VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.

252-0856-AAL 4 Credits MSC D-BAUG , D-INFK , D-BSSE
You're viewing possible stale or outdated data. Please check the latest semester for more up-to-date information.

Computer Science

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Felix Friedrich Wicker, Dr. Ralf Sasse
Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement. Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:07:36

Abstract

The course covers the fundamental concepts of computer programming with a focus on systematic algorithmic problem solving. Taught language is C++. No programming experience is required.

Objective

Primary educational objective is to learn programming with C++. After having successfully attended the course, students have a good command of the mechanisms to construct a program. They know the fundamental control and data structures and understand how an algorithmic problem is mapped to a computer program. They have an idea of what happens "behind the scenes" when a program is translated and executed. Secondary goals are an algorithmic computational thinking, understanding the possibilities and limits of programming and to impart the way of thinking like a computer scientist.

Content

The course covers fundamental data types, expressions and statements, (limits of) computer arithmetic, control statements, functions, arrays, structural types and pointers. The part on object orientation deals with classes, inheritance and polymorphism; simple dynamic data types are introduced as examples. In general, the concepts provided in the course are motivated and illustrated with algorithms and applications.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Lecture slides and all other material will be made available for download on the course web page.

Literature

Bjarne Stroustrup: Einführung in die Programmierung mit C++, Pearson Studium, 2010 Stephen Prata, C++ Primer Plus, Sixth Edition, Addison Wesley, 2012 Andrew Koenig and Barbara E. Moo: Accelerated C++, Addison-Wesley, 2000

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC
Frequency
Semesterly recurring

Examination

Type
session examination
Mode
written 120 minutes
Aids
Sie dürfen maximal 4 A4-Blätter mit in die Prüfung nehmen.Inhaltliche und formale Anforderungen (Text, Bilder, ein-/doppelseitig, Ränder, Schriftgrösse, etc.) bestehen nicht. Elektronische Geräte bzw.digitale Unterlagen sind nicht erlaubt. /You may take up to 4 A4 sheets into the exam. There are no constraints regarding content and layout (text, images, single/double page, margins, font size, etc.). Electronic devices and digital documents are not allowed.
Digital
The exam takes place on devices provided by ETH Zurich.

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
revision course / private study Computer Science
Self-study course. No presence required. A physical course including lectures (held in German), exercises and recitation sessions (held in German and English) is offered in the autumn semester.
No time listed 120 h semesterly

Offered In