110-A1

CentralProcessing

Unit

MainMemory

Monitor

Disk

Keyboardmouse

What's a Computer?

Network

CPU: (stupid) brain of the computer can do very simple tasks VERY FAST

add, write in memory...

Goal: Perform elaborate tasks by putting together many simple tasks

HOW ?

110-A2

But A computer only understands instructionswritten as a series of 0’s and 1’s

Need a compiler to translate our programinto 0’s and 1’s

High level language

close (but ) to plain English

BETTER

MACHINE LANGUAGE

Could write as such, TIME CONSUMING...

Write a program!•To solve a specific problem: weather forecast, payroll, word processing, traffic lights...

110-A3

Examples of High level languages:

What we will use

An "easy" and powerful languageBUT

You will learn programmingVB is not the point

A useful skill valid for any language

Which language?

• FORTRAN, LISP… 50’s (scientific)

• COBOL… 60’s (business)• BASIC, PASCAL, C… 70’s (multipurpose)

• C++ (OOP), VB (Objects + events) …80’s

• Java,… 90’s (platform independent)

• C#, VB.NET… 2000’s (OOP + event driven)

110-A4

• Clearly specify the problem• Analyze the problem• Find an algorithm to solve the problem

Logical series of tasks

Example: Managing a traffic light

Long enough?

Change the light

Check the time

How long has it been since the lighthas changed?

Yes

No

• Write the program (use VB). • DOCUMENTATION• Test and Debug (correct mistakes)• Maintain and Update

How to write a program

110-A5

Programming is FUN*

* and sometimes frustrating

• Read the book• Come to class• Get a lot of practice on the computers And...

DO NOTFALL

BEHIND

Rewards: plenty

Open doors in • Education: Engineering, Computer Science,

Physics, Bio technologies...• Employment: good programmers are still in high demand

What to Expect?