Comp 3 Overview

Comp 3 Overview

1. Problem Solving

   • Intractable problems
     • Solvable and non-solvable
     • Halting problem
   • Comparing algorithms
     • Big-O notation
     • Order of complexity
   • Information hiding Abstraction
   • Turing Machine (level 1)
     • Universal Machine
     • Finite state machines with and without outputs
   • Regular Expressions
     • Backus-Naur Form (BNF) / syntax diagrams
     • Reverse Polish notation

2. Programming Concepts

   • Programming Paradigms
     • Structured programming techniques
     • Procedural-oriented programming
     • Event-driven programming
     • Object-oriented programming
   • Recursive Techniques
   • Abstract Data Types / Data Structures
     • Lists
     • Queues
       • Linear
       • Circular
       • Priority
     • Stacks
     • Pointer
     • Linked List
     • Graphs
     • Trees
   • Standard Algorythms
     • Insertion sort
     • Binary search
     • Hashing
     • Binary tree search
     • Tree traversal algorithms for a binary tree
     • Stack, queue and list operations
     • Creating and maintaining linked lists
     • Simple graph traversal algorithms
     • Simulations

3. Real Numbers

   • Floating point numbers
   • Significant digits
     • Precision
     • Rounding errors (absolute errors, relative errors)
     • Cancellation Error
     • Underflow
     • Overflow

4. Operating Systems

   • Role of an Operating System
     • Provision of a virtual machine
     • Resource management
   • Operating System Classification
     • Interactive
     • Real time
     • Network
     • Device
     • Embedded
     • Desktop
     • Server

5. Databases

   • Conceptual data model
     • Entity Relationship modelling
   • Database Design and Normalisation techniques
   • Relational Databases
   • Querying a Database
     • Structured Query Language (SQL)
   • Data Definition Language (DDL)

6. Communication and Networking

   • Communication Methods
     • Serial data transmission
     • Parallel data transmission
   • Baud, bit rate, bandwidth, latency
   • Asynchronous data transmission
     • Start and stop bits
     • Odd and even parity
     • Handshaking
     • Protocol
   • Baseband
     • Broadband
   • Local Area Networks
     • Wide Area Networks
     • Network adapter
     • Topology
       • Bus
       • Star
   • Network Segment
     • Peer-to-peer networking
     • Server-based networking
     • Thin client computing
     • Web services
   • Wireless networking
     • Wi-Fi
     • Bluetooth
   • Inter-networking
   • Routers particularly, Gateways
   • Server-side scripting
   • Internet Security
     • Firewalls
     • Encryption
     • Digital Signatures and Digital Certificates
     • Virus detection
     • Computer Security Procedures