Introduction to Programming Lecture Notes

Overview

• Presenters: Steven and Shawn
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Content: 21 segments covering basics of computer programming applicable to all languages.

Topics Covered

1. What is Programming?
2. Common features of Computer Science
   • Loops
   • Arrays
3. How to read and write code
4. Strategies for debugging code
5. Planning out your code
6. Software/tools needed
7. Programming languages and their uses

What is Programming?

• Definition: Preparing instructions for a device.
• In simple terms: Making a computer complete specific tasks without errors.
• Analogy: Giving precise instructions to a less-than-intelligent friend building a Lego set.
• Computers only understand machine code (binary: 0s and 1s).
• Programming languages serve as a bridge between humans and machine code.

Types of Programming Languages

• High-level: Python, Java (human-readable, easier to write)
• Low-level: Assembly, C (closer to machine code)

Writing Code

• Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
  • Facilitates coding, debugging, and running code
  • Provides tools like error checking, autocomplete, file hierarchy.

Syntax in Programming

• Syntax refers to the rules of grammar in programming languages
• Essential for code to run correctly
• Syntax varies by language (e.g., variable definition styles differ among Java, Python, JavaScript).

Console and Print Statement

• Console: Text interface for output
• Print Statement: Outputs text to the console.
  • Example in Python: print("Hello, World!")
• Important for debugging and tracking your program’s performance.

Mathematics and Strings

1. Basic Math Operations: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, modulus.
2. Strings: Enclosed in quotation marks.
   • Can print multiple strings/integer values using concatenation.
   • Example:

   print("Game over! Your score is: " + str(score))
   

Variables

• Definition: Storage for information
• Types of Variables:
  • Integer (int)
  • Boolean (bool)
  • Float and Double (floating-point numbers)
  • Strings (text)
  • Character (single character)
• Use Cases: Track user info, scores, inputs etc.

Conditional Statements

• If Statements: Determine code execution paths based on conditions.
• Else and Else If: Diversifying execution paths based on multiple conditions.
• Syntax examples demonstrated conceptually.

Arrays and Lists

• Arrays: Collection of values (fixed size).
• Array Lists (dynamic size): Automatically expand when more elements added.
• Dictionaries: Key-value pairs for efficient data access.

Searching Algorithms

1. Linear Search: Check each element until the value is found.
   • Efficient for small or unsorted lists, O(n) worst case.
2. Binary Search: Efficient for sorted lists, divides the list in half each iteration, O(log n).

Recursion

• Functions that call themselves to solve problems incrementally.
  • Base Case: Stops recursion from occurring infinitely.
  • Example: Summing numbers from 1 to n.

Debugging Code

• Types of Errors:
  • Syntax Errors: Mistakes in code syntax detected by IDE.
  • Runtime Errors: Issues during program execution.
  • Logic Errors: Code runs but produces incorrect results.

Functions

• Functions encapsulate code to run specific tasks:
  • Types: take arguments and/or return a value.
  • Example of defining functions in Java vs. Python highlighted.

Pseudocode

• Useful for planning before coding: outlines functionality without strict syntax.
• Techniques: Flowcharts, step-by-step write-up, feature listing.

Learning and Resources

1. Explore official language websites and tutorials.
2. Practice sites: Coding Bat, Coderbyte, HackerRank.
3. High school courses in programming and computer science as additional resources.

Conclusion

• Open to exploring various paths in programming based on learned concepts.
• Encouraged to take on code challenges and start personal projects.

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End of Lecture Summary