Annie's CS Journey

During the past two weeks, I have been getting more comfortable with both the technical tools and the mindset needed for programming in Java. When we first started with Lab 00, using IntelliJ was a new experience. At first, I felt overwhelmed by all the windows and options, but as I followed the videos and built the first small projects, I started to see how the IDE actually supports my workflow. Code completion, automatic formatting, and instant error feedback made a big difference in helping me write cleaner and more efficient code. Learning Git in Lab 01 added another layer of understanding. Initially, Git felt complicated and intimidating, but as I practiced basic commands like add, commit, and push, it began to make sense. I now understand how branching and version control allow developers to experiment without fear of breaking things permanently. It was satisfying to see how Git can track every step of the process, making it easier to stay organized and recover from mistakes. Th...

 At the start of this course, it took me a little time to get back into the mindset of solving programming problems again. It had been a while since I last worked through CodingBat exercises, which I originally did in my introductory Java course, so this felt like a good opportunity to refresh and sharpen my skills. Once I got going, the familiar structure of the problems helped me ease back into logical thinking and steady problem solving. When I began working through the challenges, I focused on reading each problem carefully and studying the examples to make sure I understood what was being asked. I found it helpful to restate each problem in my own words and then think about which Java tools such as loops, string methods, or conditionals could help me solve it. At first, I sometimes jumped straight into writing code without much planning, just to see what would happen. That approach led to small errors or logic issues that I had to fix later. Over time, I realized that taking...

Part 1: Review Other Teams' final video projects Group Otter Bots: video for general audience:    Drone delivery system The team’s video on Delivery Drones delivers a clear and accessible overview of how drones are transforming delivery systems. The topic is timely and well covered, balancing benefits such as speed and sustainability with issues like regulation and privacy. While adding specific data or current examples could deepen the analysis, the content remains appropriate for a general audience. The presentation is well organized and easy to follow. The AI voiceover provides a consistent tone and pacing that enhances clarity, though it lacks some of the energy a live narrator might bring. The visuals and narration work together effectively to convey the message. The research appears accurate and relevant, demonstrating good understanding of drone applications and industry trends. Explicit references or stataistics would strengthen credibility, but for a general audience,...

Part one: Our team has been working on the Final Research Video Project, and the planning process has been going pretty smoothly so far. We have been using Zoom for our weekly team meetings, which we hold every Wednesday , to go over our progress and share ideas. Between meetings, we communicate regularly through Google Chat , which has been great for quick updates, asking questions, and keeping everyone in the loop throughout the week. We also created our own shared Google Doc where we post our work, notes, and research so that everyone can access and edit it easily. This makes collaboration much easier, since we can see each other’s progress in real time and add feedback or suggestions right away. The Google Doc has really helped us stay organized and connected as we work on different parts of the project. The overall process has been smooth, but like most group projects, it takes effort to keep everything coordinated and on schedule. We are still working on the video itself, but h...

Develop Capstone Ideas: Our team met on Zoom this week to brainstorm possible capstone ideas and help each other shape early concepts. It was a relaxed but productive conversation where everyone shared what kind of problems they would like to solve and what skills they hope to use. The idea that stood out to me the most was creating a community needs matching app that connects people seeking help like food assistance, tutoring, or transportation, with local organizations that can offer support. I really liked this concept because it feels meaningful, realistic, and something that could genuinely help others while still being achievable within the capstone timeline. Another idea that caught my attention was a nonprofit directory that allows users to search for organizations by cause or location, learn about their missions, and easily find ways to get involved through volunteering or donations. It could have filters for categories like education, environment, or health, and include ve...

Part One: Comment on Teammates' goals Part Two: Possible Capstone Ideas After watching several of the capstone presentations, I was inspired by the range of creativity and technical depth across different domains. From those, I identified three possible capstone project ideas I might pursue in the future. These are based directly on projects that stood out to me, though I may or may not ultimately pursue them. 1) Date and Be Safe  – Secure Dating App This project tackled the issue of scams and fraud in online dating by requiring users to verify their geolocation and take a live photo during sign-up. I found this idea meaningful because it directly addresses a real-world social problem. If I were to build something similar, I would expand on their concept with features like AI-based scam message detection or optional verification badges. The balance of security and usability in this project gave me a strong idea for a potential capstone. 2) Like a Camera  – Interactive Photogr...