Introduction to Programming Lecture Notes

Instructors

• Steven
• Shawn

Overall Structure

• 21 segments covering basics of computer programming
• Applicable to any programming language
• Focus on key points common to all languages

Topics Covered

1. What is Programming?

   • Definition: Process of preparing an instructional program for a device
   • Simplified: Giving instructions to a computer to complete tasks without mistakes
   • Computers are unintelligent and follow precise instructions
   • Computers only understand machine code (binary)
   • Programming languages translate human instructions into machine code

2. Programming Languages

   • Middleman between human instructions and machine code
   • Examples: Python, Java, JavaScript, HTML/CSS
   • Levels of programming languages:
     • Low-level: Closer to machine code (e.g., Assembly)
     • High-level: Further from machine code (e.g., Python, Java)
   • Choosing a language often comes down to preference

3. Writing Code

   • Use an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
   • IDE provides tools for writing, running, and debugging code
   • Syntax: Grammar of programming languages
     • Syntax errors occur when rules are broken
     • Different languages have unique syntax
   • Example of syntax differences: Initializing a variable in Java, Python, JavaScript

4. Console and Print Statements

   • Console used for outputting text
   • Print statements display information on the console
   • Different languages have different print statement syntaxes
   • Console is a developer tool, not for end-user interface

5. Basic Operations

   • Arithmetic: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, modulus
   • Strings: Text manipulation and concatenation
   • Variables: Used to store information
     • Types: Integers, Booleans, Floats/Doubles, Strings, Characters
     • Naming conventions: CamelCase

6. Conditional Statements

   • If Statements: Conditionally execute code blocks
   • Elseif (Elif) Statements: Additional conditions
   • Else Statements: Default action if no conditions are met
   • Switch Statements: Efficient alternative to multiple if-else statements

7. Arrays

   • Lists of values stored together
   • Indexed starting at 0
   • Fixed size upon initialization
   • Two-dimensional arrays (arrays of arrays)

8. Loops

   • For Loop: Execute code a specific number of times
   • For Each Loop: Iterate through arrays or lists
   • While Loop: Execute code while a condition is true
   • Do While Loop: Execute code at least once, then while condition is true

9. Errors and Debugging

   • Syntax Errors: Broken grammar rules
   • Runtime Errors: Errors during code execution
   • Logic Errors: Code runs but produces incorrect results
   • Debugging strategies: Print statements, breakpoints, commenting out code

10. Functions

    • Segments of code that can be called to run tasks
    • Types: With/without arguments, with/without return values
    • Writing functions: Naming conventions, return types, arguments
    • Importing functions from libraries

11. Advanced Data Structures

    • Alternatives to arrays: Linked lists, stacks, queues, maps, trees
    • ArrayLists: Dynamic arrays that can grow in size
    • Dictionaries: Key-value pairs for storing data

12. Searching Algorithms

    • Methods to search through lists
    • Linear Search: Check each element one by one
    • Binary Search: Efficiently search sorted lists by repeatedly dividing the list

13. Recursion

    • Functions that call themselves
    • Useful for breaking problems into smaller parts
    • Base case: Condition to stop recursion
    • Stack: Data structure for managing function calls

14. Planning and Pseudocode

    • Essential for problem solving before coding
    • Types of pseudocode:
      • Flowcharts: Graphical representation
      • Write-up: Step-by-step description
      • Feature listing: Functions and features needed

15. Choosing a Programming Language

    • Depends on the task (web design, scripting, general purpose)
    • Examples: HTML/CSS (web), Python/Java (general purpose)
    • High-level vs low-level languages

16. Next Steps in Learning Programming

    • Research and choose a programming language
    • Watch tutorial videos for specific languages
    • Practice with coding challenges (websites like CodingBat, Coderbyte, HackerRank)
    • Take relevant classes if available

Conclusion

• Basics of programming covered
• Planning and pseudocode are essential
• Choose the right language for your task
• Continue learning and practicing