Computer Programming Language ME 171

Course Information

• Course Title: Computer Programming Language
• Course Number: ME 171
• Credit Hours: 3.00
• Instructor: Dr. Md. Mamun, Dr. S. M. Shavik

Course Content

• Introduction to computer hardware and its working principle
• Programming logic, algorithms, and flowcharts
• Introduction to structured programming
• Overview of C and C++ programming languages
  • Fundamentals of C and C++
  • Data types and expressions
  • Operators
  • Libraries and keywords
  • Statements
  • Control statements
  • Input and output systems
  • Pointers
  • Arrays
  • Functions
  • Strings
  • File Input/Output
  • Structure and Union
• Object-oriented programming
• Introduction to advanced programming (Python)

Textbooks

• Teach Yourself C – Herbert Schildt, Osborne
• Computer Fundamentals – Pradeep K. Sinha, BPB Publications
• [Any suitable book on C programming]
• The C Programming Language – Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie, Pearson Education

Software

• Codeblocks
• Any suitable compiler for C programming (DevCPP, Visual C++, Turbo C++, Borland C++, Geany, GNU GCC, Cygwin, Xcode, etc.)

What is a Computer?

• A computer is an electronic device that inputs, processes, and outputs data.
• A computer stores data, interacts with devices, and executes programs.
• Computers are available in various sizes and configurations (mainframe, supercomputer, single-board computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.).

Computer Types

• Mainframe Computer (Concurrency)
• Supercomputer (Speed)
• Desktop Computer (General-purpose)
• Workstation (Specialized—gaming, simulation, animation workstations)
• All-in-one Computer
• Mac Mini
• Intel NUC
• Laptop Computer
• Raspberry PI
• Raspberry PI zero
• Stick Computer
• Surface Pro
• Galaxy S9
• iPad Pro
• iPhone XS Max

Mainframe vs. Supercomputers

• Mainframe computers are professional-level commercial computers that act as servers.
• Supercomputers are the fastest computers for processing data.
• Mainframes are used in large organizations to handle thousands of concurrent users (banks, government databases, etc.).
• Supercomputers are used for high-performance computing in space centers, weather forecasting, etc.

Microcontrollers and System-on-Chip (SoC)

• Microcontrollers (MCUs) are small computers on a single chip with CPUs, memory, and peripherals.
• They are used in embedded applications (car engine control systems, medical devices).
• SoCs contain most of the main components of a general-purpose computer, such as CPUs and memory, in a single chip.

CPU Architecture

• Neumann: Single memory interface for data and code.
• Harvard: Separate program and data memory interfaces.

Why is a Computer?

• A computer is a synergistic system combining CPU speed and human intelligence.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning programs use artificial neural networks (ANNs) which are complex programs developed by humans.
• These programs help machines learn and perform increasingly complex tasks.
• Examples of AI systems include IBM's Deep Blue, Apple's Siri, etc.

Computer Programming

• Traditional programming directly instructs the CPU to operate on input data for a specific output.
• Machine learning programming trains the computer on dataset patterns to predict new data.
• A programming language helps communicate instructions to the computer.
• Examples of languages include Fortran, C, C++, Python, Java, HTML, PHP, Javascript, Perl, Ruby, Matlab, etc.

Computer Languages (Abstraction)

• Computer programming languages can be categorized into:
  • Low-level languages (Machine language): use binary patterns
  • Mid-level languages (Assembly language): use mnemonics
  • High-level languages (Fortran, C, C++, Java): use human-readable words and symbols

Steps to Solve a Problem by Computer Programming

• Step 1: Problem Definition
• Step 2: Algorithm Development and Data Structure
• Step 3: Coding
• Step 4: Compiling, Linking, Testing, and Debugging

Software Modules

• Text Editor (Notepad, Wordpad, etc.)
• Compiler/Interpreter (gcc, g++, etc.)
• Linker (ld, lld, etc.)
• Debugger (gdb, windbg, etc.)
• Integrated Development Environment (IDE) (Codeblocks, Dev-C++, etc.)

Compiler vs. Interpreter

• A compiler translates the entire source code into machine code before runtime.
• An interpreter translates one line of the source code at a time during runtime.
• Compiled programs generally run faster, but interpreters are generally platform-independent.

Primary Memory (RAM)

• Primary memory is made of cells (bits) or groups of bits (bytes).
• A bit represents a voltage state (0 or 1).
• Bytes are groups of 8 bits.
• The CPU reads and writes values from RAM memory cells using addresses assigned by the OS.
• RAM is volatile, so it requires persistent storage for long-term data.

Major Components of a Computer System

• Hardware (physical components)
• Software (data and programs)

Other Important Details

• Hardware vs. Software
  • Hardware are the physical parts of a computer system (CPU, motherboard, RAM, HDD, monitor, keyboard, etc.)
  • Software are the instructions/programs for the hardware to run and operate (Operating Systems like Windows, Linux, etc., and applications like word processors)

Computing Platforms

• Computing platforms are combinations of hardware (CPU, etc.) and software (OS like windows)
• Different combinations provide different advantages by supporting different tasks and functionalities.

This quiz covers the fundamentals of computer programming, focusing on C and C++. It includes topics such as programming logic, algorithms, control statements, and object-oriented programming. Test your understanding of key concepts from the course and prepare for practical applications.