Computer Programming

An Introduction to Programming
 2

Programming
Lets discuss why you think you are in a
programming course!

Its a mistake?

You need to know as everything will be

computerized?
 3

Programming
Everything involves computers now

You will need it for your job, whether as a user or as a manager

over-seeing IT; how to specify your requirements? (I often hear
I want a system that all I need to do is push one button and all
the following happens) and you need to not be "con" by your
programmers (I also often hear that my friends told me that it
takes 4 months to have the requirements, but in actual fact, it
may take 3 days!)

Many more scenarios, whether you are a lawyer, or otherwise.

Will you ever be programmers, a very big MAYBE. IBM (you

heard of them right?) use to hire all sorts and train them.
 4

Computer Programming
Is it difficult?

No, when you choose this path, you already

programmed!

It's easy, so let's have fun for the next 3 months

 5

Programmers
Programs are the directions given to computers

Programmers are the people who write computer

programs

Applications programmers write, maintain,

and/or customize programs that handle a specific task

Systems programmers write and maintain

programs that help the computer carry out its basic
operating functions
 6

Programming languages are the languages

used to communicate with a computer

E.g., C++, C#, Java, Visual Basic, Perl, C, COBOL

Types
Machine languages
Assembly languages
High-level languages
 7

Machine Languages
The first programmers had to write the program
instructions using only combinations of 0s and 1s
E.g., 00101 10001 10000
Instructions written in 0s and 1s are called
machine language or machine code
Each type of machine has its own language
Machine languages are the only way to communicate
directly with the computer
Programming in machine language is tedious and
error-prone; requires highly trained programmers
 8

Assembly Languages
Assembly languages simplify programmers job

Can use mnemonics instead of 0s and 1s

E.g., ADD bx, ax

Assembly programs require an assembler to convert

instructions into machine code

Easier to write programs in assembly language

But still tedious and requires highly trained programmers

 9

High-Level Languages
High-level languages allow programmer to use
English-like instructions

E.g., grossPay = hours * rate

High-level languages are more machine-independent

Programs written in a high-level language can be used on many

different types of computers

Compilers convert the instructions into 0s and 1s

Interpreters translate the program line by line as the

program is running
 10

High-Level Languages (continued)

When writing a procedure-oriented program,
the programmer concentrates on the major tasks
that the program needs to perform

Examples: COBOL, BASIC, C

An object-oriented program requires

programmer to focus on the objects that the
program can use to accomplish its goal

Examples: C++, Visual Basic, Java, C#

 11

Control Structures!
Programs are written using three basic structures

Sequence
Used in every program you write

Repetition
Used in most programs you write

Selection
Used in most programs you write

Called control structures or logic structures

 12

The Sequence Structure

The sequence structure directs the computer
to process the program instructions, one after
another, in the order listed in the program
 13

The Repetition Structure

Repetition structure: directs computer to
repeat one or more instructions until some
condition is met

Also called a loop or iteration

 14

The Repetition Structure (continued)

What could you do if you dont know precisely
how many steps separate Rob from the chair?
 15

The Selection Structure

Selection structure: makes a decision and
then takes an appropriate action based on that
decision

Also called the decision structure

 16

The Selection Structure (continued)

 17

Summary
Programs: step-by-step instructions that tell a computer how to
perform a task

Programmers use programming languages to communicate with the

computer

First programming languages were machine languages

High-level languages can be used to create procedure-oriented programs

or object-oriented programs

Algorithm: step-by-step instructions that accomplish a task (not

written in a programming language)

Algorithms contain one or more of the following control structures:

sequence, selection, and repetition
 18

Summary (continued)
Sequence structure: process the instructions,
one after another, in the order listed

Repetition structure: repeat one or more

instructions until some condition is met

Selection structure: directs the computer to

make a decision, and then to select an
appropriate action based on that decision