CS137 Textbook

This content was thoughtfully created and tailored for CS137 — Programming Principles, for Software Engineering students at the University of Waterloo.

It features a collection of uniquely designed practice problems and in-depth explanations aimed at supporting students in mastering course concepts. Widely received as a valuable learning resource, it has helped students deepen their understanding, reinforce key ideas, and perform confidently in the course.

All notes are mine. I asked an AI tool to handle formatting only. I have not gone through the whole thing to double-check it kept its hands off the content, so treat any weirdness as a formatting artifact rather than something I wrote.

This Textbook isn't a substitute for attending lectures. Class discussion often expands on topics based on student questions, and I add commentary, extra examples, and explanations in the moment that don't make it into the written version.

Last updated: June 2026