Introduction to Programming - Lecture Notes

Overview

• Instructors: Steven and Sean
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Segments: 21 segments covering basics of computer programming
• Purpose: Basics applicable to any programming language, avoiding language-specific topics
• No software required

Topics Covered

1. What is Programming?
   • Getting a computer to complete a specific task without mistakes
   • Computers understand machine code (binary)
   • Programming languages as a middleman
   • High-level vs. low-level languages
2. How to Write Code
   • Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
   • Syntax and rules in programming languages
   • Examples of variable initialization in Java, Python, JavaScript
3. Printing and Console
   • Console used for outputting text from the program
   • Print statement basics
   • Concatenation of strings and integers
4. Base Power of Computers
   • Arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
   • Modulus operator
   • Strings: text enclosed in quotation marks
5. Variables
   • Store information for reference and manipulation
   • Types: Integer, Boolean, Float, Double, String, Char
   • Naming conventions: camelCase
   • Importance and usage of variables in programs
6. Conditional Statements
   • If Statement: Runs if a condition is true
   • Else if Statement: Runs if the previous condition is false and a new condition is true
   • Else Statement: Runs if none of the previous conditions are true
   • Switch Statement: Used for multiple conditions
7. Arrays
   • Lists that store multiple variables of the same type
   • Indexing starts at 0
   • Fixed size
   • 2D arrays and higher-dimensional arrays
8. Loops
   • For Loop: Repeats a block of code a certain number of times
   • For Each Loop: Iterates through elements in an array
   • While Loop: Repeats as long as a condition is true
   • Do While Loop: Runs code at least once before checking the condition
9. Errors in Programming
   • Syntax Errors: Breaking programming rules
   • Runtime Errors: Errors that occur when code is running
   • Logic Errors: Code runs but produces incorrect results
10. Debugging

• Reading error messages
• Using print statements to track variable values
• Using breakpoints to pause execution
• Commenting out code to isolate errors

11. Functions
    • Reusable segments of code
    • Types: With/without arguments, returning/not returning values
    • Benefits of functions: Condensing code, ease of updates
12. Importing Functions
    • Use of libraries and packages
    • Syntax: Import statements
    • Benefits: Reusing existing, tested code
13. Writing Your Own Functions
    • Basic structure: Defining function, arguments, return values
    • Naming conventions: camelCase
14. ArrayLists and Dictionaries
    • ArrayList: Dynamic array that grows as needed
    • Dictionary: Key-value pairs for quick data retrieval
15. Searching Algorithms
    • Linear Search: Checks each element sequentially
    • Binary Search: Efficient search for sorted lists
    • Importance of efficient searching
16. Recursion
    • Functions calling themselves
    • Base case to avoid infinite loops
    • Example: Summing numbers from 1 to n
17. Stacks and Recursion
    • Stack data structure: Last In, First Out (LIFO)
    • Stack overflow and infinite loops
18. Pseudocode
    • Planning out code before writing
    • Methods: Flowcharts, writing steps, functionality planning
19. Choosing the Right Programming Language
    • Types: HTML/CSS, Scripting languages, General-purpose languages
    • Factors to consider: Application, personal preference
20. Next Steps in Learning Programming
    • Resources: Coding challenges websites (Coding Bat, Coderbyte, HackerRank)
    • Taking programming classes
    • Practical application: GitHub, personal projects

Conclusion

• Key Points: Basics of programming, pseudocode, choosing languages
• Future Steps: Continue learning, practice coding, engage in projects
• Channel: Low Pointer Exception for more content