Mimir:Spring 2017 Gayathri Parthasarathy Log


 * Home
 * Semesters
 * Spring 2017

Week Ending Feb 20, 2017
Task:

Though I missed the first week of class, I got access to class lectures and homework-1 from one of our classmates. I read through chapter3 from the textbbok and understood the concepts of categorizing programming languages, compilers, interpreters and BNF grammar. My prior work experience in software development helped to complete homework question-1. But I really had to do a lots of research to answer question 2,3 and 4. From that I learnt much about BNF grammar, the concept of parsing and the difference between Python and Perl in BNF perspective. We also divided the topics of chapter3 of the textbook among ourselves. I'm responsible for Perl Conditionals, Loops, File I/O and subroutines topics.

Results:

As a result I got a good idea on how I should approach the class. I have planned to read the specific week's chapters before class. I hope it will help me understand the concepts in a better way and I can clarify my doubts during professor's lecture. Since I'm new to both Perl and Python, I have started watching online tutorials to be able to cope with Professor's pace.

Plan:

I have planned to allocate 9 hours/week for this class. 3 hours for homework, 1 hour for reading, 3 hours for textbook and 2 hour for learning Perl and Python. I understood 'Time Management' is very important for this class. I should check with my learning partner about the next week's lecture notes we are responsible for.

Concerns:

My concern is to keep the chapter 3 of textbook more informative, for that I should get basic understanding and be familiar enough with perl. I should have to speed up my learning process to be able to attain this on time.

Week Ending Feb 27, 2017

 * Task:

This week my team is responsible for lecture notes on lisp overview. I prepared outline for Lisp based on the Professor's class lectures. I uploaded the outline on to the foss wiki page for review. Once we got corrections from the professor we started to proceed with the contents. I also started working on the pearl section of chapter 3 of the textbook to make it more descriptive I added some sample programs and explanations.


 * Results:

As a result this week's assigned tasks got progressed as expected. I was also able to show some progress on the textbook as well. I got some time to spend on understanding the homework assignment.The Lisp outline and content got uploaded on the foss wiki page.


 * Plan:

My plan for this week is to spend 5-7 hours on homework assignment, 2 hours on textbook and 2 hours for python and perl tutorials. I should spend some more time on understanding several predefined functions in Lisp.I hope that will help me to answer the homework questions.I have planned to finish first two sections of perl by this weekend.


 * Concerns:

My concern is to getting the chapter finished as early as I can. So that I can help my team in next chapter and also concentrate on readings, tutorials and assignments. The Lisp homework assignment needs more understanding on the concepts and also based on how optimally I can think. So getting it completed on time is going to be really challenging.

Week Ending March 6, 2017

 * Task:

This week I spent most of my time on homework assignments. The recursive function in lisp is something I should really understand better. I completed the assignment successfully by spending 2 days and putting lots of efforts on that. I also worked on our lecture notes on the topic 'lisp overview'. I couldn't spend much time on textbook this week.


 * Results:

Completed homework assignment and submitted on time. Got a good understanding on recursive function, car and cdr in lisp. Updated lecture notes into the foss wiki page and done with 1st two sections of perl in the textbook.


 * Plan:

This week's plan is to complete the remaining two sections of perl in textbook and start working in the lisp section of Chapter 4. Also I should start preparing the prototype for the game I'm going to develop using MIT scratch during my spring break.


 * Concerns:

My concern for this week is to complete the chapter 3 and also I should come up with an idea about the game I'm going to develop during spring break. That will help me to get suggestions from the professor before getting into the development process.

Week Ending March 20, 2017

 * Task:

This week I could spend more time on textbook during spring break. I was responsible for 1st three sections of lisp in chapter-4. And also we have to come up with a proposal for the game that we are creating in the next week using MIT scratch.


 * Results:

As a result I was able to complete the introduction of lisp, history and the lisp data types and objects sections of chapter-3 and also I have started working on the game proposal. I have done with the summary and description of the game. Now working on the algorithm.


 * Plan:

My plan for this week is to complete the mathematical programming language and imperative language sections of chapter-4. If that is done we almost covered all sections of chapter-4 and we can proceed with the other chapters. Also I'm planning to complete the algorithm for the game by wednesday. So that I can proceed with the development in the end of the week and also during weekend.


 * Concerns:

I cannot find more information about mathematical and imperative languages online. Those two sections definitely need a lot of time and also I have the scratch game development for this weekend. So completing both of them by this week is really going to be a challenge for me.

Week Ending March 27, 2017

 * Task:

This week I was assigned with the 'Math functions on lisp' section of chapter 4 and I started working on the templates and headlines of the GRC poster. I also have scratch game proposal due this week. We have decided to work on chapter 5 next week. So I am correcting the sections of chapter 3 and 4 that need more alignment and formatting.


 * Results:

I was able to complete the tasks I planned to. I added more information on the lisp history like Lisp in AI and the applications developed using lisp etc. I completed the math function by adding different set of examples. I came up with a logical puzzle for scratch game proposal and also started with the game development.


 * Plan:

My plan for this week is to complete the remaining sections of chapter 4 and jump into chapter 5 as early as I can. I have to complete the scratch game before this sunday. Once the template and headlines are finalized I will work on the contents of the GRC poster.


 * Concerns:

We should speed up the process of the GRC poster. I feel it's challenging to keep both textbook and GRC poster on track and also need to meet the deadlines of the homework assignments. Managing time in the coming weeks is going to be really crucial.

Week Ending April 3, 2017

 * Task:

This week the contents of the GRC poster have to be done and I also have the chapter 3 sections need to be formatted properly. I have a scratch game development and presentation due this week. I will continue working on the list and atom sections of lisp in chapter-4.


 * Results:

The results are satisfactory. I was able to complete the assigned tasks on time. I have completed the list section of lisp and working on atom. The contents of the GRC poster is done and we are suggesting different template design to make it look better and clearer. The scratch game development is also done and sent the sb2 file to the professor for review.


 * Plan:

My plan for this week is to complete the remaining sections of lisp and finalize the content and the template to be sent to the Professor for review. I should also plan to spend my time on wikinotes. I should check with my learning partner to finalize the sections to be reviewed by the professor.


 * Concerns:

My concern for this week is to complete chapter 4 and have a look at chapter 5 before next class. So that I will have something to discuss with other grad students in the next meeting. I should also need to learn more about BNF and lexical analysis for the next homework assignment.

Week Ending April 10, 2017

 * Task:

My task for this week is to complete the remaining sections of Lisp and It really took a long time for me to understand the homework assignment and to come up with an idea to approach the questions.We also had to finalize the font, color and size of the GRC poster.


 * Results:

I completed the remaining sections of lisp except for Lisp Interpreter and Polish notations that need to be a little more descriptive. I started from the basics of SQRL programming language and explored more about BNF grammar. As a result I was able to understand the homework questions and I have assigned 3 days to complete the assignment based on it's complexity. We are closer to the final draft of the poster. It still needs some minor changes.


 * Plan:

My plan for this week is to complete Lisp Interpreter and Polish notations sections of chapter-4 and I will start working on chapter-6 Scratch Introduction. I should also start working on the homework assignment and before weekend, I have planned to complete at least 2 questions.


 * Concerns:

The completion of GRC poster is in priority now. Once we accomplish that we can speed up our work on textbook. The complexity of the homework assignment also concerns me at this time.

Week Ending April 17, 2017

 * Task:

This week I was assigned with the Lisp Interpreter and Polish notations sections of chapter-4 and also the introduction of Chapter-6.We also had an homework assignment on ' Recursive Descent Parser' which is the toughest one so far we had and we had to get our GRC poster printed. My group is responsible for the outline on the lecture topic 'Context Sensitive Grammars' for this week.


 * Results:

The results good. I was able to complete the chapters I was assigned with and also completed the outline on time and sent it to professor for review. Our GRC poster came out really well. I have got most of the questions in homework and I can complete the rest of it by this weekend.


 * Plan:

For next week my plan is to complete at least the first four sections of chapter 6 and I should start preparing contents for the wiki notes my group is responsible for. I am planning to start reading the lecture notes for the final exam and also should get some ideas on the project.


 * Concerns:

For now everything seems to be on track except for the final project. Based on it's complexity I will allocate time and complete it at the best I can.

Week Ending April 24, 2017

 * Task:

My task for this week is to complete the lecture notes for 'Context sensitive grammar'. Matt and I have divided the sections and decided to complete by this weekend. I am responsible for chapter 5 and chapter 6 introduction on textbook. I have to get access to the cis unix account.


 * Results:

Results are satisfactory. I was able to complete the contents of the lecture notes I was responsible for and finished the introduction sections of chapter 5 and 6. And also got access to cis unix account. But still have some connectivity issues from ssh secure shell.


 * Plan:

My plan for this week is to proceed with chapter-6 and to start preparing for the final exam. I have planned to spend 7 days for the final project and 3 days for final exam preparations.


 * Concerns:

Right now my concern is to get access to ssh secure shell. Everything else is on track for now.

Week Ending May 1, 2017

 * Task:

My task for this week is to complete the contents of the lecture notes ' Context sensitive Grammar' and complete the introduction sections of Chapter-5 and Chapter-6. We also have BNF submission for the final project due on this Friday and have final exam next week.


 * Results:

Results are good. Though my group had very less time for preparing notes, I was able to complete the contents I was responsible for and still have to combine Matt's contents on to the foss wiki page and will have a final review before I hand in to the Professor. I completed the introductions of Chapter 5 and 6 and working on the second section of chapter-6.


 * Plan:

My plan for this week is to turn in our final wiki notes and complete the chapter-6 before Saturday. I have started working on the BNF of the programming language I am creating for the final project and I have assigned this entire weekend only to prepare for the final exam.


 * Concerns:

Since I am in the end of this semester managing time for the next two weeks as I have planned is really going to be challenging. No other concerns for now.

Week Ending May 8, 2017

 * Task:

My task for this week is to complete the first two sections of chapter-6 and to review the sections that I already did in chapter-3 and chapter-4. We had our final project BNF due on last Friday and also we have our final exam in the next class.


 * Results:

The results are satisfactory. I completed the first two sections of chapter-6 and reviewed Python and Perl sections of chapter-3 and lisp section of chapter-4. I was able to turn in the BNF project design on time and preparing for the final exam.


 * Plan:

My plan for this week is to complete the leftover sections in all the chapters like prologue, overview, summary/ conclusion in order to have a clear information flow from start to end. It would be great, If we get one more week to work on the textbook that will help us to review all the chapters one final time to improve the quality of the content and to add more descriptions an explanations on the examples we added in each section.


 * Concerns:

For now the concern is the final exam. Once it's done based professor's review I will make necessary changes on my final project design and will start working on that as early as I can.