Programming Fundamentals
Introduction
Hardware
hardware - physical devices that make up computer equipment
computer - PC/mainframes/workstations
computer contains 5 main components
CPU - follows the instructions and performs calculations specified by the
program
input device - any device that allows outside world to communicate information
to the CPU
output device - any device that allows CPU to communicate information to the
outside world
main memory/primary memory/RAM - a list of addressable memory locations
that CPU can operate upon, not permanent
– bit - the least possible amount of information: 0 or 1
– byte - 8 bits
– memory location - single (indivisible) portion of memory that holds data
– address - number that identifies a memory location
secondary memory – memory that is used for keeping a permanent record of
information – disk/data CD/flash drive
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Hardware Diagram
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CPU Accessing RAM
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Software
program – a sequence of instructions for computer to follow
system – to be used by other programmers
– operating system – allocates computer resources, launches other programs and
ensures they work properly
application – to be used by end-users
software - collection of programs
data - input to the program
running/executing program - performing program instructions on given data
languages
natural - language used by humans
high-level - language (close to natural) that is understood by humans, C++ is a high-
level language
machine (low-level) - list of instructions in binary format that a computer understands
0101 0001 1100 0010
code
source (high-level language)
object (machine language)
executable code - can run on computer
library – a collection of previously developed object code: input/output, math, etc.
compiler – a system program that translates high-level language into low-level language
linker - program that takes object code and produces executable code
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Producing Executable Code
source code include files
(add1.cpp) (add1.h, iostream)
done by linker
link object
code with
check
object pre-compiled
file code routines from
add include unit for legal standard
(add1.o)
files syntax and libraries to
compile it into produce
an object standard executable
code code
libraries
done by compiler executable code
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C++ Creation
Power vs. Understanding
programming language properties
power – ability to express variety of ideas, code tasks (ex: bigger toolkit); more
powerful language makes it easier to program
understandability – ease of making sense of the code by proficient programmer
in 1967, BCPL was developed as a language for writing operating systems and
compilers
In 1970, the creators of UNIX operating system needed a high-level language that
provided enough (expressive) power and flexibility for their task. They developed B
on the basis of BCPL
In 1972, an enhanced and improved version of the language called C was used to
code most of UNIX
C is powerful yet,
lower understandability: is easy to write code that is difficult to understand
early 1980es, Bjarne Stroustrup developed an extension of C called C++
absorbed best features of C, combines power of low-level language with
understandability of high-level language
major addition is objects: C++ is object-oriented
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C++ Popularity
C/C++ are possibly the most popular programming languages in use
today
most of operating systems (one of the largest and most complicated
pieces of software) is written in C or C++
source code for Microsoft Windows 7 contains 40 million lines of
mostly C/C++
source code for Linux Kernel (v.4.10.11) 18 million lines of
primarily C
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C++ Program Layout
#include <iostream>
include directive - tells compiler int main() {
where to find certain items about
the program statement 1;
main part (main function) - contain
instructions for computer, starts and
// comment
ends with curly brackets: {} statement 2;
indiciates program start
statement – single unit of execution ...
each statement ends with semicolon ;
}
program consists of a sequence of statements
comment is a portion of line ignored by compiler - serves to make the code easier to understand by
humans
line breaks and indentation is for humans - compiler ignores them. Make program easier to understand
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First Program: helloWorld.cpp
include // displays a greeting
directive // Mikhail Nesterenko
// 8/25/2013 comments
#include <iostream>
using std::cout; using std::endl;
function
named int main() {
main() cout << "Hello, World!" << endl;
indicates
start of }
program
output
statement
Rules of Programming
syntax - the principles of constructing (structuring) the program
legal program construct complies with syntactic rules
illegal violates
ex: every statement ends with a semicolon
semantics – the meaning of programming constructs
ex: assignment statement gives a new value to a variable
style – non-syntactic rules of program writing aimed at making program
easier to read and understand
ex: start the program with comments explaining its purpose
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