APCSP Full Review Lecture Notes

Overview of APCSP

Computing Innovation
- Must include a program as a major part; can be physical (e.g., self-driving car) or software.
Collaboration
- In programming, collaboration brings diverse viewpoints, reducing bias.
- Online tools facilitate global collaboration (e.g., Zoom).
Programs
- Collection of code statements; takes input (audio, text, visual) and provides output.
- Development involves adjustments and user feedback.
- Errors:
  - Logic Errors: Mistakes in the algorithm.
  - Syntax Errors: Mistakes in the programming language.
  - Runtime Errors: Occur during execution, like accessing out-of-bounds array elements.
  - Overflow Errors: When a number exceeds the compiler's range.

Data Storage: Computers use bits (base 2 numbers, 1s and 0s).
- Conversion between bases involves finding highest powers and subtracting.
- Byte: Defined as eight bits.
Abstract Data: List variables or constants represent data, converted to bits.
Context Matters: Same bits can represent different things in different contexts.
Analog vs. Digital Data: Analog changes smoothly over time; digital data represents analog data.
Sampling Techniques: Measures analog data at intervals to model it digitally.
Data Compression:
- Lossless: Complete restoration.
- Lossy: Approximate restoration, more compression.
Data Opportunities: Identify trends and connections; correlation ≠ causation.
Metadata: Data about data; does not affect the primary data.
Data Cleansing: Making data uniform and complete; combining sources to reduce bias.
Data Analysis: Larger data sets need complex computing, might require parallel computing.

Variables: Hold values for later use in programming.
Lists: Group of similar variable types; uses indexes.
Strings: List of characters, can be concatenated.
Math Expressions: Addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, modulus.
Boolean Expressions: AND, OR, NOT.
Conditionals: Control flow with if, else, and nested statements.
Loops:
- For Loops: Repeat a set number of times.
- While Loops: Repeat until a condition is false.
Procedures: Similar to functions, may have inputs (parameters) and outputs (return values).
Libraries and APIs: Provide pre-built procedures for complex operations.
Simulations: Abstract real-world processes, cheaper and faster.
Algorithmic Efficiency:
- Measured in computational resource usage and time.
- Heuristic Algorithms: Fast solutions, not always accurate.
- Decidable vs. Undecidable Problems: Solvability by algorithms.

The Internet:
- Computing Devices: Run programs, connect to networks.
- Networks: Connected devices, send/receive data.
- Routing and Paths: Find paths from sender to receiver.
- Bandwidth: Max data transferred in bits per second.
- Protocols: IP, TCP, UDP; define communication rules.
- Fault Tolerance and Redundancy: Supports failures, increases reliability.
Computing Models:
- Sequential Computing: One operation at a time.
- Parallel Computing: Multiple operations simultaneously.
- Distributed Computing: Multiple devices run programs.

Beneficial vs. Harmful Effects: Innovations have unforeseen impacts.
Digital Divide: Internet access varies by socioeconomic factors.
Bias in Innovations: Reduce bias through diverse collaboration.
Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science: Gathering input from large groups for data and research.
Legal and Ethical Concerns:
- Intellectual Property: Protects creators; piracy is illegal.
- Creative Commons and Open Source: Allows free use and modification.
- Safe Computing: Protect privacy (PII, authentication, encryption).
- Viruses and Malware: Protect systems with detection software.
- Phishing and Keylogging: Avoid unauthorized access by being cautious.

Create Task: Code projects (Jeopardy, Tic Tac Toe) using any language.
Definitions for Create Task:
- Sequencing: Order of operations.
- Selection: Boolean decision making.
- Iteration: Repeating code until conditions are met.