ST EK List:
2.2.1A The process of developing an abstraction involves removing detail and generalizing functionality.
2.2.1B An abstraction extracts common features from specific examples in order to generalize concepts.
2.2.1C An abstraction generalizes functionality with input parameters that allow software reuse.
2.2.2B Being aware of and using multiple levels of abstraction in developing programs helps to more effectively apply available resources and tools to solve problems.
5.1.2B Developing correct program components and then combining them helps in creating correct programs.
5.3.1E Parameterization can generalize a specific solution.
5.3.1F Parameters generalize a solution by allowing a function to be used instead of duplicated code.
5.3.1G Parameters provide different values as input to procedures when they are called in a program.
5.3.1L Using lists and procedures as abstractions in programming can result in programs that are easier to develop and maintain.
5.4.1C Meaningful names for variables and procedures help people better understand programs.

Brick Wall

Ruthless Suggestions from Al

Humpty Dumpty on brick wall

In this project, you will use abstraction to draw a brick wall.

Sample image of brick wall

Abstraction

Any good programming language might have many tools for drawing and moving, but it wouldn't make sense to have special tools for drawing bricks because most programs don't involve bricks. That's the sort of tool you make yourself when you need it.

Creating a special draw brick, length:() width:() block lets you use procedure names related to the problem you are solving (like draw brick), rather than the general-purpose procedures (like move) that the computer uses for all kinds of tasks.

Drawing One Brick

A picture of a brick is just a rectangle with a brick red color. However, there's no draw rectangle block in snap. One way to draw one is by thinking of a rectangle as a very thick line. Here's the idea:
draw brick, length:(length) width:(width){set pen size to(width); move(length) steps}

The set flat line ends to < > block isn't built into Snap!. In projects without it, you can set the "Flat line ends" in the Settings menu.

Ordinarily, Snap! draws thick lines with rounded ends: line with round ends. That's often the best choice, and you can see why below. But for bricks, we want flat line ends: flat line ends.

Square with flat line ends versus square with round line ends
flat vs. rounded line ends

  1. Click here to load this file. Then save it to your Snap! account.
    It includes the complete draw brick block shown below. Read the code; then try it out.
    draw brick, length:(length#) width:(width#){set pen color to (red); set flat line ends to (true); set pen size to (width); pen down; move(length) steps; pen up}

Using Problem Decomposition

You'd like the "top level" block to be something like this:
draw Brick Wall with (7) rows
Getting there involves problem decomposition: breaking the problem into smaller pieces.

There are two kinds of rows, so we make blocks that specialize in each:

  1. Use draw brick to make blocks block rowA and block rowB.
  2. The two kinds of rows should be exactly the same length. Your first try at drawing Row B is probably a little too long. Debug it.
    • Should Row B have different-size bricks, different-size gaps, or just different-size bricks on the end?
    • If you're not sure, try all the possibilities and see which looks right in the finished wall.
    • Or think "What would make the most sense in a real brick wall?"

Once you have rows A and B the same length, you are ready to write the draw Brick Wall with (7) rows block.

  1. Import your even? block and use it to write the draw Brick Wall with (7) rows block. You may wish to revisit Unit 2 Lab 1 Page 4: Importing Greet Player into Another Program to review importing of blocks and Unit 2 Lab 3 Page 1: What's a Predicate? for the even?block. Read the Debugging Dependencies section below and test your new block to make sure it works properly.

    Debugging Dependencies

    even? (number#){report(Obsolete!)}

    You created your even? block using another custom block, divisible by?. You must export both blocks in order for even? to work properly when you import it into your Brick Wall project.

    If you ever see this red Obsolete! block in code you have imported, it means that a required block was not exported. You'll want to go back to the original project and export again being sure to select all of the blocks needed by your custom blocks.

    2. Now Is a Good Time to Save
  1. Use your brick wall in another project by exporting and importing your brick wall blocks. You may wish to review Unit 2 Lab 1 Page 4: Importing Greet Player into Another Program.
 
  1. Add more inputs to draw Brick Wall (and as needed to row A and row B) for:
    1. Number of bricks per row
    2. length and width of a brick
    3. Gap thickness
    draw a Brick Wall with (8) Rows with Bricks per Row: (7) of Brick Length: (40) Width: (20) Gap Thickness: (5)
    Add these one at a time, not all at once! When you modify the length of a brick, that should also change the length of a row B end brick. When you modify the gap thickness, that should also change the distance between the rows.