Download Programming 101

Programming 101
William F. Slater, III
August 3, 2000
A Presentation for the
Downtown Chicago IT Webmaster Program
Illinois Institute of Technology
Topics
What is programming?
Where did it start?
Why program?
What is an alogrithm?
What is a Flow Chart?
What is Pseudo Code?
How do you develop a program?
General Programming Tips
Programming Concepts
What Is Programming?
Using a computer and software to automate
a task and solve a problem, or create
something
Where Did It Start?
Charles Babbage and his computing
machine
Countess Ada Lovelace
Why Program?
It’s efficient
It allows you the freedom to do other things if you
simply your life by having computers do the work
faster
It’s fun
It’s profitable
If your competitors are doing programming to
achieve greater efficiencies and you and your
company are not – they will beat you and your
company.
What Is an Algorithm?
A finite set of steps to follow to solve a
problem.
Many times algorithms are expressed in
pseudo code, or even a mathematical
expressions
What Is a Flow Chart?
A set of symbols and lines which explain the
steps, to follow to accomplish some goal.
Flow Charts are good for explaining “computer
programming logic”
Flow charts explain “procedural code” well.
A procedure is an organized set of steps for
accomplishing a task
Procedural coding is an organized set of steps of
accomplishing a task
What Is Pseudo Code?
“False Code” that does not follow
programming language syntax, but it does
express in words, the steps required for a
program to solve a problem.
Example:
How Do You Develop a Program?
Define the problem
Write a spec (& write a
user manual early)
Design the program
design your tests also
Draw a flow chart
Write Pseudo-code
Get a syntax book handy
and write the code
Test the code, unit test and
system test
Make revisions (go back
and test!)
Document the program
when you are finished
Create the training docs.
Train the user
Have a Release party!
General Programming Tips
Study to understand HOW
documented programs in
books, etc. work
Modify & run existing
programs to increase your
confidence with the
technology
Make changes carefully
and incrementally – and
always test after each
change!
Always think about what
you are doing
Learn to “read” code
Keep your code simple
and program for
maintainability
Remember that every line
of code should contribute
to the larger effort of
solving a problem
Strive for excellence and
to be doing it smarter
Always back up your
work
Always document your
work
Programming Concepts
Data
Expressing formulas as code
Assignment
Loops
Tests
Input
Output
Arrays
Conclusion
Programming is a great skill to develop
Learning to think and express yourself logically is a great
skill for learning to program
An Algorithm is a finite set of steps required to accomplish
a task or solve a problem
A Flow Chart is a great way to express the steps a program
is to perform
Pseudo-Code is an English-like way of expressing the
tasks that need to be accomplished in a program
A program is best written from a flow chart and pseudocode
Programming is meticulous, thought-provoking work, and
it pays well.