Computer Science 15-110 (Lecture 4), Spring 2010
Homework 12-14 (Term Project)
Due: Fri 30-Apr-2010 at 10pm (no late submissions accepted).
Hw12-14 Submission Coordinator:  Both your "Mentor CA" and koz

This project is non-collaborative (so you must work alone), but with special rules, so read the following carefully.

Also:  submit your project as an attached zip file to an email sent to both your "Mentor CA" and to koz.  You should cc yourself in that email, too, and verify that you received the project you intended to submit!

Term Project

Your task is to design and implement a Java program of your choosing.  It may be graphical, text-based, or even file-based.  It may be a game, or a math or science application, or a baseball statistics package, or a productivity application (think Word or Excel, only very "lite" versions), or a shell script, or anything else you choose.  This is a wide open assignment, and you are expected to be creative in your approach to it.  Note, though, that this is a solo assignment -- you may not work with anyone else.

Also:  you may use non-standard Java libraries (like an OpenGL implementation for 3d graphics, or jfugue for audio), but you must obtain explicit instructor approval in this case before starting your project.

In fact, you may use anything (any code, any graphics, any sounds, anything at all) so long as you very clearly cite precisely where it came from and, if possible, who created it.  You will only be graded on the portions of your project that you created entirely on your own, but you are welcome to use other materials as appropriate.  Again, just be certain to make it abundantly clear what is yours and what is not.

Note:  you may reuse code you have previously written for this course or otherwise, but you must cite yourself in this case and such code will not count towards your project grade (it is the same as using code from any other source).  All your code for this project must be original code written by you explicitly for this project.

You have just over two weeks to finish this assignment.  You are expected to invest at least 10 hours into this project, and it is further expected that your project will clearly reflect the quantity and quality of design and craftsmanship that goes along with that much time on this task.  Naturally, many of you will exceed the 10-hour bar, but this is a minimum requirement for passing the term project.

What to submit

1. The Project Zip File
   Submit a single zip file named hw12-<andrewId>.zip containing all the files described below.
    
2. Project Source Files and Support Files
   Include all your project's .java files, along with all other files (.jpg, .midi, etc) that are required to build and run your project.
    
3. [Optional] Project Jar File
   Also include in your top-level project directory a jar file named hw12-<andrewId>.jar, containing a runnable version of your project.  Note:  this semester, the jar file is optional but strongly encouraged.  To create a jar file, follow the steps here.  As the hint in that document says, "Don't forget that trailing dot!"
    
4. Design Documents
   In your top-level project directory, include a directory named "design", and in that directory place all your design documents.  At a minimum, this must include a paragraph or two describing the problem you are solving and the general approach your code takes to solve it.  After reading this, another programmer (or a CA!) should be able to make sense out of the classes you designed and the most important methods they contain.  Also, you should discuss your user interface (assuming you have one, as most of you will), explaining not just what your program looks like but why it does so.  For example, many of you started your projects by studying similar programs on the web -- you should list those here and explain what was good and bad about those programs and how they influenced your design.  You should also include any other supporting design documents you might have, such as storyboards or any other materials you made in the course of designing your project.
    
5. A timesheet
   In your top-level project directory, include a file named "timesheet.txt".  In this file, keep track of the time you spend on the project.  There is no specific time requirement, and more time will not necessarily equate to a higher grade.  Again, though, it is expected that you should invest at least 10 hours to obtain a satisfactory grade.

How will you be graded?

1. Well-Chosen Problem [10 pts]
   Projects should show a level of sophistication in keeping with your hard-won programming prowess.  They should be neither too simplistic nor too complex.  They should also be interesting, though we will take a broad view of this.
    
2. Design [10 pts]
   Your design should include well-chosen classes (as appropriate), methods, data structures, and algorithms, explained in a clear design document as noted above.
    
3. Robust Operational Program [25 pts]
   Your program should work.  It should compile and run.  It should not crash or hang, even in the face of undesired input.
    
4. User Interface [25 pts]
   To the extent that it is appropriate for your particular project, you should have a polished user interface.
     
5. Style [10 pts]
   Your code must abide by all the style guidelines we have discussed in this course.  It must also include complete (but concise) test methods where appropriate!
     
6. Effort [20 pts]
   Once again:  you are expected to invest at least 10 hours into this project, and it is further expected that your project will clearly reflect the quantity and quality of design and craftsmanship that goes along with that much time on this task.
    
7. Bonus [0 to 10+ pts]
   For extraordinary work, we may award bonus points.   Please discuss more ambitious bonus attempts with the instructor prior to investing too much time into them!

Additional Grading Issues:

• Mentor CA
  Each of you has been assigned a "Mentor CA" for your term project.   While every staff member is happy to help you at any time, it is expected that your Mentor CA will provide extra guidance during the course of your term project.  Also, your Mentor CA will be grading your term project.  You are encouraged to discuss your grade with your Mentor CA during the course of the term project, so you know where you stand and what additional work may be required to improve your grade.
   
• Double Credit
  As it is, this assignment is worth multiple hw's.  However, if you invest over 20 hours into the assignment, then the assignment weight will be doubled again, but only if this actually helps your grade (that is, only if your term project score exceeds your previous hw+lab average).  You do not have to sign up for this option -- it will be automatically computed for anyone for which it applies.
   
• Receiving Your Grade
  During the 4-day period after the term project due date (up to the following Tuesday night), each of you should meet with your Mentor CA for 10 minutes to present your term project and discuss your grade.  Sign-ups for these time slots will be handled by email by each Mentor CA.  Note that 10 minutes is not much time, and we'll really need to stick to the schedule, so you should show up at least 5 minutes early, and you should bring your own computer and have your project running and ready for your presentation prior to meeting your Mentor CA!  Expect to spend no more than four minutes presenting, discussing your overall design and any clever features that you have created, leaving several minutes for your Mentor CA to ask questions!  Also, if you do not sign up for in-person grading, or you miss your reservation, then your project will be graded without your presentation, and you will receive your numeric grade via email.  Finally, as with all grades in this course, students should feel free to consult with me if they wish, though we have worked hard to ensure consistency in grading across our entire staff, and as such I would change a Mentor CA's grade only in extreme cases.
   
• Term Project Fair
  This is mostly for fun, so you all may share the great fruits of your excellent efforts, but it is also a competition:  the top projects from each Mentor CA will advance to a term project fair and competition.  We'll invite a highly-esteemed guest judge, perhaps serve some salty snack and sugary beverage, and be dazzled by these top projects.  We'll also choose an overall winner, with some suitable prize thus awarded!

This is meant to be fun.  Enjoy (and work hard)!!!

Carpe diem!