TaniaLoG

CS1280 - Java to C++

This is a 2 MC module which lasted for only half a semester (which means the final exam is in the week after recess week). There were programming assignments every week, but they don’t really test programming skills. I think they’re designed just to make us understand the concepts and the semantics. But I always struggle to remain alert during the lecture (i.e. NOT sleep), so I had to spent some time learning the concepts (again) before working on them. This is why, in terms of workload, I’d say that this one’s just like a 4 MC module, just that it lasted only for half a semester.

The good thing is that the lecture notes are packed with examples - good ones that really demonstrate the concepts. The bad thing is… it’s hard (at least for me and a couple of my friends) to remain awake during the lecture. Oh, but there’s webcast.

The final exam came as quite a shock though. Well I didn’t study too hard for it since it was just a CS/CU module and I needed to focus on other things back then. And erm.. the lecturer who taught us during the term was different with the one who set the exam questions, because he was on medical leave. So… I saw some questions on things that were never discussed before. Sigh. I just hope I can still get S.

LAC2201 - Chinese 2

I’d never taken any language modules in NUS before, so I didn’t expect this module to have such heavy workload. There were tests every week after the recess week, and there was a project too (this one’s quite fun though). The tests really made me tired, because I had to memorize 50 words and some more phrases for every test. But on the bright side, it forced me to study, and I think I’ve got some pretty good improvements in my Chinese (compared to before taking this module), although all in all, I’m still sucky at it.

The scary thing is that everyone in the class (except me) seem to be so pro already, and the tests seem to be a breeze for them. I saw a lot of 90+ (some as high as 95, out of 100) scores in the midterm.

EE2009 - Signals

This course deals with signal processing and analysis, using Fourier series, Fourier transform, basically ‘Fourier’ stuff. Since I’m not into engineering maths lately, I found this course to be difficult at first, although I think I manage to get some improvements after some time.

The lecturer was unique and funny. He answers questions very timely, and I like the way he answered my questions - he didn’t simply give me the answers, but instead gave some clues. I think thinking over his clues made me understand the concepts better than if he answered my question directly.

After the recess week, came the e-test, which is legendary for its difficulty. Oh yes, it was difficult. A lot of people get below 50 out of 100 in their first attempt. I’m not sure about the second attempt. As for me, I surprisingly did rather well in my second attempt. But the lecturer often said that the e-test doesn’t contribute to our grades significantly, although he didn’t state the exact percentage the e-test will contribute to the final grades. He actually said that the lab is of equal if not more significance than that.

Oh yea, the lab. There were two labs, S1 and S2. They aren’t to be taken in order. I did my S2 lab quite early… can’t remember exactly when, but I think it was before recess week. I had no trouble completing the lab, but I had trouble understanding what I was actually doing, because the supporting materials haven’t been covered. S1 lab was okay though.

CS2100 - Computer Organisation

Most of my friends took this module last semester. And last semester’s iteration is quite different from this semester’s one. Actually it looks like this semester’s iteration covers more materials, have more difficult labs, and more time-consuming assignments.

The first half of the module was easy since I’ve already taken EE2006 (Digital Design) last semester, and the first half was very similar to the first half of EE2006. The second half was more complicated though. And it didn’t help that I always spend 10-15 minutes sleeping in the lecture (fighting post-lunch slump is surprisingly VERY difficult) -.- So basically I almost always got lost in the middle of the lecture, so I had to go back and study on my own, but then.. sometimes I don’t have the time to do that, so I got lost in the next lecture, and the next, and the next… well you get the picture. It really piled up.

And the exam was hard! All the people I talked to after it said they couldn’t finish it. Hmmm I’ll just have to wait for the results… hopefully the final exam can still earn me a decent grade.

CS2102S - Database Systems

This is a rather fun module compared to the rest. I don’t know why. But I think the project was too big for a mere 7.5% (those who aren’t in the S-option gets 10% though, but still, it’s quite small).

The final exam was rather easy. I think lots of people will score very high there (as in… > 90 out of 100).

CS2103 - Software Engineering

This module is actually pretty difficult, at least for me. In the first half of the semester, I had trouble understanding the words in the lecture notes (and the flow of the lecture notes, which I somehow feel unstructured) and in the midterm test. So yeah, I screwed up my midterm test.

The second half was better and more enjoyable. The lecturer was different with the one who taught in the first half. I think he taught well, but it’s a pity that very few people come the the lectures every week.

The final exam was also better than the midterm test, though I don’t know how my performance compared to the others are.

So anyway, that’s it! I’ve finished my third semester. Yay!

I’ve been thinking of once again putting some effort to write things into this blog. Hopefully writing here can help me be more organized (since I plan to write summaries of what I do everyday.. or at least quite often), and hopefully the thoughts I at times have during my idle times in the bus don’t just go into thin air as they usually do.

So… today’s summary:

1. Set up Subversion repository in my Dreamhost account for my CS2103 project. Didn’t realize they actually have this feature until very recently -,-
2. Installed TortoiseSVN to go with the repository, set everything up, created the first few revisions of the code (for my part of course).
3. Tried to set up PHP 4 instead of the default PHP 5 in a subdomain I just created in Dreamhost. Spent a lot of time on this because some links in the installscript file given in Dreamhost’s wiki are broken. And I didn’t realize that those links are accessed many times in the installscript. Gah. Another thing, the script set up some common PHP libraries too and this setting up takes a loooong time! Well of course I didn’t just stare at the console and wasted all my time waiting, but still…Erm, what’s more, after spending too much time on this, I decided to go with PHP 5 anyway. My initial reason of wanting to use PHP 4 was because I heard that PHP 5 doesn’t work that well with MySQL. Too bad I didn’t spend reasonable time to research more on this to confirm the fact. After researching a bit, I found out that PHP 5 does just alright with MySQL. As in there’s no major problem. Oh well. At least I learnt some things in the process.
4. Didn’t manage to focus again in CS2100 lecture. It was a short 1-hour lecture but I slept for like 10 minutes at least.

For tomorrow:

1. Got LAC2201 (Chinese 2) midterm test! I’m so not in the mood to study for this. For, like, yet another midterm. But uh, ganbatte!
2. EE2009 lecture. No sleeping!!! Full concentration required!!!
3. Should study for my 2nd attempt at EE2009 e-test. Still got several weeks to go but time passes really fast especially with some projects at hand like this. So yeah should start studying.
4. Code for my CS2103 project.
5. Review CS2100 and write the report for assignment 2.
6. Take some money from the ATM… gosh, judging from the money I have in my pocket, I’m so poor right now… can only buy lunch and that’s it +_+
7. Start nagging my groupmates (and myself) for CS2102 project.. should really start working on this too!