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Questions and Answers
What is a computer?
What is software?
Operating systems manage transitions between jobs.
True
What is the primary function of the Central Processing Unit (CPU)?
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Assembly languages use English-like abbreviations representing elementary computer ______.
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Match the programming languages with their description:
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What hardware trends approximately double every year or two?
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Which of the following enables quick and easy communication via e-mail and international networking of computers?
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Packet switching allows for centralized control over the Internet.
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Programs that are convoluted are difficult to read, understand, and modify due to lack of program __________.
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Study Notes
Introduction to Computers and C++ Programming
- This course will cover the C programming language, structured programming, and proper programming techniques.
- The course is suitable for technically oriented people with little or no programming experience and experienced programmers who want a deep and rigorous treatment of the language.
What is a Computer?
- A computer is a device capable of performing computations and making logical decisions.
- Computers process data under the control of sets of instructions called computer programs.
- Hardware refers to the various devices that comprise a computer, such as the keyboard, screen, mouse, disks, memory, CD-ROM, and processing units.
- Software refers to the programs that run on a computer.
Computer Organization
- Every computer has six logical units:
- Input unit: obtains information from input devices (keyboard, mouse).
- Output unit: outputs information (to screen, to printer, to control other devices).
- Memory unit: rapid access, low capacity, stores input information.
- Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU): performs arithmetic calculations and logic decisions.
- Central processing unit (CPU): supervises and coordinates the other sections of the computer.
- Secondary storage unit: cheap, long-term, high-capacity storage, stores inactive programs.
Evolution of Operating Systems
- Batch processing: does only one job or task at a time.
- Operating systems: manage transitions between jobs, increase throughput - the amount of work computers process.
- Multiprogramming: many jobs or tasks sharing the computer resources.
- Timesharing: runs a small portion of one user's job then moves on to service the next user.
Personal Computing, Distributed Computing, and Client/Server Computing
- Personal computers: economical enough for individual use.
- Distributed computing: computing distributed over networks.
- Client/server computing: sharing of information across computer networks between file servers and clients (personal computers).
Machine Languages, Assembly Languages, and High-level Languages
- Three types of programming languages:
- Machine languages: strings of numbers giving machine-specific instructions.
- Assembly languages: English-like abbreviations representing elementary computer operations (translated via assemblers).
- High-level languages: similar to everyday English and use mathematical notations (translated via compilers).
History of C
- C was evolved by Ritchie from two previous programming languages, BCPL and B.
- C was used to develop UNIX.
- Most operating systems are now written with C or C++.
- C is hardware independent (portable).
- Standardization of C was done in 1989 and updated in 1999.
The C Standard Library
- C programs consist of pieces/modules called functions.
- A programmer can create their own functions or use the C library functions.
- Library functions are carefully written, efficient, and portable.
The Key Software Trend: Object Technology
- Objects: reusable software components that model items in the real world.
- Objects are very reusable, more understandable, better organized, and easier to maintain than procedural programming.
C++ and C++ How to Program
- C++ is a superset of C developed by Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs.
- C++ provides object-oriented capabilities.
- Object-oriented design is very powerful, with a 10 to 100 fold increase in productivity.
Java and Java How to Program
- Java is used to create Web pages with dynamic and interactive content, develop large-scale enterprise applications, enhance the functionality of Web servers, and provide applications for consumer devices.
- Java How to Program teaches first-year programming students the essentials of graphics, images, animation, audio, video, database, networking, multithreading, and collaborative computing.
Other High-level Languages
- Other high-level languages that have achieved broad acceptance include:
- FORTRAN: for scientific and engineering applications.
- COBOL: for manipulating large amounts of data.
- Pascal: intended for academic use.
Structured Programming
- Structured programming is a disciplined approach to writing programs.
- Structured programs are clear, easy to test and debug, and easy to modify.
The Basics of a Typical C Program Development Environment
- The phases of a C++ program include:
- Editing: creating the program in an editor and storing it on disk.
- Preprocessing: processing the code using a preprocessor program.
- Compiling: creating object code using a compiler and storing it on disk.
- Linking: linking the object code with libraries and creating a.out and storing it on disk.
- Loading: putting the program in memory using a loader.
- Executing: executing the program using a CPU.
Hardware Trends
- Every year or two, the following approximately double:
- Amount of memory in which to execute programs.
- Amount of secondary storage (such as disk storage) to hold programs and data over the longer term.
- Processor speeds at which computers execute their programs.
History of the Internet
- The Internet enables quick and easy communication via e-mail and international networking of computers.
- Packet switching: transfer digital data via small packets, allowing multiple users to send and receive data simultaneously.
- No centralized control: if one part of the Internet fails, other parts can still operate.
- Bandwidth: the information carrying capacity of communications lines.
History of the World Wide Web
- The World Wide Web enables the location and viewing of multimedia-based documents on almost any subject.
- The World Wide Web makes information instantly and conveniently accessible worldwide.
- It allows individuals and small businesses to get worldwide exposure and changes the way business is done.
General Notes About C and This Book
- Program clarity: programs that are convoluted are difficult to read, understand, and modify.
- C is a portable language: programs can run on many different computers.
- However, portability is an elusive goal.
- We will do a careful walkthrough of C, but some details and subtleties may not be covered.
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Description
This quiz covers the basics of computer organization, operating systems, and programming languages, including C++. It introduces the history of computers, types of computing, and the evolution of programming languages.
