Problem Set 3 - Due Tue Sep 28 at 23:59

Reading

Slides and notebooks from Lec 3/4/5.
Problems and solutions from Lab 2 and Lab 3.
Turtle reference documentation.
Think Python, Chapter 3 covers functions, and Think Python, Chapter 6 covers fruitful functions, although sections 6.4 through 6.6 are material that we'll cover later.
If you prefer an audio format, our podcast The Path to Programming has an episodes for this week on Defining Functions.

Tasks

The instructions for each task and their specific requirements are laid out on the following pages:

Task 1: Time Profiler Deluxe — Revisit the time profiler task from ps01, this time using functions to build a modular solution. This is an individual task.
Task 2: Diamonds — Use functions to avoid repeating code while printing out a repetitive pattern. This is an individual task.
Task 3: Simulating Trees — Review custom fruitful functions in the context of turtle graphics by drawing simulated trees. You may complete EITHER this task or the accelerating jig task, but you don't have to complete both. For this problem, having a partner is optional but recommended.
Task 4: Accelerating Jig — Review custom fruitful functions in the context of a new wavesynth module by recreating a song that includes repeated phrases, where the tempo steadily increases. You may complete EITHER this task or the simulating trees task, but you don't have to complete both. For this problem, having a partner is optional but recommended.

About this Problem Set

This problem set will give you practice with defining custom functions both for text-based interactive programs and for drawing in turtle graphics.

If you want to find a partner to work with for this problem set, use this Google Sheet to do so.

Note that you may not work with different partners on different tasks in this problem set. If you are working with a partner on one task, you must either work individually or work with that same partner on any other tasks where a partner is allowed.

Notes

Each task has a rubric which you should use as a checklist to determine whether you have completed the task.
Reminder: Collaboration and honor code: you can talk with other individuals and teams about high-level problem-solving strategies, but you cannot share any code with anyone except your partner when working on a partner problem.
If you are not going to be able to get everything done before the deadline, you may take a 24-hour extension on this problem set, no questions asked. To do so, you must click the "Take extension" button for this problem set in the Potluck Server before the deadline has passed. If it is close to the deadline and you don't know if you'll make it in time, consider taking the extension now, and then turning in your work. If you take an extension you will not receive feedback until the extended deadline has passed; note that the deadline for revisions does not change when you take an extension, so this gives you less time to revise your work.
The CS111 Problem Set Guide gives an overview of psets, including a detailed description of individual and partner tasks.
Follow the practices discussed in our CS111 Code Style Guide.
When you're done with the tasks follow the submission instructions to submit your pset.
All code for this assignment is available in the ps03 folder in the cs111/download directory within your cs server account.

Time Estimate

To help you plan how long you need to spend on this problem set, we have some guidelines based on how long students spent on these tasks last semester (please fill out your time estimates to help students in future semesters). Note that this semester, due to the large number of new tasks, these numbers are often just estimates.

When you've been working on a task for about 2 hours, you should evaluate whether you are making efficient progress, and make use of some of the class resources available to you, like help-room hours or office hours. If you've been working on one task for 4 hours and still have a ways to go, you should definitely get some help with it.

The entire problem set will probably take you something like 8–11 hours of programming, plus another half hour to hour of reading, although some students take more or less time than that.

How to turn in this Problem Set

Upload each of your task files via the Potluck server by the deadline ( Tue Sep 28 at 23:59). Click on "Browse..." for the task that you're submitting, then once you've chosen your file, enter your time estimate and click on "Submit task". In the file you're submitting, remember to fill in the authors (including you and your partner if you worked with a partner), the names of people you consulted (other than your partner), the date, and the file's purpose.
- For the timeProfilerDeluxe task, submit timeProfilerDeluxe.py.
- For the diamonds task, submit diamonds.py.
- For the treeSize task, each team member must submit their final treeSize.py file. It is not sufficient for your teammate to submit this task, you must both submit it independently, or you will not get credit.
- For the danceFaster task, each team member must submit their final danceFaster.py file. It is not sufficient for your teammate to submit this task, you must both submit it independently, or you will not get credit.
Double-check the status of your submitted tasks (you may have to wait a minute or two after uploading). The server will identify any serious problems with your submission, and you should fix these. In general, always make sure that your task files run without errors in Thonny before submitting them. Note that only major errors are identified at submission time: your actual grade will not be available until the problem set is due.
Failure to submit a code file before the deadline will result in zero credit for that code on ps03. (If you do get a zero, you may always take advantage of the revision period to get a better score).
Note that you can submit as many times as you like, and we will only grade the last version you submit before the deadline, so it's a good idea to submit several times as you work on the assignment as a backup in case you accidentally lose your work: we can help you recover a file that you've submitted to the server.
If you encounter any trouble submitting via the Potluck server, please email Peter Mawhorter with a copy of the files you're trying so submit so that we have a record of your submission if the submission server is running into issues.