CY-305 Object Oriented Programming and Methodology - Dec 2024 Question Paper

Under each question, How to answer lists the points an answer should cover, outlined by CampusPrep from the syllabus. Check the details against your textbook.

1. 7 Marks
   aHow does Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) differ from procedural programming, and what are the key features of the object-oriented paradigm?
   How to answer

   • Define procedural programming and object-oriented programming
   • Tabular comparison based on structure, data hiding, code reuse, and control flow
   • List and briefly explain core features of OOP: Classes/Objects, Encapsulation, Abstraction, Inheritance, Polymorphism
2. 7 Marks
   bDiscuss the merits and demerits of using object-oriented methodology in software development, compared to other programming paradigms.
   How to answer

   • Merits of OOP: reusability, maintenance, security/data hiding, modularity, real-world modeling
   • Demerits of OOP: steep learning curve, higher memory/execution overhead, unnecessary complexity for simple tasks
   • Summary of trade-offs in software development
3. 7 Marks
   aDescribe the concept of exception handling in object-oriented programming, including the mechanisms used to handle runtime errors and exceptions gracefully.
   How to answer

   • Definition of exception and runtime errors vs compile-time errors
   • Role of graceful degradation and fault tolerance
   • Key mechanisms/keywords: try, catch, throw, throws, finally
   • Flow of control during exception propagation
4. 7 Marks
   bDescribe the process of Input/Output (I/O) processing in object-oriented programming, including the handling of data types, type conversion and control statements.
   How to answer

   • Concepts of streams in OOP (cin/cout in C++ or System.in/System.out in Java)
   • Handling basic and user-defined data types in I/O
   • Implicit vs explicit type conversion (type casting)
   • Role of control statements in coordinating I/O flow
5. 7 Marks
   aDiscuss the concepts of encapsulation and data abstraction in object-oriented programming and explain how they enable modular and reusable code design.
   How to answer

   • Define Encapsulation (binding data and methods, data hiding)
   • Define Data Abstraction (exposing essential features, hiding background details)
   • Differentiate encapsulation and abstraction
   • Explain how they promote modular architecture and reusability
6. 7 Marks
   bExplain the concept of objects in object-oriented programming, including their state, behavior and identity and how they are represented in code.
   How to answer

   • Definition of an Object as an instance of a class
   • State (attributes/data fields)
   • Behavior (methods/functions)
   • Identity (unique reference/address in memory)
   • Code illustration showing state and behavior implementation
7. 7 Marks
   aDiscuss attributes and services in the context of object-oriented programming, including the role of access modifier and static members in defining class behavior.
   How to answer

   • Define attributes (variables) and services (functions/methods)
   • Role of access modifiers (private, protected, public) in encapsulation
   • Role of static variables and static methods (class-level vs instance-level)
   • How these together define class structure and behavior
8. 7 Marks
   bExplain the concept of instances in object-oriented programming and how they represent individual objects created from a class template?
   How to answer

   • Definition of class as a blueprint/template and instance as realization
   • The instantiation process (memory allocation via new/declaration)
   • Multiple instances sharing code but maintaining unique data/state
   • Code snippet showing class declaration and multiple object instantiation
9. 7 Marks
   aDescribe the process of message passing in object-oriented programming and its role in enabling communication between objects.
   How to answer

   • Definition of message passing in OOP
   • Components of a message: object identifier, method name, and arguments
   • Mechanism of dynamic binding during message reception
   • Importance in decoupled and modular design
   • Diagram or syntax example showing sender invoking receiver method
10. 7 Marks
    bDiscuss the construction and destruction of objects in object-oriented programming, including the use of constructors and destructors to manage object lifecycle.
    How to answer

    • Definition and purpose of constructors (default, parameterized, copy)
    • Initialization of state during creation
    • Definition and purpose of destructors (cleanup, freeing allocated resources)
    • Order of invocation of constructors and destructors (e.g., in inheritance)
11. 7 Marks
    aDiscuss association and aggregation as relationship types in object-oriented programming and provide examples of each.
    How to answer

    • Define Association (general 'has-a' connection between classes)
    • Define Aggregation (weak form of association, 'part-of' relationship with independent lifecycles)
    • Differences between association, aggregation, and composition
    • Real-world code or UML examples for each
12. 7 Marks
    bDescribe the concept of interfaces and abstract classes in object-oriented programming, including their role in defining common behavior and enforcing contracts.
    How to answer

    • Define Abstract Classes and abstract/pure virtual methods
    • Define Interfaces as strict contracts
    • Key differences between abstract classes and interfaces
    • Role in decoupling and enabling polymorphism
13. 7 Marks
    aDiscuss virtual functions, friend functions and static functions in object-oriented programming, including their usage and implications for class design.
    How to answer

    • Virtual Functions: runtime polymorphism, vtable/vptr mechanism
    • Friend Functions: access to private/protected members, trade-offs with encapsulation
    • Static Functions: invocation without object instance, access restricted to static members
    • Implications and guidelines in software/class design
14. 7 Marks
    bExplain how strings are handled in object-oriented programming, including common operations and best practices for string manipulation.
    How to answer

    • String as an object/class vs character arrays
    • Common operations: concatenation, comparison, substring, search, length
    • Memory management and immutability (e.g. String vs StringBuilder in Java, std::string in C++)
    • Best practices for performance and avoiding memory leaks
15. 14 Marks
    Introduce the concepts of multi-threading and data collections in object-oriented programming and discuss their applications in building concurrent and data-intensive systems. Additionally, provide a case study, such as an ATM or library management system, to illustrate the practical application of object-oriented thinking and programming principles.
    How to answer

    • Concept of multi-threading and concurrency management (synchronization, thread safety)
    • Data collections (lists, sets, maps) in data-intensive software
    • Case study introduction (ATM or Library Management System)
    • Identification of classes, attributes, methods, and their relationships (inheritance, association)
    • Explanation of how OOP principles (encapsulation, polymorphism) solve the system design problem