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| Building A at Google Kirkland, where our classes are held. |
Today we began our classes on Python! I really like Python as its syntax is relatively straightforward, so it was the logic that was the most complicated aspects of coding with the language. To start off the morning, we worked with the Unix Terminal on Mac, so-called because it uses the same commands as the Unix operating system - on Windows the equivalent is the Command Prompt (cmd) window. This console was to act as the compiler, in order to execute the Python projects that we programmed.
I was really grateful for my foresight to learn a bit of Python prior to CSSI; not only did it indirectly help with understanding JavaScript yesterday, but it also really gave me the leg up on today's lesson. We worked on programs including one that determines whether a random "dice roll" generator is truly random or not, and one that took names and returned adjectives to each letter of the name. Finally, there were many challenges to take on from Project Euler; these were really interesting because they combined math (one of my favourite subjects) and coding to create programs to solve math problems.
After lunch, we had a really interesting discussion about game development from a Software Engineer and Tester, where we discussed the different components that make both board games and video games interesting. This included the emotions associated with actions within the game, as well as specific aspects of different games. During the talk, someone brought up Ingress, which I'd never heard of before but turned out to be really cool. Ingress is an augmented-reality game which uses Google Maps to create a fictional world with portals based in locations around cities that users can go to and accomplish tasks. I downloaded the application to check the game out and the graphics alone are amazing; I'll definitely be trying the game out soon to learn more about how it works.
After lunch, we had a really interesting discussion about game development from a Software Engineer and Tester, where we discussed the different components that make both board games and video games interesting. This included the emotions associated with actions within the game, as well as specific aspects of different games. During the talk, someone brought up Ingress, which I'd never heard of before but turned out to be really cool. Ingress is an augmented-reality game which uses Google Maps to create a fictional world with portals based in locations around cities that users can go to and accomplish tasks. I downloaded the application to check the game out and the graphics alone are amazing; I'll definitely be trying the game out soon to learn more about how it works.
To top off the day, we discovered a few scooters and proceeded to whiz around on them on the Google campus! And then I realized that it has been so long since I've ridden on one... but it was really fun while it lasted. Now it's 2:00am and we're still hanging out together, chilling out and refreshing (albeit at a strange hour) after a long day of looking at computer screens.
Tomorrow is our last day at Google Kirkland, where we'll end by finish off Python. They actually have "fancy Fridays" on Fridays here - tomorrow is a "beach wedding" theme so we're all going to try to dress up a little! It has been an amazing week here, but I am just as excited to see Google Seattle; the two offices were built right across from each other, separated only by Lake Washington, so I'm interested to see how the two offices differ!
Just noticed, but you cut your hair short again! It looks great.
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