Krystropolis

Let me start by saying that I completed a degree in English Literature about 7 years before I completed my degree in Software Engineering. So, when I say "Java for English majors," what I really mean is "Java for Krystal." I've been using  LeetCode  to practice coding and today's focus is Binary Tree traversal/manipulation . For this particular exercise, I needed to grab all of the nodes on a level and find their average. Follow this link for an image to help you understand some of the terminology, if you're not already familiar.  Here's a quick run-through: the circles are called nodes the highest node in the graph is called the root if a circle has another circle beneath it, connected by a line, those circles have a parent/child relationship (respectively) if a circle has multiple circles beneath it, each connected by a line, those attached circles are siblings to one another in a Binary Tree (the kind we're working with), th...

The jist of it Created a basic web app using Bootstrap. Practiced implementing forms, buttons, divs, and images with a responsive design. Nothing crazy here, just an introduction to web dev. Tools HTML CSS Bootstrap Challenges I have basic web experience from my college projects and personal portfolio, so I haven't experienced any great challenges yet. Things I learned Sometimes people create dead links: <a href= "#" ></a> Always have alt text in a photo for screen readers: <img src="cat.jpg" alt="A cute orange cat" > Use a place holder for forms: <input type="text" placeholder="Enter text here" >  Make the form mandatory by adding keyword 'required': <input type="text" required > Submit a form with pure html: <form action=" /some-link ">form goes here</form> Radio buttons (another type of input) should each be within their own label and...

Howdy! It's been a short while since my last entry, although I have a few blogs in queue waiting to be finished, so I figured I'd give a brief update on what's going on in my life. In case you didn't know I GRADUATED THIS MONTH! Isn't that amazing? I've been in college since ~2005 (this is my second degree), so graduating is a *HUGE* deal for me. I can't wait to see how my career and life will develop.  So, since graduating, I've been packing, moving, submitting applications, and overall just adjusting to a new way of life. I have way more free time than I've had in a LONG time. Since I just moved, I've mostly been unpacking and getting settled in, but today I decided to take a break and to do something for myself... I downloaded two books--check out OverDrive --and I started Free Code Camp . "Why would you sign up for freeCodeCamp if you have a BS in Software Engineering?" because it looks awesome, that's why! It will tea...

Tetris Red, White, and Blue Edition Tetris in QNX RTOS Don't be fooled, those blocks cleared immediately after I grabbed a screenshot. I just happen to have hands like lightning... only slightly less fast and destructive (cue the Nakadaka ipon ken karate hand strikes). This is being developed for an Embedded Systems course I'm currently taking.   This course's final project focuses on the design and development of an embedded software application--which, as you can see, is Tetris--in C using the QNX RTOS and implemented on an ATMEL AT91SAM9G45 microprocessor . Development This was developed in several stages. The first stage involved a GUI design and shape creation. The second stage entailed controlling shape movement and establishing bounds.  The third stage required a redesign of the GUI (slightly) because our professor gave us the wrong initial dimensions... not too much of a change, but got to learn some more about the front end aspect. Additionally,...

PROJECT CAITLAND One of my closest friends is an artist and I noticed her webpage looked a little cluttered (plus you needed Flash to view it). I met with her to figure out how we could make her a webpage that would better represent her and her art style. Together, with a team of 3 other developers, we brought her ideas to life. We used WordPress , but this project was for a class, so we weren't able to use standard plugins. I present to you, a screenshot of the mock up I made in Paint and a screenshot of the [almost] final product! OLD SITE NEW SITE

GREETINGS, EARTHLING! Hello! Here's a quick introduction, since this is a new blog. My name is Krystal . I'm a 4th year Software Engineering student at Penn State (WE ARE!) and I'm trying to make an online portfolio for myself, so here is part one: the blog . I'll try to keep it regularly updated with projects, questions, struggles, and maybe even some tutorials (although those will have to wait until I finish this semester... boy, am I busy). So without further ado, our first topic: GIT I'm embarrassed to say that in my last year of school, I am still not comfortable with Git. For those of you who don't know what Git is, here's a nice tutorial . If you're too lazy to click on the link, you won't like Git very much... but I'll tell you what it is anyway. It's a version control system. Basically, when I'm writing a program, there will be many stages to the coding process. I'll write something, it'll work, I'll write so...