alice

text, font, extrusion, curvature

3D text object has four unique properties

control statements

Do together; Do in order; etc.

pivot point

a "joint" where an object will rotate

method

a coordinated sequence of instructions that will be carried out when requested

storyboard

a design approach to create a solution to a problem or plan a list of actions to perform a task, as specified in the scenario

yaw

a left-right turning motion

sequential processing

a list of instructions

pseudocode

a loose version of the instructions that will eventually become program code

class-level method

a method that defines behaviors for a single object

primitive method

a method that is already built into Alice

world-level method

a method that specifically references more than one object

whole number

a number with no fractional part

class

a particular kind of object

parameter

a placeholder so that you can use a method over and over with different values and not have to make another method

scenario

a problem or task statement that describes the overall animation in terms of what problem is to be solved or what lesson is to be taught

method

a segment of program code that defines how to perform a specific task

program

a set of instructions that tells the computer what to do

state

a snapshot of a scene

functions tab

a tab in the details area with all of the functions of an object

invoking a method

allowing the method to execute; also known as called into action

instruction

an action to be performed

instance

an example

variable assignment

an instruction that sets a variable to a value

arguments

an item of information that must be supplied so Alice can execute the action

implementation strategy diagram

an organizational chart that visually illustrates how methods will be used for creating a program

no. functions return a value, a function call must be placed in an instruction that does something with the value that is returned

are functions called the same way as methods?

local variable

belongs to a specific method. can be used only by the instuctions in the method that the variable belongs to. when a method stops executing, this ceases to exist in memory.

stepwise refinement

breaking the overall task down into abstract tasks and then breaking each task down into smaller pieces and then defining the steps in each piece

object

can hold an object

number

can hold any number

boolean

can hold either true or false

boolean logic, math, random, string, ask user, mouse, time, advanced math, other

categories for world functions

documentation

comments in the program, a web page for reference, or an accompanying writen document

inheritance

creating a new class based on a previously defined class

design a storyboard

decide how to go about creating the animation

variable declaration

describes a statement that creates a variable

function returns a value back to the instruction that called it, and a method does not

difference between function and method?

read a scenario

examining a description of the story, game, or simulation--often called the problem statement

proximity, size, spatial relation, point of view, other

functions are grouped into what categories?

proximity

functions return values indicating the object's proximtity to other objects

built-in functions

functions that are included with the object

scroll to end of local gallery and click 3D text

how do you create 3D text in alice?

create an instruction that calls it

how do you execute a function?

a joined with b function

how do you join two strings?

select world object's tile in object tree and select function

how do you see the world object's functions?

implementation

how the animation is written

condition

i.e. "Is the spaceship visible?" or "Is the color of the hat red?"

trial-and-error

inputting different values until it works

class-level variable

like a property that belongs to a specific object

world-level variables

like a property that belongs to the world

value

number; Boolean; string; object

nesting

one program statement is written inside another

math expression

performs a calculation and returns a value

looping

repeating behavior; also known as iteration

other

return miscellaneous values

spatial relation

return values indicating the object's position relative to other object's

point of view

return values pertaining to the object's point of view

size

return values pertaining to the size of the object

test

run the animation

string

sequence of characters. used to represent things like names, addresses, warning messages, and so forth

comments

something that helps a human reader understand what a program does

placeholder

something that takes the place of something else and allows anything to be put there

string concatenation

sometimes it is necessary to join two strings into one string. this is called..

function

special type of method. set of instructions that cause some action to take place

syntax

statement structure and punctuation

algorithmic

step-by-step

variable

storage location that is represented by a name

set instructions

store different values in a variable. "sets" a variable to a new value

other

string, color, sound

description

tells what action is occurring

egocentric

the direction an object moves is relative to its own orientation

count

the number of times the loop will execute

variable area

the section of the method editor that contains the variable tile

initial value

the value that is initially stored in the variable when it is created

operands

the values on the right and left of the math symbol.

perspective

the way you are looking at something, so that something looks closer than something else

abstraction

thinking about an overall task instead of all the small actions that were needed to complete the task

save out

to create a new class with new methods that you have added to the original class

debug

to remove bugs from a program

rotational

turn and roll mthods; turning

displays a dialog box where the user can enter a string

what does the ask user for a string function do?

pass the variable as a what argument and the function returns a string containing its value

what does what as a string do?

select set value and specifiy the value you want to store in the variable

what happens when you drag the variable tile and drop it into the method editor?

collision

when an object "collides" with another object

instantiating

when an object is created and displayed

collision

when two graphical objects come into contact with each other

variable's name, type, and initial value

when you hit the create new variable button, what three things must you specify?

runtime

while the animation is running

ask user for a number, ask user for yes or no, ask user for a string

world object's three primitive functions

implement

write the program code

repetition control construct

a loop

bug

an error in a computer program

conditional execution

ifs

pitching

tipping

Boolean

true or false

by default

unless you tell Alice otherwise

expression

used to compare two objects to see if the condition is true

parameter variable

used to hold an argument that is passed to a method when the method is called

math operators

what are a programmer's tools for performing calculations?