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Data Structures and Performance

Approx. 42 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course covers advanced topics in data structures and algorithms to optimize performance. Students will learn how to design and analyze algorithms and data structures for efficiency, and gain practical experience in implementing them in code.

Key Learning Points

Learn how to optimize data structures and algorithms for improved performance
Gain practical experience implementing efficient code
Design and analyze algorithms for efficiency

Learning Outcomes

Design and implement efficient data structures
Analyze algorithms for efficiency
Apply optimization techniques to improve performance

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Strong programming skills in a high-level language
Familiarity with basic data structures and algorithms

Course Difficulty Level

Advanced

Course Format

Online
Self-paced
Video lectures
Assignments and quizzes

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Data Structures

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Notable People in This Field

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Related Books

Description

How do Java programs deal with vast quantities of data? Many of the data structures and algorithms that work with introductory toy examples break when applications process real, large data sets. Efficiency is critical, but how do we achieve it, and how do we even measure it?

This is an intermediate Java course. We recommend this course to learners who have previous experience in software development or a background in computer science, and in particular, we recommend that you have taken the first course in this specialization (which also requires some previous experience with Java). In this course, you will use and analyze data structures that are used in industry-level applications, such as linked lists, trees, and hashtables. You will explain how these data structures make programs more efficient and flexible. You will apply asymptotic Big-O analysis to describe the performance of algorithms and evaluate which strategy to use for efficient data retrieval, addition of new data, deletion of elements, and/or memory usage. The program you will build throughout this course allows its user to manage, manipulate and reason about large sets of textual data. This is an intermediate Java course, and we will build on your prior knowledge. This course is designed around the same video series as in our first course in this specialization, including explanations of core content, learner videos, student and engineer testimonials, and support videos -- to better allow you to choose your own path through the course!

Outline

Introduction to the Course
Course Title
Welcome (Object Oriented Java Programming: Data Structures and Beyond Specialization)
Welcome (Object Oriented Programming in Java Specialization)
Your path through the course
Concept Challenges
In the Real World: Welcome from Google Engineers
Project Prototype
A Customized Welcome to this Course
After completing this course, you will be able to...
Is this course right for me?
If you want more practice before you begin...
The structure of this course
Project Overview
Setting up Java and Eclipse
Getting and Working with the Starter Code
Pre-Course Quiz
Survey: Your goals for the course
Quiz about the Starter Code and Course Structure

Working with Strings
Introduction
Project Overview
Core: Introduction to the Flesch Readability Score
Core: Basics of Strings in Java
Core: Working with Strings in Java
Support: For-Each Loops, part 1 of 5
Support: For-Each Loops, part 2 of 5
Support: For-Each Loops, part 3 of 5
Support: For-Each Loops, part 4 of 5
Support: For-Each Loops, part 5 of 5
Core: Introduction to Regular Expressions
When I struggled: Regular expressions
Concept Challenge: Regular Expressions
Support: More with Regular Expressions
Project: Programming Assignment Walk Through
A note about week numbers
By the end of this week, you will be able to...
Did you have trouble with any question(s) on the practice quiz?
Week 2: Additional Resources
Programming Assignment FAQ
Week 2: Congratulations and quiz answers
Where to next?
Strings and Regular Expressions
Module and Programming Assignment Quiz

Efficiency Analysis and Benchmarking
Introduction
Project Overview
In the Real World: Efficiency
Core: Our Motivation for Asymptotic Analysis
Core: Counting Operations
Core: Introduction to Asymptotic Analysis, Part 1
Core: Introduction to Asymptotic Analysis, Part 2
Core: Computing Big O with Consecutive Operations
Core: Computing Big O with Nested Operations
Concept Challenge: Classifying Functions using Big O
Support: Analyzing Selection Sort
Concept Challenge: Estimating Big O from Code
Core: Worst, Best, and Average Cases
In the Real World: Worst Case Analysis
Core: Analyzing Search Algorithms
Core: Analyzing Sorting Algorithms
When I struggled: Algorithm performance
Core: Merge Sort
Core: A Summary of Sorting
Core: Common Pitfalls in Asymptotic Analysis
Core: Introduction to Benchmarking
Core: Using Java Time
Core: Analyzing Timings
Concept Challenge: Relating Timing Data to Algorithm Analysis
Project: Week 3 Project Walk Through
By the end of this week, you will be able to...
Week 3: Additional Resources
Week 3: Congratulations and quiz answers
Where to next?
Practice Quiz
Asymptotic Notation and Analysis
Module and After Programming Assignment Quiz

Interfaces, Linked Lists vs. Arrays, and Correctness
Introduction
Project Overview
Core: Introduction to Abstraction
In the Real World: Data Abstraction
Core: Linked Lists vs. Arrays
In the Real World: Lists vs. Arrays
Core: Generics and Exceptions
Core: Java Code for a Linked List
Concept Challenge: Implementing linked lists, a first attempt
Concept Challenge: Drawing Linked Lists, second attempt
Support: Adding to a Linked List
When I struggled: Data structures
Core: Testing and Confidence
In the Real World: How can the compiler help with testing?
Core: Testing Practices
In the Real World: How do you test the behavior of code?
Support: JUnit in Eclipse
In the Real World: Unit Testing
Core: Testing Linked List's "Get" Method
Concept Challenge: Which Tests Should You Run?
In the Real World: Test-driven development
Project: Linked List Assignment Walk Through
When I struggled: confidence in code
Core: Markov Text Generation
Core: Implementing Markov Text Generation
Optional Project: Markov Text Generation Walk Through
By the end of this week, you will be able to...
Week 4: Additional Resources
Week 4: Congratulations
Where to next?
Where to next?
Week 4 Reflective Programming Assignment Quiz

Trees! (including Binary Search Trees and Tries)
Introduction
Project Overview
Core: Trees
In the Real World: Trees
Core: Defining Trees
Core: Binary Trees
Core: Pre-Order Traversals
Core: Post-Order, In-Order, and Level-Order Traversals (Breadth-first search)
When I struggled: Why traverse a tree?
Core: Introduction to Binary Search Trees
Core: Searching in a BST
Support: Code for BST's "Find" Method
Core: Inserting into a BST
Support: Code for BST's "Insert" Method
Core: Deleting from a BST
Concept Challenge: BST Shape
Core: Performance of BSTs and Balancing, Part 1
Core: Performance of BSTs and Balancing, Part 2
Core: Introduction to Tries
Core: Performance of Tries
Core: Implementing a Trie
Project: Week 5 Project Walk Through
By the end of this week, you will be able to...
Week 5: Additional Resources
Week 5: Congratulations and quiz answers
Where to next?
Week 5 Content and Programming Assignment Quiz

Hash Maps and Edit Distance
Introduction
Project Overview
Core: Hash Tables
Core: Collisions in Hash Tables
When I Struggled: Hash Tables
Core: Applications of Hash Tables
Support: Modular Arithmetic
Concept Challenge: Hash Tables
Core: Overview
Core: Algorithm
Core: Edit Distance
Project: Spelling Suggestions Walk Through
Project: Word Path Walk Through
Core: Congratulations!
By the end of this week, you will be able to...
Week 6: Additional Resources
Week 6: Congratulations and quiz answers
Week 6: Programming Assignment and Content Quiz

Summary of User Reviews

Learn how to optimize performance by mastering data structures. This course on Coursera has received high praise from users for its clear and engaging teaching style, comprehensive coverage of topics, and practical application of concepts. Many users found the exercises and quizzes to be particularly helpful in reinforcing their understanding of the material.

Pros from User Reviews

Clear and engaging teaching style
Comprehensive coverage of topics
Practical application of concepts
Helpful exercises and quizzes
Good value for the price

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the pace to be too fast
Not suitable for absolute beginners
Limited interaction with instructors
Some technical issues with the platform
Requires a strong background in programming

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