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Introduction To Computers and Programming

Computer programs are instructions that tell a computer to perform tasks. Programmers write these instructions in programming languages. There are low-level languages close to machine code and high-level languages that are more like human languages. Common programming languages include C++, Java, Python, and JavaScript. To create an executable program, the source code is compiled and linked, which may be done within an integrated development environment that combines the necessary tools.

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236 views

Introduction To Computers and Programming

Computer programs are instructions that tell a computer to perform tasks. Programmers write these instructions in programming languages. There are low-level languages close to machine code and high-level languages that are more like human languages. Common programming languages include C++, Java, Python, and JavaScript. To create an executable program, the source code is compiled and linked, which may be done within an integrated development environment that combines the necessary tools.

Uploaded by

Hani Tamimi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Computers and

Programming
Why Program?
Why Program?
Computer – programmable machine designed
to follow instructions
Program – instructions in computer memory to
make it do something
Programmer – person who writes instructions
(programs) to make computer perform a task

SO, without programmers, no programs;


without programs, a computer cannot do
anything
Computer Systems: Hardware
and Software
Main Hardware Component
Categories:
1. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
2. Main Memory
3. Secondary Memory / Storage
4. Input Devices
5. Output Devices
Main Hardware Component
Categories

Figure 1-2
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Comprised of:
Control Unit
Retrieves and decodes program instructions
Coordinates activities of all other parts of computer
Arithmetic & Logic Unit
Hardware optimized for high-speed numeric
calculation
Hardware designed for true/false, yes/no decisions
CPU Organization
Main Memory
• It is volatile. Main memory is erased when
program terminates or computer is turned off
• Also called Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Organized as follows:
– bit: smallest piece of memory. Has values 0 (off,
false) or 1 (on, true)
– byte: 8 consecutive bits. Bytes have addresses.
Main Memory
• Addresses – Each byte in memory is
identified by a unique number known as
an address.
Main Memory

• In Figure 1-4, the number 149 is stored in


the byte with the address 16, and the
number 72 is stored at address 23.
Secondary Storage
• Non-volatile: data retained when program
is not running or computer is turned off
• Comes in a variety of media:
– magnetic: floppy disk, hard drive
– optical: CD-ROM, DVD
– Flash drives, connected to the USB port
Input Devices
• Devices that send information to the
computer from outside
• Many devices can provide input:
– Keyboard, mouse, scanner, digital camera,
microphone
– Disk drives, CD drives, and DVD drives
Software-Programs That Run on a
Computer
• Categories of software:
– System software: programs that manage the
computer hardware and the programs that run
on them. Examples: operating systems, utility
programs, software development tools
– Application software: programs that provide
services to the user. Examples : word
processing, games, programs to solve
specific problems
Programs and Programming
Languages
Programs and Programming
Languages
• A program is a set of instructions that the
computer follows to perform a task

• We start with an algorithm, which is a set


of well-defined steps.
Example Algorithm for Calculating
Gross Pay
Machine Language
• Although the previous algorithm defines
the steps for calculating the gross pay, it is
not ready to be executed on the computer.
• The computer only executes machine
language instructions
Machine Language
• Machine language instructions are binary
numbers, such as

1011010000000101

• Rather than writing programs in machine


language, programmers use programming
languages.
Programs and Programming
Languages
• Types of languages:

– Low-level: used for


communication with computer
hardware directly. Often written
in binary machine code (0’s/1’s)
directly.

– High-level: closer to human


language
Some Well-Known Programming
Languages (Table 1-1 on Page 10)

C++
BASIC Ruby
FORTRAN
Java
Visual Basic
COBOL
C#
JavaScript
C Python
From a High-Level Program to an
Executable File
a) Create file containing the program with a text
editor.
b) Run preprocessor to convert source file
directives to source code program statements.
c) Run compiler to convert source program into
machine instructions.
d) Run linker to connect hardware-specific code to
machine instructions, producing an executable
file.
• Steps b–d are often performed by a single
command or button click.
• Errors detected at any step will prevent
execution of following steps.
From a High-Level Program to an
Executable File
Integrated Development
Environments (IDEs)
• An integrated development environment,
or IDE, combine all the tools needed to
write, compile, and debug a program into a
single software application.
• Examples are Microsoft Visual C++, Turbo
C++ Explorer, CodeWarrior, etc.
Integrated Development
Environments (IDEs)

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