Graphics Magician Project Ideas
The links below are to project ideas that are at the level of a first or second course in computer programming with C++. Many are programming assignments and labs I've given to students in courses I teach. If you'd like to add suggestions to the list, send Mark an e-mail.
The Talking Program
This is one of the first Graphics Magician programs I use about halfway through a CS1 course. It uses only one Machine function, PlayWave, and a set of 22 wav audio files to say any number between zero and 999 billion. It provides practice with "if" statements and functions.
Challenge: Function 1 requires 9 "if" statements (although students with string experience can do it with just one!), function 2 can be done with 11 "if" statements, function 3 requires just 1 "if" statement, and function 4 requires 4 "if" statements, for a total of 25 altogether (without string functions).
The Antenna Program
This one is more of a logic problem used around the middle of a CS1 course, with a couple of function requirements that I throw in at an introductory level. It uses loops and conditions, although I give the basic nested loops that cycle through each point on the screen. Again, there is only one Machine function, this time SetPixel. Later in the course when we get to reading text files and arrays, I sometimes give this Antennas Part 2 assignment.