In computer science, submitting a programming assignment isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. Even a small mistake can cost you valuable marks or lead to code failure. That’s why it’s important to follow a clear checklist before submitting your programming assignment, to catch errors, polish your code, and make sure everything runs smoothly.
Whether a Student, Intern, or coding bootcamp participant, everyone has to submit a lengthy Programming Assignment that demonstrates clarity, quality, and correctness of the code.
A ‘Checklist before programming assignment submission’ will help us to achieve that. In this article, we will discuss some Checklist Points that can be used to score good marks in your Programming Assignments.
Summary Or Key Highlights:
- Submission of the Programming Assignment does not mean submitting a Simple Working Code.
- We must write the programming assignments according to the Technical and Academic Requirements.
- The Ultimate Checklist before submitting a Programming Assignment can help find out the mistakes.
- We will discuss 10 Checklist Points that we should remember during Code Assignment Submission.
- With a Coding Example, we will understand the Checklist Points as well.
What Is The Concept Of Programming Assignment Submission?
Before we start discussing the Programming Assignment Submission Checklist, we have to understand the Programming Assignment Submission Concept. Then only can we relate the whole concept.
The Programming Assignment Submission is not only a submission of a Working Code. We have to write a lengthy document and submit the working code for Academic Evaluation.
A perfect Programming Assignment Submission will have the Functional Accuracy, Logical Thinking, and Technical Skills of the Programmer. A good submission shows the following points:
- The programmer can develop a Trustworthy Software Solution in the future.
- The programmer knows the Professional Code Presentation Process.
- The programmer knows every detail of the code beyond submitting a working code.
In such a complicated process, a Programmer can forget to mention some points, which can reduce marks. In that case, the Programming Assignment Submission Checklist can help to avoid such mistakes.
What Are The Checklist Points Before Submitting The Programming Assignments?
We hope the Programming Assignment Submission Concept has become clear to you, and you can now understand the importance of submission checklists in that field. So, we can move ahead to the main section.
In this section, we will discuss the Top 10 Important Checklist Points that we should re-verify before submitting any Programming Assignments. Let us check those points one by one carefully.
1. Checking The Programming Assignment Requirements:
Before writing a single line of code in the Programming Assignment, we must read the Programming Assignment Requirements. And after completing the Programming Assignment, we have to review it again.
Sometimes, we misunderstand the Programming Assignment Requirements and develop the wrong piece of code. In that case, the Programming Assignment Marks can be reduced significantly.
To avoid such mistakes, we can follow the tips below:
- We should visit the Programming Assignment Prompt as much as possible.
- We have to check specific information like Language Constraints, I/O Formats, etc.
- We can mark the Submission Deadline to avoid last-minute panic.
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2. Checking The Functionality Of Code With Inputs:
The definition of a Working Code is very loose. A Code might work with certain Input Values, but might not work with any other type of Input Values. So, Code Functionality Checking is crucial.
At the end of the Programming Assignment Work, we have to check the program with as much as input values are possible. However, we have to use the Input Values that are categorized in the Assignment Requirements.
We can use the following tips to work on the Code Functionality Checking with Inputs:
- We have to Figure Out all the Edge Cases and provide input values to check the performance.
- We also have to provide some Invalid Input Values to check the response of the code.
- If there are any Output Values already provided with the assignment, we have to re-verify them.
3. Checking Code Compilation:
The codes of the Programming Assignments are usually checked by the Auto-Graders. So, the code might be executing on our system, but it might not execute on the Auto-Grader.
If the codes are not getting executed on the Auto-Grader, then we might get a Zero Score instead of writing a working code. So, we have to check the Code Compilation thoroughly before submitting the assignment.
To check the Code Compilation before submitting the Programming Assignment, we can use the following tips:
- We have to execute to code as much as possible and check the presence of any errors or not.
- Along with the presence of the errors, we have to be sensitive to the Code Warnings as well.
- If the Auto-Grader Name is mentioned in the assignment, then we should use the same platform.
4. Checking Assignment Using Coding Standards:
In the Programming Assignment Solution, we have to develop the code answers by following the Coding Standards, even if the Coding Standards are not mentioned in the Programming Assignments.
The Coding Standards are the rules that a programmer should follow while developing any code. The Coding Standards help in the Code Maintenance, Understanding, and Debugging Process.
We can use the following tips to check the Coding Standards in the Programming Assignment:
- We have to always use Meaningful Names for the Variables and Functions in the code.
- We have to make sure the Code is following the proper indentation and formatting.
- We should not use any Hardcoding or Magic Numbers in the code solutions.
5. Check The Modularization Of The Code:
Another important point that we should check before submission of the Programming Assignment is the Modularization of the Code. It is one of the important sections from which the Marks are evaluated.
In the Modularization of the Code, a Code Solution is divided into Modular Parts or Functional Parts. This helps to reuse any Code Section for any other purposes. As well as this also helps in debugging the code.
To do the Modularization of the code in the Programming Assignment, we can follow the tips below:
- We have to divide the code into Functions or Classes whenever it is possible.
- We should not write the entire code answer into the Main Section of the code.
- We should also not forcefully try to make more classes, which will complicate the code unnecessarily.
6. Code Efficiency Checking:
If a code is working, that doesn’t mean that the code is also efficient. If we want to get a good score on the Programming Assignment, then before submitting, we have to check the Code Efficiency as well.
Code Efficiency is highly needed if we are working on any Large Assignment. Also, if we are working on any Competitive Assignment as well, then the Code Efficiency will be used to find the winner.
We can use the following tips to increase the Code Efficiency before submission of the Assignment.
- We have to analyze the Time Complexity for the Best, Average, and Worst Cases.
- Along with the Time Complexity, the Space Complexity should also be checked.
- We should use Efficient Data Structures in the code whenever it is possible.
- We should avoid Recursive Calls or Infinite Loops in the code to increase efficiency.
7. Check Comments On The Code:
Whatever code we have written in the Programming Assignment should have Comments on the necessary lines. A code without Comments can reduce the marks to some extent.
Also, if the code solution of the Programming Assignment passes through the Auto-Graders, then it also checks the presence of comments in the code. So, it is a very important point that we should check before submission.
Let us check the following tips that will help to do commenting in Programming Assignments:
- We should provide comments for Every Logical Operation in the code.
- At the beginning of the Functions and Classes, we should comment on their needs.
- We should not provide unnecessary comments on every line of the code.
8. Check The Submission Format:
Another important point that we should check is the Submission Format. In the Programming Assignment Requirements, the Code Submission Format should be mentioned.
If we are submitting the Programming Assignment Solution in the Wrong File Format, then the file will not get opened during the evaluation process. Hence, after all the efforts, we can get Zero Marks on the assignment.
So, we have to follow the below tips to upload the File in the Correct Submission Format in the assignments:
- If the File Submission Format is mentioned as ZIP, then we have compressed the file and uploaded it.
- We have to make sure the Achieve is not corrupted or that any Missing Files are there.
- During the Final Review, we have to make sure that the code is running directly from the uploaded file.
9. Check For External Code Usage:
Before submission of the Programming Assignment, during the Final Review Process, we have to check the External Code Usage in the programming solution to avoid significant mark loss.
Along with the External Code Usage, there can be some Accidental Plagiarism cases, which can also reduce the score. From an Academic Integrity Viewpoint, such issues need to be solved before assignment submission.
Let us check the following tips that we can use to deal with the External Code Usage and Plagiarism:
- We can inform the External Help or Sources from where the code is used in the assignment.
- We should not copy-paste the Code Solution from any fellow student or any online sources.
- We can use a Plagiarism Checker to find out Accidental Plagiarism in the code.
10. Taking Acknowledgement Of Final Submission:
In the end, when you are ready to submit the assignment, you have to take the Acknowledgement of the Programming Assignment Submission. It is one of the crucial Checklist Points that we should consider.
Due to any Technical Problems or Glitches, if the Programming Assignment Submission is successful, then your entire hard work will go in vain. That is the reason, Acknowledgment is very much required.
The following tips can be used to take the Acknowledgement of the Final Assignment Submission:
- We have to only submit to the Mentioned Platform in the Assignment Requirements.
- If there is a Confirmation Report, we have to download that into the Local Machine.
- Or we can take a Screenshot of the submission and save it into the Local Files.
- We can also upload the acknowledgment to the email and main ourselves to have a backup.
Case Study On The Impact Of Programming Assignment Checklist:
After discussing the Programming Assignment Submission Checklists, it is time to shed some light on its importance through a Real-life Case Study. In this section, we are going to learn about it.
Here, we will take a problem statement and work on it. Also, we will assume that the programmer submits the assignment without checking the Programming Assignment Submission Checklists.
Problem Statement:
The Problem Statement in the Programming Assignment is like Write A Java Program To Add Two Integer Numbers. The programmer writes the following code and submits it without hesitation.
// Add Two Numbers
public class Main
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
int a = 10;
int b = 20;
System.out.println("The Sum Is: " + (a + b));
}
}
Checklist Violations:
- The “Programming Assignment Requirements” Checklist is violated as a programmer has used the Hardcore Values.
- The Programmer has directly taken the value instead of asking the user. So, the “Functionality Of Code With Inputs” Checklist is also violated.
- The program was developed without using the Proper Naming Standards. So, the “Coding Standards” Checklist is also violated.
- There is hardly any comment in the code which is not also describe the logic. So, the “Comments On The Code” Checklist is also violated.
Final Outcome:
Though the Logic of the code was correct and it was even working, you will get Zero Marks in the Programming Assignment as it has violated many crucial checklist points.
So, ignoring checklist points is disastrous for you, and you will fail that examination.
A Printable Mini Checklist For Programming Assignments:
So, we hope, the importance and the impact of the Programming Assignment Submission Checklist should become clear to you from the above case study. So, here is some stuff that will help you a lot.
As a CS Student, if you have to work on a lot of Programming Assignments, then it is difficult to remember them all. So, we have brought a Mini Checklist that you can download and print for daily use.
So, Download A Printable Mini Checklist that you can pin on your desk and mark there when submitting any Programming Assignment.
We also have a blog where we have mentioned an ultimate guide for coding languages to clear your concepts and to make your vision clear.
Conclusion:
In the end, knowing about the “Checklist before Programming Assignment Submission” is very important.
One thing we can assure you is that, if you follow the Checklist, then hardly any point you will hardly miss mentioning any point in your Programming Assignment. Alongside, you have to be careful with your code solution.
“Get a Second Pair of Eyes: If you’re still unsure about a complex part of your code, getting last-minute programming assignment help from an expert can be the key to securing a top grade.”
Takeaways:
- We have to check the Programming Assignment Requirements before starting work on it.
- We have to be careful about Code Functionality, Compilation, and Modularization in assignments.
- By following the Naming Standards, we have to write and solve the Programming Assignments.
- The Code Efficiency should be checked by analyzing the Time and Space Complexity.
- After the Final Submission, we have to take the Confirmation Report to avoid future issues.
