Corner Grocer Item Frequency Tracker

At a Glance

• C++ data processing application for retail transaction analysis
• Uses STL containers and clean OOP design
• Generates frequency reports, histograms, and inventory signals
• Emphasizes maintainability, clarity, and real-world applicability

A C++ data analysis application that transforms grocery transaction data into frequency summaries and inventory insights. Built with an emphasis on clarity, maintainability, and real-world use cases.

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Project Overview

The Corner Grocer Item Frequency Tracker analyzes daily grocery transaction records and transforms raw purchase data into structured frequency summaries and inventory insights.

The program allows users to:

• Look up how often a specific item was purchased
• View all item frequencies
• Display a text-based histogram
• Review inventory health and restock recommendations
• Automatically generate a backup data file

This project emphasizes clean C++ architecture, efficient data processing, and translating raw input into meaningful operational insights.

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Use Case

Retail teams can use this tool to quickly identify high-demand and low-demand products, supporting decisions around inventory planning, shelf allocation, and restocking priorities.

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Key Capabilities

• Modular C++ application using STL containers to analyze transactional data
• Automated data backup and case-insensitive item lookup
• Business-focused insights such as inventory health and restock recommendations

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Table of Contents

• Project Overview
• Key Capabilities
• Technologies Used
• Program Design
• How the Program Works
• Features
• File Breakdown
• How to Run
• Example Output
• Screenshots
• Engineering Takeaways
• License
• Contact

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Technologies Used

• Language: C++17
• Concepts:
  • Object-Oriented Programming
  • File I/O
  • STL std::map
  • Input validation
  • Data normalization (case-insensitive lookup)
• Tools:
  • Visual Studio / VS Code
  • MSVC Compiler (cl.exe)

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Program Design

The application is structured around a dedicated GroceryTracker class that encapsulates all data-processing and analytics logic, while main.cpp manages user interaction and control flow.

Key Design Decisions

• std::map<std::string, int> is used for frequency tracking to ensure unique keys and deterministic, alphabetical output
• Item names are normalized to lowercase to support user-friendly, case-insensitive searches
• Clear separation of concerns between:
  • Data processing and analytics (GroceryTracker)
  • User interaction and control flow (main.cpp)

This design improves readability, maintainability, and extensibility.

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How the Program Works

1. Transaction data is read from an external input file at program startup
2. Item names are normalized to support case-insensitive lookups
3. Frequencies are stored using an STL std::map
4. Users interact with the program through a menu-driven interface
5. Reports and histograms are generated on demand
6. A backup data file (frequency.dat) is automatically created

Note:
The input data file is stored in a dedicated data directory, and the program’s working directory is configured accordingly during execution to allow relative file access without hardcoding paths.

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Features

Menu Options

1. Look up the frequency of a specific item
2. Display all item frequencies
3. Display a histogram and business insights
4. Exit the program

Business & Usability Enhancements

• Inventory health scoring based on demand levels
• Identification of most- and least-purchased items
• Restock and shelf-space recommendations
• Automatic generation of frequency.dat as a backup file
• Input validation to prevent invalid menu selections

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File Breakdown

File	Purpose
src/main.cpp	Program entry point and menu logic
src/GroceryTracker.h	GroceryTracker class definition
src/GroceryTracker.cpp	GroceryTracker class implementation
data/CS210_Project_Three_Input_File.txt	Input transaction data
output/frequency.dat	Generated output file containing item frequencies

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How to Run

Compile (MSVC)

cl src/main.cpp src/GroceryTracker.cpp /Fe:CornerGrocer.exe

Run

CornerGrocer.exe

Note: The input data file is stored in a dedicated data directory, and the program’s working directory is configured accordingly during execution to allow relative file access without hardcoding paths.

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Example Output

===== Purchase Frequency Histogram =====
apples ******** [HIGH]
cranberries ********** [HIGH]
limes * [LOW]

===== Inventory Health =====
Inventory Health Score: 70% (Moderate)

===== Restock Recommendations =====
- limes (LOW stock)

Note: Item lookup is case-insensitive for improved user experience.

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Screenshots

Program Startup and Data Load

Histogram and Business Insights Output

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Engineering Takeaways

This project demonstrates practical experience in:

• Designing modular C++ applications with clear class responsibilities
• Safely handling file input/output and runtime errors
• Leveraging STL containers for efficient data processing
• Normalizing and validating user input for reliability
• Translating raw transactional data into actionable operational insights

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License

This project is released under the MIT License and is available for review, reuse, and adaptation.

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Contact

Erica Kinch
Computer Science | Data & Software Development

🔗 GitHub: github.com/ekdoestech
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/erica-kinch
📧 Email: ek.does.tech@gmail.com