CIS 109 Final Exam: Python Programming Fundamentals

Python Features and Functions

• Python emphasizes readability through its clean, straightforward syntax, which reduces complexity.
• Supports multiple programming paradigms, including procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming.
• Automatic garbage collection simplifies memory management, as it periodically frees up memory by deleting unreferenced objects.
• The PYTHONPATH environment variable directs the Python interpreter to locate module files.
• The function float() is used to convert a string into a floating-point number in Python.
• The PYTHONCASEOK environment variable allows Python to find the first case-insensitive match during imports.
• The PYTHONPATH environment variable can also be set to specify alternative module search paths.

String and List Operations in Python

• Python is a case-sensitive language, meaning variable and function names are case-specific.
• Files are closed using the file.close() method in Python syntax.
• Output of print(str) when str = 'Hello World!' is Hello World!.
• The output of print(str[2:5]) for str = 'Hello World!' is llo.
• The output of print(str * 2) when str = 'Hello World!' is Hello World!Hello World!.
• The output of print(list) when list = ['abcd', 786, 2.23, 'john', 70.2] is ['abcd', 786, 2.23, 'john', 70.2].
• The output of print(list[1:3]) for the same list is [786, 2.23].
• The output of print(list[2:]) results in [2.23, 'john', 70.2].

Ruby Features and Functions

• The exponentiation operator in Ruby is **.
• The statement puts "#{3 + 2}" in Ruby outputs 5, because it evaluates the expression inside the string interpolation.
• To interpret a line of code as a math operation in Ruby, the syntax uses standard arithmetic operators.
• In Emacs on Linux, text is read or written in buffers.
• To output the first item in an array in Ruby, one can use array.first or array[0].
• EMACS stands for "Editor MACro System," a powerful text editor in Linux.
• In Linux, the $ symbol is used to reference a variable.
• Strings in Ruby can be concatenated using the + operator or the << (shovel) operator.

Linux and General Concepts

• sudo stands for "superuser do," allowing users to execute commands with elevated privileges.
• A constant in Ruby can be created with CONSTANT_NAME = 3, where the constant name is typically uppercase.
• Wildcard characters in Linux are known as "globbing".
• Properties that describe or characterize an object in Ruby are referred to as attributes or methods.
• Ruby treats numbers and other primitive data types as objects, endowing them with methods.
• In Linux, comment lines are used to explain the code, making it easier to understand and maintain.
• Perl is known for its text processing capabilities and supports procedural and object-oriented programming.