Prepare

  • 5 minutes

In this challenge project, you'll use the Visual Studio Code debugger tools to debug a C# console application.

Project specification

The Starter code project for this module includes a Program.cs file with the following code features:

  • Simulate transactions: the top-level statements configure application data and simulate a series of transactions using either a small testData array or a larger number of randomly generated transactions.
  • Initialize the till: the LoadTillEachMorning method is used to configure the cash register till with a predefined number of bills in each denomination.
  • Process transactions: the MakeChange method is used to manage the cash till during purchase transactions.
  • Report till status: the LogTillStatus method is used to display the number of bills of each denomination currently in the till.
  • Report till balance: the TillAmountSummary method is used display a message showing the amount of cash in the till.

The MakeChange method contains logic issues that prevent it from successfully balancing the money till during simulated transactions. You need to use the Visual Studio Code debugger tools to isolate and fix the logic issues.

To ensure that your MakeChange method is working correctly, your code must verify a successfully balanced till under the following conditions:

  • top-level statements simulate the transactions using randomly generated item costs.

  • top-level statements generate random values for itemCost in the range 2 - 49.

  • top-level statements simulate 100 transactions.

  • the till is successfully balanced when the reported till value is equal to the expected till value. For example:

    The till has 1184 dollars
Expected till value: 1184

Setup

Use the following steps to prepare for the Challenge project exercises:

  1. To download a zip file containing the Starter project code, select the following link: Lab Files.

  2. Unzip the download files.

    Unzip the files in your development environment. Consider using your PC as your development environment so that you have access to your code after completing this module. If you aren't using your PC as your development environment, you can unzip the files in a sandbox or hosted environment.

    1. On your local machine, navigate to your downloads folder.
    2. Right-click Challenge-project-debugging-CSharp-main.zip, and then select Extract all.
    3. Select Show extracted files when complete, and then select Extract.
    4. Make note of the extracted folder location.

  3. Copy the extracted ChallengeProject folder to your Windows Desktop folder.

    Note

    If a folder named ChallengeProject already exists, you can select Replace the files in the destination to complete the copy operation.

  4. Open the new ChallengeProject folder in Visual Studio Code.

    1. Open Visual Studio Code in your development environment.

    2. In Visual Studio Code, on the File menu, select Open Folder.

    3. Navigate to the Windows Desktop folder and locate the "ChallengeProject" folder.

    4. Select ChallengeProject and then select Select Folder.

      The Visual Studio Code EXPLORER view should show the ChallengeProject folder and two subfolders named Final and Starter.

You're now ready to begin the Challenge project exercises. Good luck!