Learning to Program with Alice

by Dann, Wanda P.; Cooper, Stephen; Pausch, Randy

• ISBN13: 9780131872899
• ISBN10: 0131872893
• Edition: CD
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-01-01
• Publisher: PRENTICE HALL

Summary

With the rise of object-oriented languages, computer science faculty must squeeze far more content-and far more challenging concepts-into introductory courses. The result: many novices find introductory programming courses extremely frustrating, and some even abandon computer science altogether. Alice was designed from the ground up to make contemporary programming concepts far easier to teach-and to learn. In this highly anticipated book, Alice's creators and key innovators offer a complete full-color introduction to the Alice 3D interactive graphics programming environment.

Author Biography

Randy Pausch is Professor of Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, and Design, Carnegie Mellon University.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Preface	xi
Part I: Introduction to Alice	1	(70)
Getting Started with Alice	3	(16)
Introduction to Alice	3	(4)
Alice Concepts	7	(12)
Tips & Techniques 1: Special Effects: Text and 2D Graphic Images	13	(6)
Program Design and Implementation	19	(32)
Scenarios and Storyboards	19	(7)
A First Program	26	(25)
Tips & Techniques 2: Orientation and Movement Instructions
Exercises	47	(2)
Summary	49	(2)
Programming: Putting Together the Pieces	51	(20)
Built-in Functions and Expressions	52	(4)
Simple Control Structures	56	(15)
Tips & Techniques 3: Engineering Look and Feel	64	(4)
Exercises	68	(2)
Summary	70	(1)
Part II: Object-Oriented and Event-Driven Programming Concepts	71	(74)
Classes, Objects, Methods, and Parameters	73	(47)
World-level Methods	75	(8)
Parameters	83	(10)
Class-level Methods and Inheritance	93	(27)
Tips & Techniques 4: Visible and Invisible Objects	104	(5)
Exercises and Projects	109	(9)
Summary	118	(2)
Interaction: Events and Event Handling	120	(25)
Interactive Programming	120	(5)
Parameters and Event Handling Methods	125	(20)
Tips & Techniques 5: Events	134	(1)
Exercises and Projects	135	(8)
Summary	143	(2)
Part III: Using Functions and Control Statements	145	(86)
Functions and If/Else	147	(36)
Functions	147	(7)
Execution Control with If/Else and Boolean Functions	154	(29)
Tips & Techniques 6: Random Numbers and Random Motion	167	(4)
Exercises and Projects	171	(10)
Summary	181	(2)
Repetition: Definite and Indefinite Loops	183	(22)
Loops	183	(6)
While---An Indefinite Loop	189	(16)
Tips & Techniques 7: Events and Repetition	194	(2)
Exercises and Projects	196	(7)
Summary	203	(2)
Repetition: Recursion	205	(26)
Introduction to Recursion	205	(5)
Another Flavor of Recursion	210	(21)
Tips & Techniques 8: Camera and Animation Controls	220	(3)
Exercises and Projects	223	(5)
Summary	228	(3)
Part IV: Advanced Topics	231	(52)
Lists and List Processing	233	(17)
Lists	233	(6)
List Search	239	(11)
Tips & Techniques 9: Poses	243	(1)
Exercises and Projects	244	(5)
Summary	249	(1)
Variables and Revisiting Inheritance	250	(28)
Variables	250	(11)
An Array Visualization Using an Index Variable	261	(17)
Tips & Techniques 10: Bebugging with Watch and Text Output	269	(3)
Exercises and Projects	272	(5)
Summary	277	(1)
What's Next?	278	(5)
Appendix
Appendix A: Using Alice	283	(19)
Part 1: Running Virtual Worlds in Alice	283	(14)
Part 2: Using Popup Menus to Create an Initial Scene	297	(5)
Appendix B: Managing the Alice Interface	302	(8)
Index	310