MSC Computer Science E-Portfolio

Unit 12 reflection I think the second assignment was especially helpful in making me try to think about the issues that were arising (in terms of what to do), and how I would get around those issues – and there were certainly many drawbacks that I had to go through while doing it! Even though I undoubtedly felt some stress and frustration, I am ... Read More

Lecturecast notes: As has been discussed, everything which is used in Python is an object. Every Python object contains at least three pieces of data, which include: The reference count - this is used to support memory management and is the identity of an object is the address that it refers to in memory; The type - this ensu... Read More

Commenting notes: As well as making the code more readable, comments are also a useful tool for debugging. Comments within code should be preceded with a hash # and can either be: Block comments - apply to the code which follows them, are indented to reflect the code; Or inline comments - a comment on the same line as the cod... Read More

Lecturecast notes/ unit 9 reflection: One useful tool I have learnt through this unit when testing Python code/debugging is through the use of the assert statement - with this you can test if a certain condition is true; if the condition is true, nothing will happen and the code will keep running, but if an event occurs where the condition is no... Read More

Unit 7 and 8 Reflection/ Lecturecast notes I feel that there are still certain data structures which I need to go back to and make sure I’m comfortable with – we focused on data structures quite a bit in the previous module and I remember going through some of them and not being entirely comfortable with (such as tuples, sets and sequences). It’... Read More

Unit 6 reflection/ Codio Encapsulation notes: Learning about encapsulation makes it useful for me to gain a better understanding of why it is used and why it is important. Essentially, there seems to be an element of restriction to certain parts of data which provides several benefits (such as decreasing the probability of errors/bugs). Python ... Read More

Unit 5 notes Lecturecast notes - Class diagram: A class diagram is a diagram showing all the classes and the relationships between them. There are several kinds of relationships between classes: Objects in one class may contain references to objects in another class. For example, in poker, each Deck contains references to many Cards. Or a t... Read More

Unit 4 reflection I feel that I have got a much better idea and understanding now about object-oriented programming/design and UML based on the readings (especially from Python core book which provides a very clear approach with straightforward and relatable real-world examples). I have done some background reading and tried to research a bit f... Read More

Unit 3 Reflection For this unit, I am learning about UML (Unified Modelling Languages). I found the lecturecast to be very helpful when giving a clear and organised way of how UML works and the different models that are involved within in. I feel confident in understanding what the different models do, which models are associated with which type... Read More

Unit 2 reflection I have learnt about the key concepts associated with object oriented programming (OOP). While the general theory seems reasonably simple to me, the practical implementation using codio exercises, such as classes and objects, is more of a challenge for me. I think it will take some more time for me to get to grips with the new s... Read More

Reflection I look forward to completing this module, particularly as there is a strong focus on the Python language. I am also hoping to get some experience with working on Java as that will be helpful to my development in software engineering. While I am getting more to grips with the basics of Python, there are already a few things that I am ... Read More

Reflection of unit There are several ways that you can define your database and represent your dataset. Databases are now a core element for the success of big enterprises. Data-driven activities, like, trend analysis, predictive and statistical analysis, enable organisations to take strategic decisions. However, the database architectural des... Read More

Reflection of unit An algorithm is a sequence set of instructions, executable steps that defines a terminating process in order to generate a meaningful output. We often use the terms ‘program’ and ‘algorithm’ interchangeably, but there is a clear distinction between a program and an algorithm. Rather, a program is a formal representation of a... Read More

Reflection of unit Operating Systems and Data Structures notes: Mobile devices like phones, tablets and other smart devices run specific operating systems. These operating systems only work on specific devices. E.g., iOS (iPhone operating system) runs on an iPhone and Android always runs on a Google Pixel phone. A multiprocessor system contai... Read More

Reflection of unit Software definition - a set of instructions used to operate computers and execute specific tasks (what tasks are to be performed, as well as when and how to perform them). The most prominent and widely used piece of software is the Operating System (OS). Developing software requires a very structured methodology and follows a... Read More

Reflection of units Some key terms that I’ve learned about for these units: Big data is a process that allows the collection and processing of large, heterogenous volumes of data, which can be structured, semi-structured and unstructured data or video data. The goal of this big data processing is to aid today’s organisations. These organisatio... Read More

Reflection of unit Already have some prior knowledge about the key components in the CPU and their functions but nonetheless good to clarify up on. The circuitry in a computer that controls the manipulation of data is called the central processing unit, or CPU (often referred to as merely the processor). A CPU consists of three parts: ... Read More

Review of an organisation’s IT Code of Conduct and reflect on: Best practices. Areas that can be improved. Incidents (anonymously) and your role as a computing professional. What could have been done to improve the situation. You should demonstrate that you understand the topic covered and ensure you use references to academic literature (journ... Read More