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Questions and Answers
What is a computer?
What is a computer?
What is software?
What is software?
Operating systems manage transitions between jobs.
Operating systems manage transitions between jobs.
True
What is the primary function of the Central Processing Unit (CPU)?
What is the primary function of the Central Processing Unit (CPU)?
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Assembly languages use English-like abbreviations representing elementary computer ______.
Assembly languages use English-like abbreviations representing elementary computer ______.
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Match the programming languages with their description:
Match the programming languages with their description:
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What hardware trends approximately double every year or two?
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?
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.
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 __________.
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.
