FAQ #

Each assignment will have an FAQ linked at the top. You can also access it by adding “/faq” to the end of the URL. The FAQ for Project 1C is located here.

Introduction #

In Project 1A, we built LinkedListDeque and in Project 1B, we built ArrayDeque. Now we’ll see a different implementation: MaxArrayDeque! This part of the project will provide some enhancements to your previous ArrayDeque and LinkedListDeque, and also bring everything together into an application of your newly-built data structure.

By the end of Project 1C, you will complete the following:

  • Write the iterator(), equals(), and toString() methods for LinkedListDeque.java and ArrayDeque.java.
  • Implement MaxArrayDeque.java.
  • Finish the GuitarHero tasks.

Style #

As in Project 1B, we will be enforcing style. You must follow the style guide, or you will be penalized on the autograder.

You can and should check your style locally with the CS 61B plugin. We will not remove the velocity limit for failing to check style.

Getting the Skeleton Files #

Follow the instructions in the Assignment Workflow guide to get the skeleton code and open it in IntelliJ. For this project, we will be working in the proj1c directory.

You see a proj1c directory appear in your repo with the following structure:

 proj1c
├── src
│   ├── deque
│   │   ├── ArrayDeque.java
│   │   ├── Deque.java
│   │   └── LinkedListDeque.java
│   └──gh2
│       ├── GuitarHeroLite.java
│       ├── GuitarPlayer.java
│       ├── GuitarString.java
│       └── TTFAF.java
│
└── tests
    ├── MaxArrayDequeTest.java
    └── TestGuitarString.java

If you get some sort of error, STOP and either figure it out by carefully reading the git WTFs or seek help at OH or Ed. You’ll potentially save yourself a lot of trouble vs. guess-and-check with git commands. If you find yourself trying to use commands recommended by Google like force push, don’t. Don’t use force push, even if a post you found on Stack Overflow says to do it!

You can also watch Professor Hug’s demo about how to get started and this video if you encounter some git issues.

Object Methods #

If you’d like, you can follow the steps in this short video guide to help you get set up for Project 1C!

In order to implement the following methods, you should start by copying and pasting your Project 1A and Project 1B implementations of LinkedListDeque and ArrayDeque into the relevant files in your proj1c directory.

Important: Because of the way that the Deque interfaces were structured in Projects 1A and 1B, you’ll need to implement the getRecursive() method in ArrayDeque after copy-pasting it. If you don’t implement this method, both the autograder and your own code will not compile. This doesn’t need to be an actual implementation of the method, since we won’t test it. Instead, it can just look like the code snippet below (feel free to copy-paste this snippet directly into your file).

@Override
public T getRecursive(int index) {
    return get(index);
}

iterator() #

One shortcoming of our Deque interface is that it can not be iterated over. That is, the code below fails to compile with the error “foreach not applicable to type”.

  Deque<String> lld1 = new LinkedListDeque<>();

  lld1.addLast("front");
  lld1.addLast("middle");
  lld1.addLast("back");
  for (String s : lld1) {
      System.out.println(s);
  }

Similarly, if we try to write a test that our Deque contains a specific set of items, we’ll also get a compile error, in this case: “Cannot resolve method containsExactly in Subject”.

public void addLastTestBasicWithoutToList() {
    Deque<String> lld1 = new LinkedListDeque<>();

    lld1.addLast("front"); // after this call we expect: ["front"]
    lld1.addLast("middle"); // after this call we expect: ["front", "middle"]
    lld1.addLast("back"); // after this call we expect: ["front", "middle", "back"]
    assertThat(lld1).containsExactly("front", "middle", "back");
}

Again the issue is that our item cannot be iterated over. The Truth library works by iterating over our object (as in the first example), but our LinkedListDeque does not support iteration.

To fix this, you should first modify the Deque interface so that the declaration reads:

public interface Deque<T> extends Iterable<T> {

Next, implement the iterator() method using the techniques described in lecture 12.

Task: Implement the iterator() method in both LinkedListDeque and ArrayDeque according to lecture.

equals() #

Consider the following code:

    @Test
    public void testEqualDeques() {
        Deque<String> lld1 = new LinkedListDeque<>();
        Deque<String> lld2 = new LinkedListDeque<>();

        lld1.addLast("front");
        lld1.addLast("middle");
        lld1.addLast("back");

        lld2.addLast("front");
        lld2.addLast("middle");
        lld2.addLast("back");

        assertThat(lld1).isEqualTo(lld2);
    }

If we run this code, we see that we fail the test, with the following message:

expected: [front, middle, back]
but was : (non-equal instance of same class with same string representation)

The issue is that the Truth library is using the equals method of the LinkedListDeque class. The default implementation is given by the code below:

    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
        return (this == obj);
    }

That is, the equals method simply checks to see if the addresses of the two objects are the same.

Override the equals method in the ArrayDeque and LinkedListDeque classes. For guidance on writing an equals method, see the these slides.

Task: Override the equals() method in the LinkedListDeque and ArrayDeque classes.

Important: You should not use getClass, and there’s no need to do any casting in your equals method. That is, you shouldn’t be doing (ArrayDeque) o. Such equals methods are old fashioned and overly complex.

Important: Make sure you use the @Override tag when overriding methods. A common mistake in student code is to try to override equals(ArrayList<T> other) rather than equals(Object other). Using the optional @Override tag will prevent your code from compiling if you make this mistake. @Override is a great safety net.

toString() #

Consider the code below, which prints out a LinkedListDeque.

Deque<String> lld1 = new LinkedListDeque<>();

lld1.addLast("front");
lld1.addLast("middle");
lld1.addLast("back");

System.out.println(lld1);

This code outputs something like deque.proj1a.LinkedListDeque@1a04f701. This is because the print statement implicitly calls the LinkedListDeque toString method. Since you didn’t override this method, it uses the default, which is given by the code below (you don’t need to understand how this code works).

    public String toString() {
        return getClass().getName() + "@" + Integer.toHexString(hashCode());
    }

In turn the hashCode method, which you have also not overridden, simply returns the address of the object, which in the example above was 1a04f701.

Task: Override the toString() method in the LinkedListDeque and ArrayDeque classes, such that the code above prints out [front, middle, back].

Hint: Java’s implementation of the List interface has a toString method.

Hint: There is a one line solution (see hint 1).

Hint: Your implementation for LinkedListDeque and ArrayDeque should be exactly the same.

Note: You might ask why we’re implementing the same method in two classes rather than providing a default method in the Deque interface. Interfaces are not allowed to provide default methods that override Object methods. For more see https://stackoverflow.com/questions/24595266/why-is-it-not-allowed-add-tostring-to-interface-as-default-method.

Testing The Object Methods #

We haven’t provided you with test files for these three object methods; however, we strongly encourage you to use the techniques you learned from projects 1A and 1B to write your own tests. You can structure these tests however you’d like, since we won’t be testing them. One possible (and suggested) structure is to create two new files in the tests directory called LinkedListDequeTest and ArrayDequeTest, similar to the ones we gave you in 1A and 1B.

MaxArrayDeque #

After you’ve fully implemented your ArrayDeque and tested its correctness, you will now build the MaxArrayDeque. A MaxArrayDeque has all the methods that an ArrayDeque has, but it also has 2 additional methods and a new constructor:

  • public MaxArrayDeque(Comparator<T> c): creates a MaxArrayDeque with the given Comparator.
  • public T max(): returns the maximum element in the deque as governed by the previously given Comparator. If the MaxArrayDeque is empty, simply return null.
  • public T max(Comparator<T> c): returns the maximum element in the deque as governed by the parameter Comparator c. If the MaxArrayDeque is empty, simply return null.

The MaxArrayDeque can either tell you the max element in itself by using the Comparator<T> given to it in the constructor, or an arbitrary Comparator<T> that is different from the one given in the constructor.

We do not care about the equals(Object o) method of this class, so feel free to define it however you think is most appropriate. We will not test this method.

If you find yourself starting off by copying your entire ArrayDeque implementation in a MaxArrayDeque file, then you’re doing it wrong. This is an exercise in clean code, and redundancy is one our worst enemies when battling complexity! For a hint, re-read the second sentence of this section above.

Task: Fill out the MaxArrayDeque.java file according to the API above.

There are no runtime requirements on these additional methods, we only care about the correctness of your answer. Sometimes, there might be multiple elements in the MaxArrayDeque that are all equal and hence all the max: in in this case, you can return any of them and they will be considered correct.

You should write tests for this part as well! You’ll likely be creating multiple Comparator<T> classes to test your code: this is the point! To get practice using Comparator objects to do something useful (find the maximum element) and to get practice writing your own Comparator classes. You will not be turning in these tests, but we still highly suggest making them for your sake.

You will not use the MaxArrayDeque you made for the next part; it’ll be in an isolated exercise.

Guitar Hero #

In this part of the project, we will create another package for generating synthesized musical instruments using the deque package we just made. We’ll get the opportunity to use our data structure for implementing an algorithm that allows us to simulate the plucking of a guitar string.

The GH2 Package #

The gh2 package has just one primary component that you will edit:

  • GuitarString, a class which uses an Deque<Double> to implement the Karplus-Strong algorithm to synthesize a guitar string sound.

We’ve provided you with skeleton code for GuitarString which is where you will use your deque package that you made in the first part of this project.

GuitarString #

We want to finish the GuitarString file, which should use the deque package to replicate the sound of a plucked string. We’ll be using the Karplus-Strong algorithm, which is quite easy to implement with a Deque.

The Karplus-Algorithm is simply the following three steps:

  1. Replace every item in a Deque with random noise (double values between -0.5 and 0.5).
  2. Remove the front double in the Deque and average it with the next double in the Deque (hint: use removeFirst) and get()) multiplied by an energy decay factor of 0.996 (we’ll call this entire quantity newDouble). Then, add newDouble to the back of the Deque.
  3. Play the double (newDouble) that you dequeued in step 2. Go back to step 2 (and repeat forever).

Or visually, if the Deque is as shown on the top, we’d remove the 0.2, combine it with the 0.4 to form 0.2988, add the 0.2988, and play the 0.2.

karplus-strong

You can play a double value with the StdAudio.play method. For example StdAudio.play(0.333) will tell the diaphragm of your speaker to extend itself to 1/3rd of its total reach, StdAudio.play(-0.9) will tell it to stretch its little heart backwards almost as far as it can reach. Movement of the speaker diaphragm displaces air, and if you displace air in nice patterns, these disruptions will be interpreted by your consciousness as pleasing thanks to billions of years of evolution. See this page for more. If you simply do StdAudio.play(0.9) and never play anything again, the diaphragm shown in the image would just be sitting still 9/10ths of the way forwards.

Complete GuitarString.java so that it implements steps 1 and 2 of the Karplus-Strong algorithm. Note that you will have to fill your Deque buffer with zeros in the GuitarString constructor. Step 3 will be done by the client of the GuitarString class.

Do not call StdAudio.play in GuitarString.java. This will cause the autograder to break. GuitarPlayer.java does this for you already.

Make sure to add the libraries, as usual, otherwise IntelliJ won’t be able to find StdAudio.

For example, the provided TestGuitarString class provides a sample test testPluckTheAString that attempts to play an A-note on a guitar string. If you run the test should hear an A-note when you run this test. If you don’t, you should try the testTic method and debug from there. Consider adding a print or toString method to GuitarString.java that will help you see what’s going on between tics.

Note: we’ve said Deque here, but not specified which Deque implementation to use. That is because we only need those operations addLast, removeFirst, and get and we know that classes that implement Deque have them. So you are free to choose either the LinkedListDeque for the actual implementation, or the ArrayDeque. For an optional (but highly suggested) exercise, think about the tradeoffs with using one vs the other and discuss with your friends what you think the better choice is, or if they’re both equally fine choices.

Why It Works #

The two primary components that make the Karplus-Strong algorithm work are the ring buffer feedback mechanism and the averaging operation.

  • The ring buffer feedback mechanism. The ring buffer models the medium (a string tied down at both ends) in which the energy travels back and forth. The length of the ring buffer determines the fundamental frequency of the resulting sound. Sonically, the feedback mechanism reinforces only the fundamental frequency and its harmonics (frequencies at integer multiples of the fundamental). The energy decay factor (.996 in this case) models the slight dissipation in energy as the wave makes a round trip through the string.
  • The averaging operation. The averaging operation serves as a gentle low-pass filter (which removes higher frequencies while allowing lower frequencies to pass, hence the name). Because it is in the path of the feedback, this has the effect of gradually attenuating the higher harmonics while keeping the lower ones, which corresponds closely with how a plucked guitar string sounds.

GuitarHeroLite #

You should now also be able to use the GuitarHeroLite class. Running it will provide a graphical interface, allowing the user (you!) to interactively play sounds using the gh2 package’s GuitarString class.

Submission #

To submit the project, add and commit your files, then push to your remote repository. Then, go to the relevant assignment on Gradescope and submit there.

Scoring #

This project, similar to Project 0, is divided into individual components, each of which you must implement completely correctly to receive credit.

  1. LinkedListDeque Object Methods (20%): Correctly implement iterator, equals, and toString in LinkedListDeque.
  2. ArrayDeque Object Methods (20%): Correctly implement iterator, equals, and toString in ArrayDeque.
  3. MaxArrayDeque Functionality (5%): Ensure your MaxArrayDeque correctly runs all the methods in the Deque interface.
  4. MaxArrayDeque Max (35%): Correctly implement max in MaxArrayDeque.
  5. GuitarString (20%): Correctly implement the GuitarString client class.

In total, Project 1c is worth 6 points.

Credits #