Programming Introduction to Programming COMP 102 Prog Fundamentals

Programming Introduction to Programming

COMP 102 Prog. Fundamentals I: Introduction / Slide 2 Objectives l To learn fundamental problem solving techniques l To learn how to design a program l To learn to use the C++ programming language

COMP 102 Prog. Fundamentals I: Introduction / Slide 3 What is C++? l l C++ is a programming language. A computer program performs a specific task, and may interact with the user and the computer hardware. n Human work model: n Computer work model:

COMP 102 Prog. Fundamentals I: Introduction / Slide 4 What is C++? l The most popular programming languages: n n n n l Basic (Beginner All-purpose Symbolic Instructional Code) C++ (an object-oriented language, based on C) Cobol (Common Business Oriented Language) Fortran (FORmula TRANslation) Java Pascal (named for Blaise Pascal) Visual Basic (Basic-like visual language developed by Microsoft) C (developed by the designer of the B language) The most common versions of C++: n n n Microsoft VC++2008 Eclipse g++ (for Unix machines)

COMP 102 Prog. Fundamentals I: Introduction / Slide 5 Why C++? l Bad News: n C++ is not easy to learn l Good News: n Lots of good-paying jobs for programmers because C++ is not easy to learn! n Java uses C++ syntax, it is easy to learn Java if you know C++. n Though C++ is not the easiest language (Basic and Pascal are easier), it is not the hardest either (Ada, Prolog and Assembly languages are really difficult!)

COMP 102 Prog. Fundamentals I: Introduction / Slide 6 Who Uses C++? l l l l l Computer makers such as Sun, SGI, IBM, and HP Airport Computer chip manufacturers like Motorola & Intel Software companies Banks Hong Kong Government Hospital Authority Telecommunications Universities

COMP 102 Prog. Fundamentals I: Introduction / Slide 7 Most Important Feature of C++ l l Most important feature of C++: its strong and efficient support of both Structured Programming and Object-Oriented Programming. C++ runs on: n PC n Macintosh n Unix workstations (also, Unix versions of C++ are free!) n supercomputers

COMP 102 Prog. Fundamentals I: Introduction / Slide 8 What Can We Do By the End of the Course? l l Program the computer in applications such as the following: n Program a simple calculator n Program simple computer games n Program a simple text editor n Program a small inventory system for a small company You will be ready to take on part-time programming jobs by the end of the semester!