Lecture 05: Computer Software & Prog.
CS 101: Introduction to Computing
Computer Software and Programming
Saima Jabeen
Lec05: Computer Software & Prog.
S 101: Introduction to Computing
Computer Programming
Computer programming is the process of writing
instructions that direct a computer to carry out specific
tasks
A computer program is a set of step-by-step
instructions that tell a computer how to solve a problem or
carry out a task
The instructions that make up a computer program
are often referred to as code
A program is written in a computer programming
language
Lec05: Computer Software & Prog.
S 101: Introduction to Computing
Programming Languages (-1-)
A programming language is an artificial
language designed for creating instructions that a
computer can carry out
In contrast, the languages we speak [e.g., English / Urdu] are
natural languages
Programming
languages
languages in that
differ
from natural
natural languages are used for interaction between
people
programming languages allow humans to communicate
instructions to machines as well as machine-to-machine
interaction
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Lec05: Computer Software & Prog.
S 101: Introduction to Computing
Programming Languages (-2-)
Programming languages can be divided into two major
categories
Low-level languages
Requires programmer to write instructions for the
lowest level of computers hardware
Easy for computer to understand; Difficult for humans
Examples: Machine Language, Assembly Language
High-level languages
Makes programming process easier by providing
commands such as PRINT or WRITE instead of
unintelligible strings of 1s and 0s
Examples: FORTRAN, C, C++, Java, Python
Languages can also be categorized by generations
Lec05: Computer Software & Prog.
S 101: Introduction to Computing
Programming Language Categorization
3GL, 4GL
HIGH-LEVEL
LANGUAGES
2GL
ASSEMBLY
LANGUAGE
1st Generation
Language [1GL]
LOW-LEVEL
LANGUAGES
MACHINE LANGUAGE
HARDWARE
Lec05: Computer Software & Prog.
S 101: Introduction to Computing
Machine Language / Machine Code
The first languages for programming computers sometimes
referred to as first-generation languages
Consists of a set of commands, represented as a series of 1s
and 0s, corresponding to the instruction set understood by a
microprocessor
A machine language is specific to a particular CPU or
microprocessor family
High-level languages are (mostly) translated [compiled] to
machine language in order to be understood and executed by
the microprocessor
Lec05: Computer Software & Prog.
S 101: Introduction to Computing
Assembly Language
Allows programmers to use abbreviated command words
rather than 1s and 0s used in machine languages
A significant improvement over machine languages
Mnemonics such as ADD, SUB, MUL, DIV, JMP etc are more
understandable than 0001, 0100 etc
Also referred to as second-generation languages
Assembly languages are also machine specific
Each assembly language command corresponds on a one-to-one
basis to a machine language instruction
Lec05: Computer Software & Prog.
S 101: Introduction to Computing
Algorithm
A concept that pervades all areas of computer science.
Algorithm is a process that a computer could carry out
to complete a well defined task within finite time and
resources.
The objective of computer science is to solve problems
by developing, analyzing, and implementing
algorithmic solutions.
Lec05: Computer Software & Prog.
S 101: Introduction to Computing
Al-Khwarizmi Principle
All complex problems can be broken into simpler
sub-problems.
Solve a complex problem by breaking it down into
smaller sub-problems and then solve them (in a
specified order), one at a time.
When all the steps are solved, the original
problem itself has also been solved.
This process is called Algorithm.
Lec05: Computer Software & Prog.
S 101: Introduction to Computing
Computer Programming
Computer is a powerful tool
It is not intelligent!
In order to use computer to solve our problems, we
must tell it what we want done and the order in which
we want it done.
These instructions are called computer program.
This process is called computer programming.
The person giving these instructions is called a
computer programmer.
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Lec05: Computer Software & Prog.
S 101: Introduction to Computing
References
Computer Concepts, by Parsons & Oja
[Chapters 3]
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