GIST(General Idea of Some Thing): Write a console-based program that will allow a user to play Rock-Paper-Scissors against the computer.Abstract: The console-based program will (describe what happens, paint a word-picture)
What tools or patterns apply? What is the best way to visualize or represent the inputs and outputs for the program?Expression or series of expressions(simple algorithm)Timeline?Collection?Think about the different types of math word problems you "know" how to solve.
Problem type
What do you know?
r
Factual data about the problem
nouns
knouns
r
knouns as data translate to ?________? in code
choices
1) rock
2) paper
3) scissors
game results
win
lose
draw
rules
rock beats scissors
scissors beats paper
paper beats rock
unknouns
Input:
user's choice
Process:
computer's choice
game result
Output:
computer's choice
game result
Use case(s)
r
Narrative of the interaction between the program and the user.As you develop the narrative, be careful with the nouns and verbsthat you use.Verbs represent action-functionNouns represent the things and are converted to variables
Primary
r
Here's where you can put your recipe for your Humanoid Analog Computer(HACr).1) Welcome ...2) Input from the user/player3) Process the input4) Computer generates its choice5) Program identifies a winner6) THE END...
1) Welcome ...
1) Display title of program
2) Display instructions
2) Input: choice from the user/player
r
description:rock-1, paper-2, scissors-3Please enter one of these number values.1) rock2) paper3) scissors
1) Prompt user for input
2) "Read" user/player input
3) Process: the input
1) Computer generates its choice
2) Indentify winner
4) Output results
1) Display computer's choice
2) Display win, lose or draw
5) THE END ...
What don't you know?
r
What other information might help, but is not available today?* How would it help?* How could you obtain it?* Can you work without it?* What are the risks or consequences of not knowing?* Who else might have further information and insight?
randomize computer choice
r
add a random method?Random rnd = new Random();int computerChoice = rnd.Next(1, 4); // creates a number between 1) rock and 3) scissors
Subtopic
What assumptions are you making?
r
In identifying the problem and the probability of a solution, what assumptions are you making?Assumptions can sometimes be hard to see or accept. For example, if the "problem" is that sales of a certain product are too low, you may naturally aim to increase sales. You are ''assuming'' that the market demand for this product will continue. But if the demand disappeared overnight in a storm of negative publicity, then the original problem and solution also change. So the problem and logical solution are partly based on an assumption.
user knows how to play RPS
user wants to play until there is a winner
c2r
game can end when either the computer or the user/player wins
computer will generate a random number 0, 1, or 2/ ROCK, PAPER or SCISSORS
r
Solution criteria
r
How will you know when you have solved the problem?* What will a successful solution look like?* How will you filter and assess potential solutions?* How will you verify that the issue has been solved?You might want to return to the solution criteria several times as you develop the definition of the problem.
Console-based program
r
game will continue, using a while loop, until there is a winnerInput:Get valid input from userProcessing:Get computer's choice and determine the winner (Nothing is displayed until after all processing has been completed.)Output:The computer's choice will be displayed after the outcome is determined.The outcome of the turn will display after the computer's choice has been displayed.
write no functions
if/else if/else, or while (looping) logic only
use constants for choices and outcomes
r
const int ROCK = 0; // 0 - rockconst int PAPER = 1; // 1 - paperconst int SCISSORS = 2; // 2 - scissors// possible outcomes/resultsconst int WIN = 1;const int LOSE = -1;const int TIE = 0;
validate user selection
r
user may enter either r, p or s, or 1, 2 or 3 to choose rock, paper or scissorsinternally, use ROCK, PAPER or SCISSORS to represent the user's choiceNOTE: this is where you will use a while loop
internally, both the computer choice and user choice will use the same data type
r
This doesn't mean that the user has to enter 1, 2 or 3, only that the program is going to represent the user's choice as an integer with a value of 1, 2 or 3
Root cause analysis
r
For analytical problems, root cause analysis can help to unravel indirect causes of problems, leading to more effective solutions. One way to do this is to keep asking "Why?" down to five levels, to understand the reasons behind the reasons.
5
Impact analysis
r
Impact analysis looks at who is affected by the problem - what the consequences are, rather than the causes.
Person
Impact
Six serving men
r
"Six Serving Men" is based on Rudyard Kipling's poem, which begins:''I keep six honest serving men(They taught me all I knew);Their names are What and Why and WhenAnd How and Where and Who.''We can profile a problem and perhaps discover more about it by asking structured questions.
24
Analogies
r
Can you find analogies for this problem?The underlying characteristics of a problem can sometimes be clearer when it is taken out of context.
What is it like?
Be the problem
r
Be the problem is a popular technique for understanding problems. It means developing a character for the problem and describing its nature as if it were a person.
Insight
Hey, take a look at the comment bubble
display error message
proceed to determine winner
Get valid input from user
r
set validInput = falsedo display prompt for input read input if input is 1, 2 or 3 then set validInput = true else set validInput = false display an error message end ifwhile validInput == false // input is not validset userChoice = "converted" input valuereturn userChoice// false economydo display prompt for input read inputwhile input is not 1, 2 or 3
Display prompt for input
Read input
is input valid
Welcome
r
Researching and describing a problem clearly is the foundation for solving it. Solutions based on incomplete research or poor descriptions can often fail to reach the root causes.This Smart Map helps you to research and describe a problem from a number of different angles. It contains a mix of factual information-gathering tools and lateral thinking techniques, to develop perspectives that can point towards solutions.You can use this map individually and in collaboration with others. It is vital to get consensus on the actual problem you are facing, otherwise there may be no consensus on the solution. Putting the descriptions together in one place helps you to explain and agree upon the basis for finding and evaluating solutions.You can delete this topic from the saved map.
Where next?
r
You can continue to develop this map without the Smart Map wizard by saving it as a normal Mindomo map.When have a comprehensive description of the problem, you can move towards finding solutions. Consider a brainstorm as a next step, using the Brainstorming Toolbox Smart Map.You can delete this topic from the saved map.