This is the fourth post in a weekly series of blog posts I will be writing to document my experience in CS327E, Elements of Databases, for the Elements of Computing Program at The University of Texas at Austin.
Check out my previous week’s blog post.
Monday, February 4
We started XML today. Very simple. I’m familiar with XML, and we are also covering in my Mobile Computing class, so I’m comfortable with it. I’ll say I am still recovering from my weekend in Menlo Park, I’m behind on the reading, and haven’t had time to look at much of anything. I paired up with Holly today to work on Project 2, we will paired programming. We are a pretty good match, she has more experience programing, but doesn’t know python very well, whereas I am less experienced in software programing, but experienced with python and the associated tools we are using like git and GitHub. I’m looking forward to working with her. I’ve paired programmed before, but I am more used to doing code reviews.
Wednesday, February 6
I’m finally recovered from this past weekend. We covered DTDs today. Simple concept, I just never can remember the syntax. *, ?, + …. We introduced the concept of XML ID REFS. I started working with Holly planning out our attack for Project 2 (XML Search). We are planning on meeting Friday afternoon to start working.
Friday, February 8
In class today we introduced JSON. JSON is my choice of readable data backup formats. I have some experience with JSON data dumps from some of the web projects I have worked on in the past. Holly and I started working on the project today. It’s going to be tough, primarily because of the limitations (speed) of python. We’ll see how this goes though. Holly brought me muffins. The clear path to my heart is food, especially muffins. Stop it Holly, you had me at ‘Hi, I brought you muffins.’ Holly and I work very well, she has more experience with data structures while I know the syntax and quirks of python. Also git branching. Solve a problem, branch, screw something up really bad, delete the branch, start again. Repeat. This was our primary method of working through the problem, which is working pretty well thus far. We still have a lot to get done, but today’s work was a great start!