Algorithm & Pseudocode: Week 1

Week 1: Algorithm & Pseudocode

• Algorithms are sets of instructions to achieve a specific goal (recipe or prompts).
• Learning programming automates tasks and enhances logical, problem-solving skills.
• Computational thinking involves how a computer solves problems using structured datasets.
• Computational elements include input (data), process (algorithm) and output (information).
• Data, a set of structured values, are classified as primitive (integer, float) or non-primitive (string, array, classes).
• Algorithms involve sequence (series of steps), loops (repeated sequence), conditions (decision-making), and operators (mathematical and logical expressions).
• Information, insight, and results lead to recommendations, but flawed input results in flawed output.
• Control flow follows a sequential order.
• Computational practice includes experimenting, iterating to develop, test, and upgrade.
• Strategies include abstracting to eliminate unnecessary detail, decomposing problems, automating, and generalizing solutions.

Programming Language

• Binary codes represent 0 as off/false and 1 as on/true.
• A bit stands for the smallest unit of data represented by 0 or 1.
• A byte is a group of bits.
• Machine code includes instructions that a CPU directly executes (written in binary).
• Compilers translate programming languages (e.g., C, C++, Java).
• Interpreters translate and execute code line-by-line without creating separate machine code files (e.g., Python, JavaScript).
• High-Level Languages (HLL) are designed for human readability (e.g., if, for, print).
• Programming paradigms are how programs are constructed and function.

Week 2: Business Process, Documentation, Flowchart

• A business process involves a series of related transactions converting input to output.
• It's important to understand how systems work and evaluate the respective strengths and weaknesses.
• Documentation covers the 5W+1H of data entry, processing, storage, information output, and system control.
• Documentation techniques involve the use of a data flow diagram (DFD) and flowcharts.
• A DFD consists of four basic elements: data source/destinations (square), data flow (arrow, labelled), transformation process (circle), and data stores (two horizontal lines).
• The highest-level DFD is the context diagram.
• Flowcharts are analytical techniques that describe aspects of an information system.
• Flowcharts utilize symbols to represent start/end points, connections, input/output, processes, and decisions.

Week 3: Pseudocode, Data, and Controlled Structure

• Pseudocode is a sequence of steps that describe a problem in a code-like format.
• C language code tells the computer what to do via commands with programs consisting of statements (assignments, loops, calls).
• Statements modify the program state.
• Syntax is the set of rules that define the structure and format of valid code.
• Keywords and reserved words are predefined with special meanings.
• Structure involves: general format and order, preprocessor directives, main function, variable declaration, statements via printf/scanf, and return statements.

Week 4: Data, Operators, Input/Output

• Basic data types: integer (numerical), float (decimal), double (double decimal), char (single character), and bool (boolean value).
• Derived data types: arrays (same-type elements), pointer (memory addresses), structure (different types), and union (shared memory).
• Pointers facilitate interaction with memory.
• Assignment operators include =, +=, -=, and other variants like *=, /=, %=.
• Input is read using the scanf() function for numbers/characters, getchar() for single characters, and fgets() for lines of text.
• %d is used for integers, %f for floats, %c for characters, and %s for strings in formatted I/O.
• The & operator provide the memory address when using the scanf() function.

Week 5: Conditionals

• Conditionals determine action choice based on true/false conditions.
• An IF statement executes code if a condition is true.
• IF...ELSE chooses between two code blocks.
• IF...ELSE IF...ELSE handles multiple conditions.
• SWITCH statements check a variable against multiple fixed values.
• Short if/else statements: (condition) ? value_if_true : value_if_false;

Week 6: Loops

• Loops execute a code block repeatedly until a condition is met.
• Initialization specifies loop starting conditions.
• Execution occurs before the loop starts.
• Iteration updates the state of a program.