Questions and Answers
What is the primary task involved in computer programming?
Which of the following best defines a programming language?
What is source code primarily designed to facilitate?
Which type of programming language is characterized by no abstraction from hardware?
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What does an algorithm not typically accomplish?
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Which programming language was the first widely-used high-level language?
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What does profiling an algorithm involve?
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What is the role of a compiler in programming?
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Which programming language was designed by Guido van Rossum?
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What is a key benefit of using pseudocode in program development?
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Which of these programming languages was released first?
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Which control structure should be used when writing pseudocode?
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What was the main purpose of using indentation in pseudocode?
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Which of the following languages was designed by Bjarne Stroustrup?
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Which of the following is a recommended practice when writing pseudocode?
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What does the inclusion of numbers indicate in specific pseudocode naming conventions?
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Study Notes
Computer Programming
- Computer programming involves designing and building executable programs for specific tasks.
- Key tasks include analysis, generating algorithms, profiling accuracy and resource consumption, and implementing algorithms.
Programming Language
- A formal set of instructions for producing various outputs is defined as a programming language.
- Programming languages facilitate the creation of programs that execute specific algorithms.
Source Code
- Source code is human-readable code usually written in plain text and may contain comments.
- It is transformed into binary machine code through assemblers or compilers for computer execution.
Levels of Programming
- Low-Level Language: Offers no abstraction from hardware, represented in binary (0s and 1s).
- High-Level Language: Allows programming that is independent of specific computer types.
Computer Algorithms
- An algorithm is a self-contained sequence of actions designed to perform tasks like calculations and data processing.
- Notable historical contributions include:
- Analytical Engine (Charles Babbage, Ada Lovelace)
- Plugboard in Type I Tabulator (Herman Hollerith, 1906)
- ENIAC Coding System (1943)
Machine Code
- Assembly Language developed in 1949 constitutes an early programming language.
History of Computer Programming
- FORTRAN: Introduced in 1957, the first widely-used high-level language.
- COBOL: Developed in 1960 for business applications.
- BASIC: Created in 1964 for beginners by Kemeny, Kurtz, and Keller.
- PASCAL: Designed by Niklaus Wirth in 1970.
- C (1972) and C++ (1985) were influential in modern programming.
- Key languages released in 1995 include Java (James Gosling), JavaScript (Brendan Eich), PHP (Rasmus Lerdorf), and Ruby (Yukihiro Matsumoto).
- More recent languages include C# (2000), Kotlin (2011), and TypeScript (2012).
Pseudocode
- Pseudocode uses short English phrases to outline program tasks clearly.
- Indentation indicates logical flow, aiding in coding and communication among team members.
- Early design stages may utilize pseudocode, flow charts, or a combination of both.
Examples of Pseudocode
- Sample conditional statements for displaying values based on comparisons.
- Basic input handling for greeting users based on their name.
Do’s and Don’ts of Pseudocode
- Do's:
- Employ control structures.
- Use proper naming conventions and limited numbers.
- Maintain simplicity and conciseness.
- Don'ts:
- Avoid abstraction and over-generalization.
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Description
This quiz covers the fundamentals of computer programming, including the processes involved in designing and building executable programs. Learn about the importance of algorithms, coding, and performance profiling in creating effective software solutions.
