XL Academy x Aetheras.io
AI Game Development & Computer Science Summer Program
Current class materials and the Next.js starter workspace.
Starter Workspace
Use this package for the local game project, rule tests, ListNode chains, and HOF practice.
First Run
- Download and unzip the starter package.
- Open the unzipped folder in VS Code.
- Run npm install once from inside the starter folder.
- Run npm test for the rule-helper checks.
- Run npm run dev and open the local Next.js URL.
Commands
npm install
npm test
npm run devWhere To Work
src/game.ts: rules,ListNode, and HOF helpers.src/game.test.ts: tests for pure TypeScript helpers.app/page.tsx: playable Next.js screen.
Git Checkpoints
Use the quick reference after class to check changes, save an intentional checkpoint, and share only to the repo your instructor names.
Sessions
Materials are grouped by the dates they were used in class. L08 was skipped in this run.
| Date | Materials | Topic | Decks | Labs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/1 | L01 | Computing, Abstraction, and Programming | - | No lab posted for this date. | |
| 7/2 | L02 + L03 | Expressions, Values, Types, and Functions as Abstractions | L02 lab includes the answer key at the bottom. | ||
| 7/3 | L04 + L05 | Control Flow, Boolean Logic, Scope, State, and Iteration | L05 lab includes the count-matches starter snippet. | ||
| 7/6 | L06 + L07 | ListNode Chains, Data Modeling, and Higher-Order Functions | - | No lab posted for this date. | |
| 7/7 | L09 + L10 | Testing, Debugging, Program Design, Mutability, and References | - | L08 was skipped in this run. | |
| 7/8 | L11 + L12 | Recursion I and Recursion II | Labs include extra recursion practice. | ||
| 7/9 | L13 | Recursion III: Branching Search | Branching-recursion practice and extra exercises. | ||
| 7/13 | L14 | Algorithms I: Correctness and Efficiency | Contracts, edge cases, loop invariants, and a pure rule helper. | ||
| 7/14 | L15 | Algorithms II: Complexity and Tradeoffs | Growth, tradeoffs, and a Git/source-control review. |
Next Course Materials
Active delivery after L15. Some decks may span more than one meeting when the concepts need practice time.
| Status | Materials | Topic | Decks | Labs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Next | L16 | HCI, Browser Interfaces, and UI Feedback | UI feedback, accessibility, and recovery. | ||
| Next | L17 | Concurrency and Parallelism | - | Async ordering, race conditions, and speedup limits. | |
| Next | L18 | Local Game Data and Validation | Use runtime checks before game data reaches the interface. | ||
| Next | L19 | Architecture, Modules, and Project Organization | May span two meetings for interfaces, modules, and checkpoints. | ||
| Next | L20 | Privacy, Data Minimization, and Web Apps | Design the smallest useful data path and a deliberate reset path. | ||
| Next | L21 | AI Foundations, Boundaries, and Prompt Design | May span two meetings for bounded features and prompt contracts. | ||
| Next | L22 | AI Testing, Validation, and Evaluation | Turn a model response into a validated product decision. | ||
| Next | L23 + L24 | Evidence, Scope, Safe AI UX, and Data Lifecycle | Protect the playable path, then make recovery and control visible. | ||
| Next | L25 | Game States and Impossible States | State unions, reducers, and transition tests. | ||
| Next | L26 | Performance, Build Readiness, and Handoff | Measure a player path, then make the build reproducible. | ||
| Next | L27 + L28 | Integration, Demo Story, and Course Synthesis | Reproduce a fix, demonstrate the project, and capture next steps. |