Chapter 2
Programming Languages
C# Programming
Chapter 2 : Programming Languages
©Rob Miles
Being a Computer Programmer
• Nowadays it is almost socially acceptable
to admit that you can write programs
– Although you might get asked to fix a lot of
computers if you do
– ...and people will wonder why you aren’t rich
• I tell people I am a “Software Engineer”
• This sounds more classy, and is closer to
what I actually do
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 2
What is Programming?
• Programming:
“Deriving and expressing a solution to a
problem in a form which a computer can
understand and execute”
• You have to know how to solve the
problem before you write the program
• The computer has to understand your
instructions
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 3
From Problem to Program
• The starting point for a program is a
problem
• Throughout this course we are going to
work on the basis that we are solving
problems for customers
• This helps us focus on the job in hand:
– If we don’t make the customer happy, we
don’t get paid...
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 4
Working with Customers
• If you can learn how to work with
customers you will become a great
programmer
• Computer Scientists are not noted for their
“people skills” (not sure why) but if you
can get good at this angle your future in
the business is assured
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 5
Solving the Wrong Problem
• This is one of the most common reasons
why software projects fail
• The programmers created a solution to the
wrong problem
• There are lots of reasons why this can
happen
• Not all of these reasons are technical
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 6
Double Glazing Problem
• Given the width and
height of a window we
need to calculate:
– The amount of wood
needed for the frame
– The area of the glass
required
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 7
Data Processing
Width, Length,
Our Program Area
Height
• We can view our program as a data
processor
• We can specify what goes in and what
comes out
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 8
Adding Metadata
• Metadata is very important
– there is always a question in our exam about
metadata
• Metadata for us is “data about data”
• Meta in this context means “stepping
back” from the problem in order to
consider the meaning of the things in it
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 9
The Importance of Metadata
• The metadata is how we get from data to
information
• Saying a window is “3” wide does not tell
us anything, we also need to know that
window width is measured in metres
• To create a useful solution we need to
gather all the metadata about it
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 10
Spot the Metadata:
• Some of these statements are metadata:
– Windows sizes are measured in metres
– Wood is ordered in feet lengths
– The lounge window is 2 metres wide
– The largest piece of wood you can have is 5
metres long
– Window frames are 2 inches thick
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 11
Spot the Metadata:
• Some of these statements are metadata:
– Windows sizes are measured in metres
– Wood is ordered in feet lengths
– The lounge window is 2 metres wide
– The largest piece of wood you can have is 5
metres long
– Window frames are 2 inches thick
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 12
Defining Inputs
• Width:
– Measured in metres
– Smallest value 0.5 largest 3.5
• Height
– Measured in metres
– Smallest value 0.5 largest 2.0
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 13
Defining Outputs
• Length of wood
– Measured in feet (conversion of 3.25 feet per
metre
• Size of glass
– Measured in square metres
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 14
Proving it Works
• The final thing we need is a test to prove
that it works:
“If I give the program the inputs 2 metres
high and 1 metre wide the program
should print out: 4 square metres of glass
and 9.75 feet of wood”
• If the program does this the customer
must pay me for my work
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 15
Getting it in Writing
• It is very important if you do a job for
money that you make sure that:
– You get paid
– You don’t end up doing too much work
– You don’t get sued by your customer
• Getting your specification signed off is the
key to achieving these things
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 16
Customer Involvement
• The worst thing you can do at this point is
go off and build the solution
– The customer should continue to be involved
in the development
• Often the customer will have strong
opinions on how the program is to be used
• They also might change their requirements
when they see what you have done
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 17
Programming Languages
• We can’t just use English to tell a
computer what to do
– Computer are too stupid to understand it.
– English is much to vague.
• Instead we have to use special,
unambiguous, languages which can be
converted into computer instructions
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 18
Different Languages
• There are hundreds of different
programming languages
– each has its own fans and detractors
• They all do the same job though
– provide a way to tell a computer what to do
• As a programmer you will need to be able
to use several languages and will have to
learn new ones
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 19
Summary
• Programs tell a computer what to do
• Information that adds context to your data
is called “metadata” (data about data)
• Programming is also about finding out
what the customer wants you to do
• The program you write is expressed in a
special programming language
Chapter 2: Programming Languages 12-Oct-09 ©Rob Miles 20
