©2003 Christopher League
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Spring 2004

Assignment 1: Brainstorming

Due: Mon Feb 2 in class.

brain·storm·ing noun: a group problem-solving technique that involves the spontaneous contribution of ideas from all members of the group. [Merriam-Webster]

1. Subscribe to the class email list by clicking on the “MailingList” button to the left, then following the instructions under the heading “Subscribing to cs150.” Subscribe right away… preferably today.
2. Send an email directly to the professor with (short) answers to the following questions.
   1. What is your programming background? Rate yourself as beginner, medium, or advanced in each language that you know: C, C++, Java, C#, Visual Basic, other…
   2. How confident are you in your previous course work? Rate your skills (a bit weak, pretty good, mastered it) in algorithms, analysis and design, databases, networking, other…
   3. How can you best contribute to your project group?
   4. What are your weaknesses?
   5. Are there specific tools or techniques you would like to learn or use in this course?
   6. What are your concerns about how the course will be run?
   Your candid answers will help me gauge your experience and potential. Please respond any time before next class.
3. Think about the software product that was described in class. Try to come up with some potential requirements for such a system, and post your ideas to the mailing list. We will not be bound by them yet, we’re just brainstorming to see where we want to go. Also, read and discuss ideas posted by others.
4. Search the Internet for reference materials relevant to the project (protocols, libraries, specifications, articles, formats, etc.) and post links and descriptions of what you find to the mailing list.