1. The thorough knowledge of several programming languages.
2. Skill in using various software engineering tools such as editors, debuggers, profilers, etc.
3. Knowledge of a wide variety of data structures, their associated algorithms, and how to use them appropriately in applications. This is the primary emphasis of CISC 220.
4. Skill in assuring correctness of programs. This involves testing of programs and proofs of correctness, i.e., program verification. These are important emphases in CISC 220 and 320.
5. Ability to analyze the resources (computer time and memory) needed by a program, i.e., analysis of algorithms. Also important emphases of CISC 220 and 320.

In CISC 181 we will be primarily concerned with items (1) and (2) with some attention to items (3) and (4). Our main emphasis will be on the study of the programming language C++, a fairly recent extension of the widely used C language. C++ contains many features to support modern concepts in software engineering --- concepts that are not a part of C. For this reason and because C++ is (almost) a superset of C, C++ is replacing C as the programming language of choice in a wide variety of applications. Our objectives in CISC 181 will be to

• Obtain a solid foundation in core C++, i.e., in those parts of C++ that correspond to C and C++ stream input/output.
• Obtain an introduction to the concepts of object oriented programming, abstract data types, and reusable software through the study of C++ features like overloading operators, classes, inheritance, and polymorphism that support these concepts.
• Obtain an introduction to some elementary data structures like stacks, queues, and lists.
• Further develop skills in testing and debugging through use of the tools like workshop.

• Required H. H. Deitel \& P. J. Deitel, C++ How to Program, 2nd edition, Prentice-Hall (1998).
• Recommended Herbert Schildt, C/C++ Programmer's Reference, Osborne McGraw Hill (1997). A nice concise summary of many C++ constructs that you are likely to find quite useful.