CS: AI, ML and Data Types

General CS Terms

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) involves creating machines that mimic human cognitive functions like thinking and problem-solving.
  • Siri and Alexa are examples of AI using voice commands.
• Machine Learning (ML) is a subset of AI focused on training machines to learn from data.
  • Netflix's recommendation system uses machine learning.
• AI is a broad field, while ML is a specific technique within it.
• AI can exist without learning capabilities, whereas ML relies on learning from data patterns.

Data Types

• Data types classify data, informing the computer about the value being handled.

• Integer: Represents whole numbers without decimals.

  • Examples: -12, 0, 45

• Float: Represents numbers with decimal points.

  • Examples: 3.14, 0.0, -99.99

• String: Represents text enclosed in quotes.

  • Examples: "hello", "Inara_rockstar"

• Boolean: Represents a truth value of either True or False.

  • Examples: True, False

• Character: Represents a single symbol, letter, or number in quotes.

  • Examples: 'A', 'z', '9'

• Array/List: Represents a collection of items stored under a single variable.

  • Examples: [1, 2, 3] or ["hot", "cool", "fire"]

Coding Concepts

• Concatenation: Joins strings together.
  • Example: "Hi " + "there" results in "Hi there"
• Casting: Converts one data type into another.
  • Example: int("3") converts the string "3" into the integer 3.
• Algorithm: A step-by-step set of instructions for solving a problem.
• Pseudocode: An informal way to plan an algorithm using English-like statements.
• Prototype: A basic, functional version of a program developed to test its feasibility.
• Tracetable: A method for tracking variable values during algorithm execution to verify its logic.
• Iterative/Iteration/Iterate: Repeating a process or set of steps, usually within loops.
• Dry-run: Manually testing code by simulating its execution on paper or mentally.
• Criteria: The requirements or objectives that a program must satisfy.
  • Example: “The app must log users in securely.”

Errors

• Logic Errors: Occur when the code runs successfully but produces incorrect results.
  • Example: 5 + 5 = 15
• Syntax Errors: Mistakes in the spelling or structure of the code.
  • Examples: missing colons or quotation marks.
• Runtime Errors: Errors that cause a program to crash during execution.
  • Example: division by zero.

Control Structures & Loops

• Conditional Operators: Used in if statements for comparing values.
  • Examples: ==, !=, >, <, >=, <=
• Count Controlled Loop: Repeats a block of code a specific number of times.
  • Example: for i in range(5):
• One-Dimensional Arrays: Lists containing items arranged in a single row.
  • Example: [10, 20, 30]

Tools & Testing

• Integrated Development Environment (IDE): Provides a comprehensive coding environment with tools such as a text editor, debugger, and output window.
  • Examples: VS Code, Thonny, PyCharm
• Traceback Message: An error message generated by Python when a program crashes, indicating the location and cause of the error.

Test Data Types

• Normal Data: Input that falls within the expected range and format.
  • Example: valid age is 18
• Extreme Data: Input values at the boundaries of the valid range.
  • Example: if valid age is 0–120, test 0 and 120
• Invalid Data: Input that is not acceptable according to the program's requirements.
  • Example: a name instead of age: "banana"

String Manipulation

• String manipulation involves modifying or processing strings.
• len("Zeke") = 4 : determines the length of the string.
• "Zeke".lower() = "zeke" :converts the string to lowercase.
• "Inara"[0] = "I" :extracts a character from the string using indexing.
• "star" + "dust" = "stardust" : joins two strings together through concatenation.