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Level 4 Diploma in Cyber Security

Choosing data structures, with a Python refresher

CYB404 · Algorithms and Data Structures — Week 2 of 16

CourseCYB404
Week2 of 16
SemesterII
TutorOnline in the course chat

This week’s topics

Choosing data structures, with a Python refresher

  1. Choosing data structures: impact on running time and space
  2. Python and Jupyter refresher

What you will be able to do

  • 1.3 Analyse the impact of the choice of data structure on algorithmic performance.

Activity

Start with this week’s 4 videos, then: Seminar, guided reading and a short written task: analyse the impact of the choice of data structure on algorithmic performance.

Study materials

Videos

  • Python Programming Tutorial #1 - Variables and Data Types · YouTube · Tech With Tim · 11 min · for registered students
  • Python Tutorial for Beginners 6: Conditionals and Booleans - If, Else, and Elif Statements · YouTube · Corey Schafer · 16 min · for registered students
  • Python Tutorial for Beginners 7: Loops and Iterations - For/While Loops · YouTube · Corey Schafer · 10 min · for registered students
  • Functions in Python are easy 📞 · YouTube · Bro Code · 11 min · for registered students

Further resources

  • Think Python, ch. 13: Case study – data structure selection · PDF · Downey, Think Python 2e (Green Tea Press), ch. 13: a second worked mini project from problem to tested program, pp. 125–136 · for registered students
  • Introduction to Python Programming, 1.3–1.5: Variables, strings, numbers · PDF · OpenStax Introduction to Python Programming (2024), 1.3–1.5: variables, string basics, integers and floats, pp. 14–22 · for registered students
  • Introduction to Python Programming, ch. 6: Functions · PDF · OpenStax Introduction to Python Programming (2024), ch. 6: defining functions, parameters, return values and keyword arguments, pp. 137–163 · for registered students
  • Understanding students' failure to use functions as a tool for abstraction (CS1 Python) · Open-access article · Haglund et al. (2021), Informatics in Education. Why CS1 Python students avoid defining their own functions, with examples. · for registered students
Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.
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Course plan
  • Week 1: Data structures: arrays, lists, stacks, queues, sets and di…
  • Week 2: Choosing data structures, with a Python refresher
  • Week 3: Measuring complexity: Big O notation
  • Week 4: Problem classes: computability and Turing machines, P and N…
  • Week 5: Recursion and memoisation (e.g. Tower of Hanoi); the memory…
  • Week 6: Algorithmic paradigms: divide and conquer, backtracking, gr…
  • Week 7: Sort, search and pathfinding algorithms compared by time an…
  • Midterm: Midterm evaluation
  • Week 9: Writing pseudocode as a universal template for algorithms
  • Week 10: Checking algorithms are correct: tracing, testing and timing
  • Week 11: Debugging and testing implementations; review and practice …
  • Week 12: Applying Algorithms and Data Structures in practice: case s…
  • Week 13: Assignment workshop: research, planning and referencing
  • Week 14: Assignment workshop: drafting, feedback and improvement
  • Week 15: Review and coursework completion
  • Final: Final assessment and submission
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