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Michael Musick edited this page Nov 16, 2016 · 3 revisions

Creative Coding 1 - Exam Study Guide

Big Ideas

  • What is creative coding?
  • What is creative technology?
  • What is JavaScript?
  • How does p5.js relate to JavaScript?
  • Open Source
  • What specific ways have we explored of inputing data from the world to the computer?

Specific p5 questions

  • Describe the role of:
    • preload()
    • setup()
    • draw()
  • framerate()
    • how is this function used to set the frame rate of the sketch?
    • How is this environment variable used to query the frame rate?
    • How does frameCount relate to frameRate()?
  • How do we link multiple .js files together?
  • What are push() & pop() used for?

Logic

Part of the exam will include a couple questions that ask you to solve a problem through your knowledge of coding in p5.js.

Debugging & Error Solving

There will be at least one question that asks you to identify any and all syntax errors, or specific problems that might throw errors in a code example.

Writing Code

You will need to be able to read and write code. I would review examples from the git repository for the class. When reading code, I will ask you to describe, step-by-step what is occurring. When writing code, I will describe what I want to happen, and you will need to implement it.

Terminology

You are responsible for the following terminology. This means you should be capable of discussing these terms, how they relate to computer science and creative coding, and how they are accomplished/utilized within p5.js. Questions may ask you to describe these terms, or discuss their relation to other terms. Questions may also ask you to solve problems or write code examples demonstrating your comprehension of how these terms are used and implemented.

  • Variable
    • Possible questions:
      • What is it?
      • What can you do with?
      • How is represented internally (within the computer)?
      • What can you not do with it?
  • Function
    • Possible questions:
      • What is it?
      • What can you do with?
      • How do you call/use a function?
      • How do you define a function?
      • What are function arguments? How are the used within a function definition?
      • What is a function ‘return’?
  • Data Types
    • int, float, string, char, boolean
    • What are the data types we have talked about this semester?
    • What are the specific differences between them?
  • Bit
    • What is a bit?
    • How many values are possible in an X-bit value?
    • How can you easily calculate the number of values possible available in an X-bit value?
    • Write out all of the possibilities of a 2-bit value.
  • Array
    • Sub-Terms:
      • Index
      • Element
      • Length/size
    • Possible Questions:
      • What can be stored in an array?
      • How do you access elements in an array? Specifically in p5?
      • How do you query the length/size of an array in p5?
      • If I prepend an new element to an array:
        • Where will this element go?
        • What will happen to the size of the array (will it shrink, stay the same, or grow)?
  • Server-side vs. client-side
    • What does each mean?
  • Git
    • What is versioning control?
    • Describe how Git works in relationship to your local machine and the GitHub.com service?
    • What kind of files work well in Git version control?
  • DOM
    • Sub-Terms:
      • Element
      • Style
      • Tag
    • What is the difference between a canvas and the DOM?
  • Callback Functions
    • How does the environment use them?
  • Object
    • What is it?
    • How is it used?
    • How do you define a variable object (variables inside variables)?
    • Object literals (name/value pair)
    • How do you create a new object instance in p5 from a class?
  • Class
    • What is it?
    • How is it used?
    • What are class parameters?
    • What are class methods?
      • What are the two ways of defining a class method in p5?
    • What is the this keyword used for?
  • Environment Variable
  • Conditional Statements
    • If
    • If/Else
    • If / Else If / Else
    • While
    • Do
    • For
      • Revisit nested for loops. (There will likely be a question asking you to describe what code with a nested for loop is doing.)
  • Boolean Expressions
    • true
    • false
  • Relational Operators
    • <
    • >
    • <=
    • >=
    • ==
    • ===
    • !=
  • Logical Operators
    • &&
    • ||
    • !
  • Data
    • JSON
      • How can we use a JSON?
      • How do you navigate a JSON?
    • XML
    • .txt
    • What is an API?
      • What are they used for?

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