Introduction to Programming Initial Slides developed by Dr

Introduction to Programming Initial Slides developed by Dr. Doman

What is programming? A deep understanding of programming, in particular the notions of successive decomposition as a mode of analysis and debugging of trial solutions, results in significant educational benefits in many domains of discourse, including those unrelated to computers and information technology per se. (Seymour Papert, in "Mindstorms")

What is programming? Programming is a creative process done by programmers to instruct a computer on how to do a task. (http: //cplus. about. com) Writing an original program that performs a particular task that meets all stated constraints (Think Like a Programmer, V. Anton Spraul, No Starch Press, Inc. 2012)

What is programming? The major resource for this information is the book Think Like a Programmer, By V. Anton Spraul, No Starch Press, Inc. 2012

Instruct a computer Method or interface to do this: PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES Example: Java: Public class hello. World { Public static void main ( ) { system. out. println(“Hello World”) } }

Instruct a computer Example: C++ #include<iostream> using namespace std; int main() { cout << “Hello World” << endl; }

Instruct a computer Example: html <!DOCTYPE html> <body> <p> Hello World </p> </body> </html>

Instruct a computer GAMEMAKER Drag and drop structured language Uses icons, text…. Made to be easier than any of the previous languages. Easily used by non-programmers.

What is programming? Programming is a creative process done by programmers to instruct a computer on how to do a task. (http: //cplus. about. com) Writing an original program that performs a particular task that meets all stated constraints (Think Like a Programmer, V. Anton Spraul, No Starch Press, Inc. 2012)

What is programming? Programming Involves Puzzles Problem solving

Problem Solving Your car has blue smoke coming from the tailpipe, is idling roughly and has lost fuel efficiency. How do you solve this puzzle?

Constraints Unbreakable rules about problems or the way in which problems must be solved. Car problem constraints: Maximum amount you can pay for repair Time you can wait before you need it fixed Can not require new tools to be purchased

Common Programming Constraints Must use a particular programming language (Java, C++) Specific Platform (Windows, Mac), (IPad, Nexus) Have a certain performance/speed (page refresh in 1. 5 seconds) Amount of memory the program uses while running, memory footprint User/customer specific constraints Design constraints

Problem solving Figure out the steps needed to solve the problem Be able to list the steps Be able to repeat the steps You can NOT change the rules (constraints) to get something solved!

Puzzle: Fox, goose, grain PROBLEM: HOW TO CROSS THE RIVER? A farmer with a fox, a goose and a sack of corn needs to cross a river. The farmer has a rowboat, but there is only room for the farmer and one of his three items. Unfortunately, both the fox and the goose are hungry. The fox cannot be left alone with the goose; the goose cannot be left alone with the grain. How does the farmer get everything across the river?

Puzzle: Fox, goose, grain Constraints Only one item at a time in the boat Can’t leave fox with goose Can’t leave goose with grain Operations Carry the fox to the far side of the river Carry the goose to the far side of the river Carry the grain to the far side of the river

Puzzle: Fox, goose, grain

Rephrase the problem Abstract the problem Be more general in describing the way we will solve the problem Concept: Variable Items are fox, goose or grain Let item vary between fox, goose or grain

Puzzle: Fox, goose, grain Constraints Only one item at a time in the boat Can’t leave fox with goose Can’t leave goose with grain Operations Row the boat from one shore to the other If the boat is empty, load an item on the boat If the boat is full, take the item off the boat

Puzzle: Fox, goose, grain

Puzzle: Sudoku 5 8 4 7 3 8 6 4 9 2 7 1 5 1 9 7 3

Puzzle: Sliding Tile PROBLEM: THE SLIDING EIGHT A 3 x 3 grid is filled with eight tiles, numbered 1 through 8 with one empty space. The grid is jumbled. A tile can be slid into an adjacent empty space, leaving its previous location empty. Slide the tiles so that they are in numerical order

Puzzle: Sliding Tile Solution 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Puzzle: Sliding Tile 4 7 2 8 6 1 3 5

Puzzle: Sliding Tile Technique: the train A circuit of tile positions that include an empty slot forms a train of tiles that can be rotated anywhere along the circuit, preserving the relative order of the tiles.

Puzzle: Sliding Tile 2 1 3 3 2 1

Puzzle: Sliding Tile Look at the problem in subsets PROBLEM: THE SLIDING FIVE 6 8 5 4 7

Puzzle: Sliding Tile 6 8 5 4 7 4 5 6 7 8

Puzzle: Sliding tile Use this technique to generalize the solution to any sliding puzzle…. . 4 7 2 8 6 1 3 5

Puzzle: Sliding tile Use this technique to generalize the solution to any sliding puzzle…. . 4 5 8 1 3 2 6 7

Puzzle: Sliding tile Use this technique to generalize the solution to any sliding puzzle…. . 1 2 6 8 5 4 3 7

THINK like a programmer! Problem Solving Have a plan Generalize the problem Restate the problem Start with what you know Divide the problem Look for analogies or patterns Experiment!!!

Creation of Software