today$ ls
main.cc  rectangle.cc  rectangle.h  shape.cc  shape.h  square.cc  square.h  triangle.cc  triangle.h
lab46:~/src/cprog/c++/today$ g++ -c *.cc
lab46:~/src/cprog/c++/today$ ls
main.cc  rectangle.cc  rectangle.o  shape.h  square.cc  square.o     triangle.h
main.o   rectangle.h   shape.cc     shape.o  square.h   triangle.cc  triangle.o
lab46:~/src/cprog/c++/today$ g++ -o Program *.o
lab46:~/src/cprog/c++/today$ ./Program 
1 for Rectangle
2 for Square
3 for Triangle
2
You chose square. Enter the width/length: 12

The perimeter is: 48
The area is: 144

Einen schönen Tag noch, Ruck.

lab46:~/src/cprog/c++/today$ 
20. Regular Expressions
Definition

Regular Expressions, or RegEx, are algorithms that will match something.
By using these, you can search for, let's say, any word in a txt file that contains the gerund 'ing'.
It's pretty powerful stuff.

Demonstration

I have a file with a bunch of courses. Let's say I only want the Shortcut version (like, BUSN 0003 and FYEX 1000).

I can pipe the output through egrep which uses RegEx to match up to what I want.

The hard part, is coming up with the RegExp.

lab46:~/src/unix/courselist$ cat test.file
HIPAA - 77017 - BUSN 0003 - 001
Computer Keyboarding - 77015 - BUOT 1061 - 001
Word Processing for Non-Major - 77016 - BUOT 1062 - 001
Intro Graphical User Interface - 77002 - CSST 1031 - 001
OSHA Special Topics (30ct hr) - 77011 - ENVR 0030 - 001
Natural Gas Equipment Oper - 77014 - ENVR 0072 - 001
First Year Experience - 77005 - FYEX 1000 - 001
First Year Experience - 77004 - FYEX 1000 - 002
BasicLifeSupport-Prof. Rescuer - 77006 - HLTH 1010 - 001
BasicLifeSupport-Prof. Rescuer - 77007 - HLTH 1010 - 002
American History II - 77020 - HIST 1120 - 001
Achievement Motivation - 77021 - HUSR 1000 - 001
Care.&Aging Issue-Healthy Func - 77029 - HUSR 1411 - 001
Caregiving&Aging Issues-Common - 77030 - HUSR 1412 - 001
Lean Special Topic (24cnt) - 77012 - LEAN 0024 - 001
LEN Special Topic (57 cnt hr) - 77027 - LEN 0057 - 001
Excel Advanced Workshop - 77025 - EXCL 0004 - 001
Intro. to MasterCam Design - 77026 - MCAM 0113 - 001
Structures of Mathematics I - 77028 - MATH 1110 - 001
Medical Terminology - 77013 - MEDT 0030 - 001
Nurse Aide/Home Health Aide - 77022 - MDNC 0315 - 001
Child Abuse Recognition - 77023 - PDEV 0011 - 001
Child Abuse Recognition - 77024 - PDEV 0011 - 002
Child Psychology - 77010 - PSYC 2207 - 001
Abnormal Psychology - 77009 - PSYC 2215 - 001
Cross-Country Skiing (co-ed) - 77018 - RECC 1014 - 001
Wilderness Navigation - 77019 - RECC 1015 - 001
Introduction to Sociology - 77003 - SOCI 1010 - 001
The Vegetarian Adventure - 77008 - WELL 1011 - 001
lab46:~/src/unix/courselist$ cat test.file | egrep -o '[A-Z]?[A-Z]{3} [0-9]{4}'
BUSN 0003
BUOT 1061
BUOT 1062
CSST 1031
ENVR 0030
ENVR 0072
FYEX 1000
FYEX 1000
HLTH 1010
HLTH 1010
HIST 1120
HUSR 1000
HUSR 1411
HUSR 1412
LEAN 0024
LEN 0057
EXCL 0004
MCAM 0113
MATH 1110
MEDT 0030
MDNC 0315
PDEV 0011
PDEV 0011
PSYC 2207
PSYC 2215
RECC 1014
RECC 1015
SOCI 1010
WELL 1011
lab46:~/src/unix/courselist$ 
21 Filtering
Definition

Filtering is basically a program that gets data from standard input and then writes results to standard output. Like running grep on the cat from a file.

Demonstration

So, cat on a file outputs that files contents to standard output. If I pipe this to grep, grep will accept that standard input (that was output from cat) and then return it's answer to standard output.

Here we are printing a .html file to standard output, finding all the instances of CSCS, and then counting how many times that CSCS appears.

lab46:~$ cat fall2011-20110417.html | grep -o 'CSCS' | wc -l
51
lab46:~$ 
22. networking, UNIX Networking Tools
Definition

We never really went into networking with UNIX. It's such a broad topic that I don't really know how to get into it either.

Demonstration
23. Security
Definition

In UNIX/Linux the way that the system is set up provides good security by itself.

Since all files have permissions, just setting up the system to provide the correct permissions to the correct users ensures that the wrong people can't get their hands on files they shouldn't.

Taking advantage of the root-group-owner permission system is a great way of providing security in a multi-user system.

On top of it all, UNIX/Linux systems don't really have many viruses to begin with. All the viruses created target Windows and occasionally OS X.

Demonstration
24. X Window System
Definition

The X Window System is a software system that provides a GUI basically.

It has a very strong UNIX/Linux philosophy operating behind it.

It's designed to accept added functionality, and leaving it up to the user to determine what they want to do with it.

Demonstration

unix Objective

unix Objective

understanding and use of pattern matching

Definition

It's pretty straight forward. This means that we can use tools like grep, or even understand the syntax for searching for patterns instead of specifics using things like ls

Method

How well I utilize regexp.

Measurement

After struggling through the labs related to pattern matching and regexp and grep and all that good stuff, I feel pretty confident in my ability to use patterm matching.

Analysis
  • How did you do? Good
  • Is there room for improvement? Oh yes, I still struggled with finding a solution at a glance.
  • Could the measurement process be enhanced to be more effective? Not really, it's pretty easy to test it.
  • Do you think this enhancement would be efficient to employ? N/A
  • Could the course objective be altered to be more applicable? How would you alter it? Not really. maybe specify regexp.

Experiments

Experiment 7

Question

If I have a double pointer, to pass a value to it from scanf do I have to dereference the double pointer only once? (That would make it 'referenced' by one layer, in my mind).

Resources

Don't really need resources, it's a straightforward test.

Hypothesis

I think it will work because I ran into something similar doing project4. I had an array and was using scanf to fill it, so it was a single pointer. To use scanf, I just called the name. No dereference or anything.

Experiment

I'm going to write a simple program. Make a double pointer and see if I can scanf and print the value the way I believe it will work.

Data

  1 #include <stdio.h>
  2 #include <stdlib.h>
  3
  4 int main()
  5 {
  6     int **numbers;
  7
  8     *numbers = (int*)malloc(sizeof(int)*1);
  9
 10     printf("HEY!!! Enter a number. Please? :)\n");
 11
 12     scanf("%d", *numbers);
 13
 14     printf("\nHEY!!! The number you entered? Yeah. It should be %d.\n", **nu    mbers);
 15
 16     return 0;
 17 }
lab46:~/src/cprog/messingaround$ ./scanfdoublepointer
Segmentation fault
lab46:~/src/cprog/messingaround$

Analysis

Based on the data collected:

  • Was your hypothesis correct? I'm not sure.
  • Was your hypothesis not applicable? I'm starting to feel it's not applicable.
  • Is there more going on than you originally thought? (shortcomings in hypothesis) Yeah. I keep segfaulting.
  • What shortcomings might there be in your experiment? I got a segfault.
  • What shortcomings might there be in your data? I got a segfault.

Conclusions

What can you ascertain based on the experiment performed and data collected? Document your findings here; make a statement as to any discoveries you've made.

Well, no matter what, I keep getting a segfault. I'm guessing that this would mean my hypothesis was incorrect.

Experiment 8

Question

I wonder what would happen if I tried to chmod using permissions like 888, or something like that.

Resources

Nothing was consulted.

Hypothesis

I'm betting that it either doesn't work, or it defaults to 777 or something.

Experiment

I am going to try it out and see what happens.

Data

lab46:~/src/unix/scripts$ ls
age.sh       csd.sh  firstforloop.sh  guess1.sh     mail.sh     script2.sh
botstart.sh  files   firstlist.sh     histogram.sh  script1.sh
lab46:~/src/unix/scripts$ chmod 888 age.sh
chmod: invalid mode: `888'
Try `chmod --help' for more information.
lab46:~/src/unix/scripts$ chmod 10292 guess1.sh
chmod: invalid mode: `10292'
Try `chmod --help' for more information.
lab46:~/src/unix/scripts$ chmod 77 age.sh
lab46:~/src/unix/scripts$ ls -lh age.sh
----rwxrwx 1 smalik2 lab46 120 Mar  8 11:45 age.sh
lab46:~/src/unix/scripts$ chmod 777 age.sh
lab46:~/src/unix/scripts$

Analysis

Based on the data collected:

  • Was your hypothesis correct? - Yes
  • Was your hypothesis not applicable? - N/A
  • Is there more going on than you originally thought? (shortcomings in hypothesis) - I decided to test if I only provided like a 77, and it affected just owner and group.
  • What shortcomings might there be in your experiment? - Nothing really.
  • What shortcomings might there be in your data? - Nothing

Conclusions

Chmod doesn't work if you provide something higher than a 7, or longer than 3 digits.

Retest 3

Perform the following steps:

State Experiment

Whose existing experiment are you going to retest? Provide the URL, note the author, and restate their question.

Resources

Evaluate their resources and commentary. Answer the following questions:

  • Do you feel the given resources are adequate in providing sufficient background information?
  • Are there additional resources you've found that you can add to the resources list?
  • Does the original experimenter appear to have obtained a necessary fundamental understanding of the concepts leading up to their stated experiment?
  • If you find a deviation in opinion, state why you think this might exist.

Hypothesis

State their experiment's hypothesis. Answer the following questions:

  • Do you feel their hypothesis is adequate in capturing the essence of what they're trying to discover?
  • What improvements could you make to their hypothesis, if any?

Experiment

Follow the steps given to recreate the original experiment. Answer the following questions:

  • Are the instructions correct in successfully achieving the results?
  • Is there room for improvement in the experiment instructions/description? What suggestions would you make?
  • Would you make any alterations to the structure of the experiment to yield better results? What, and why?

Data

Publish the data you have gained from your performing of the experiment here.

Analysis

Answer the following:

  • Does the data seem in-line with the published data from the original author?
  • Can you explain any deviations?
  • How about any sources of error?
  • Is the stated hypothesis adequate?

Conclusions

Answer the following:

  • What conclusions can you make based on performing the experiment?
  • Do you feel the experiment was adequate in obtaining a further understanding of a concept?
  • Does the original author appear to have gotten some value out of performing the experiment?
  • Any suggestions or observations that could improve this particular process (in general, or specifically you, or specifically for the original author).
opus/spring2012/smalik2/part3.txt · Last modified: 2012/05/09 21:41 by smalik2