Introduction to Computers and Programming circuitry that processes and executes

instructions.
COMPUTER
4. Memory devices
 Programmable machine designed to follow
 Devices that are capable of storing
instructions.
information temporarily or permanently.
 Machine that performs tasks such as
 The two types of memory are primary
calculations or electronic communication
memory (Random Access Memory RAM),
under the control of the set of instructions
and secondary memory (USB flash drive).
called program.
Four Categories of Computer: PROGRAMMER
1. Supercomputer  A person who writes instruction (program)
2. Microcomputer to make the computer perform the tasks.
3. Mainframe PROGRAM
4. Minicomputer  Instruction in computer memory to make it
Computer Systems: do something.
1. Software PROGRAMMING
2. Hardware  A problem-solving activity.
Three Categories of Programming Languages:
SOFTWARE 1. Machine Languages
 Programs that run on a computer.  The only language understood directly by a
Two Categories of Software: computer.
1. Operating System  Defined by computer’s hardware design
 Programs that manage computer hardware o Machine-dependent (languages
and the programs that run on them. Some specific to particular computers)
examples are: Windows, Unix, Linux.  Incomprehensive to human readers
2. Application Software o Streams and numbers (ultimately
 Programs that provide services to the user. reduced to 0’s and 1’s; instruct most
Some examples are: word processing, elementary of operations)
games, and programs to solve specific o Slow tedious and error prone
problems. 2. Assembly Languages
 English-like abbreviations
HARDWARE o Represent elementary operations of
 Computer’s tangible components or delivery computer
systems that store and run the written  Translated to machine language
instructions provided by the software. o Assembler convert to machine
Four Components of Hardware: languages
1. Input Devices o High speed conversion
 Act as the medium for sending data to a  More clear to human readers
computer so that the users can interact with o Still tedious to use (many
and control it. instructions for simple tasks)
 Many devices can provide input such as 3. High-level Languages
keyboard, mouse, scanner, digital camera,  Single statement accomplishes substantial
microphone. tasks
2. Output Devices  Translated to machine language
 Devices that allow computers to send data to o Compilers convert to machine
other devices or to users. language
 Many devices can be used for output such as o Conversion takes considerable time
computer monitor, printer, writable CD’S  Instructions comprehensible to humans
and DVD drives. o Look like every day English
3. Processing devices o Contain common mathematical
 The intermediate stage where raw data is notation
transformed into information so that it can
Common Elements in Programming Languages:
be outputted meaningfully for the user.
 Keywords
 An example of it is the Central Processing
 Programmer-defined Identifiers (names
Unit (CPU), which is a set of electronic
made up by the programmers)
 Operators (used to perform operations on
data)
 Punctuation (characters that mark the end of
the statement or that separate items in the
list)
 Syntax (rules of grammar that must be
followed when writing a program)
 Variable (named storage location in the
computer’s memory for holding a piece of
data)
 Variable-definition (specifies the type of
data a variable can hold, and the variable
name)